Mar 31 2006 21:47

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs MARSA TRINITY 3 - 3 (7-5 pens)

It was a great feat the one that was accomplished in the 1st round of the IASC knock-out by Birzebbugia Tigers, when in a match that went all the way to penalties they beat second division runners-up Marsa Trinity to fix a quarter-final encounter against either Mosta Gunners or Gzira United.

The Tigers were much a depleted side as they missed Robert Bugeja, Neville Farrugia and Clive Formosa through suspension. Also missing were captain Noel Tabone and Daniel Galea. These mishaps left coach Schwienbacher with a meagre choice to set up the initial formation. The match played in an unusual heat for this period of the year could not have had a better start for our side, as from a Migneco's long ball, J.P.Barbara connected from close range to open the score. Barely 15 minutes had passed from this advantage, when Marsa equalised. A freekick taken quickly by Evan Borg caught the defensive wall off guard and the ball finished coolly behind Xerxen. The game remained balanced although the Tigers had the slight edge over the opponents. The closest they came was through a Celeste effort that finished to the side of the net from close range.

The beginning of the second period was ignited by a quick goal scored by the Tigers. German Schwienbacher served precisely Celeste, who advanced and unleashed an accurate shot that whisked past the helpless Agius to the back of the net. The joy was short lived as an error committed by Ciappara in the Tigers' penalty area consented John Azzopardi to finish off from three metres away to equalise again for Marsa. Matters got worse as the same Ciappara was sent off minutes later for arguing with the referee. Marsa took an unexpected lead soon afterwards, when debutant B.Farrugia misjudged a long ball thrown from the Marsa defence and permitted J.Debono to advance and beat Xerxen with a low shot. Soon afterwards, a shot by Borg was saved well by Xerxen. All seemed lost for the Tigers as minutes ticked away inexorably. With four minutes remaining hope for qualification was regained as Schwienbacher's powerful shot from outside Marsa's penalty area was saved by the goalkeeper but the ball fell in Ronnie Celeste's path who from an impossible angle equalised for the Tigers. Moments later, substitute Carabott Damato, after a solo run through the opponents' defense, was brought down in the penalty area, but the referee waved play on, denying a clear penalty.

In a sweltering afternoon sun and with the score tied to 3-3, the match advanced to extra-time. The best chance fell to Barbara who from inside the penalty area, made the impossible and shot high above Marsa's goal. A Paul Saliba nonchalant clearance allowed E.Borg to advance through a gap in the Tigers' defense but his shot finished weakly in Xerxen's hands. The extra time was soon over and penalties had to be taken to decide which team was to advance to the next round. Goalkeeper M.Xerxen, S.Schwienbacher and R.Celeste all scored and while Xerxen produced two saves to leave the Tigers in advantage, Barbara missed his chance and his shot finished off the bar. The last decisive penalty converted calmly by P.Carabott Damato brought a sign of relief on the Tigers' clan as progress was made to the quarter-finals of this competition.

LINE-UP: 1 - MATTHEW XERXEN; 2 - MATTHEW SCICLUNA (18 - BERNARD FARRUGIA), 4 - PAUL SALIBA, 5 - MICHAEL CIAPPARA, 3 - MARK MIGNECO (capt); 6 - CHARLTON CAMILLERI, 7 - EMANUEL VELLA (16 - PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO), 8 - STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER, 10 - MATTHEW AXIAQ; 9 - RONNIE CELESTE, 11 - JOHN PAUL BARBARA

VIEW KNOCK-OUT FIXTURES AND RESULTS

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS' 1st DIVISION MATCH SCHEDULE

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS SQUAD

 

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