jan 22 2006 12:56

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs LUQA JUNIORS 6 - 0

Birzebbugia Tigers thrashed Luqa Juniors to the tune of six goals to nil and took a giant step towards retaining first division status after their second win of the season. The Tigers now leapfrog over Floriana Ajax in mid-table position with 5 points with two games remaining.

The match was played on a muddy pitch due to the inclement weather that hit the islands these last days. Birzebbugia Tigers were without the services of midfielders V.Camilleri and P.Carabott Damato who were missing due to suspension, while Paul Celeste continued to deputise instead of the injured goalie Xerxen. Luqa were subdued right from the beginning of the match as they took the pitch with only nine players. This proved to be a great advantage for the Tigers as they took absolute control of the game right from the start. In the first five minutes scoring chances were abundant. Bugeja came close to opening the score after a few seconds, but he shot timidly into the goalkeeper's hands, while soon afterwards he tried his luck with a header that was saved by J.Scicluna. A low shot from outside the penalty area from defender M.Scicluna finished centrally in the goalkeeper's hands. Finally after 8 minutes, the Tigers took the lead. R.Celeste's low cross finished in the path of Clive Formosa who had the easiest of tasks to slot home. Tigers doubled the score after two minutes when Ronnie Celeste connected to a Massa's cross to make the score 2-0. The gap could have been widened furthermore if it was not for some careless finishing by the Tigers' forwards. Before the break N.Farrugia finished coolly from inside the penalty area to make the score 3-0.

The second period commenced on the right track for the Tigers as their strikers surged forward for more goals. Robert Bugeja increased the lead after 6 minutes when he beat the oncoming keeper. Soon afterwards the towering forward was replaced by D.Caruana. The fifth goal arrived from player-coach Schwienbacher when he rounded a defender and beat Luqa's keeper. Clive Formosa squandered a good opportunity to increase the lead when he opted to pass to Celeste who was in an offside position instead of concluding himself. But the sixth goal arrived after 14 minutes, when R.Celeste eluded the offside trap and beat Scicluna for the final score of 6-0.

LINE-UP: 1 - PAUL CELESTE; 2 - MATTHEW SCICLUNA, 5- MICHAEL CIAPPARA, 3 - DANIEL GALEA; 4 - TIMOTHY MASSA, 7 - STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER, 8 - NOEL TABONE (capt), 10 - CLIVE FORMOSA; 6 - RONNIE CELESTE, 9 - ROBERT BUGEJA (15 - DENIS CARUANA), 11 - NEVILLE FARRUGIA

 

RESULTS FOR SUNDAY 22 JANUARY 2006

 

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS' 1st DIVISION MATCH SCHEDULE

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS SQUAD

VIEW IASC 1 DIV RESULTS & STANDINGS

Site Design & Maintenance by Andre' Camenzuli © 2005