Apr 23 2006 21:43

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs MOSTA GUNNERS 3 - 1

Birzebbugia Tigers made it through to the semi-final stage of the IASC knock-out with a deserved win over Mosta Gunners.

The match began on a quite note with no real chance at either end. A misunderstanding in the Tigers' defence almost lead to Mosta's advantage after 11 minutes but N.Borg Sant's header went wide. On the other end, R.Bugeja dribbled past a defender but his right-footed effort ended wide. On the 20th minute mark, Birzebbugia Tigers took the lead when Robert Bugeja's diagonal shot from inside Mosta's penalty area finished at the back of the net with Degiorgio beaten. Mosta's reaction resulted sterile and the Tigers' defence never ran into any trouble throughout the remaining minutes of the first half.

The second period was a more entertaining affair with Mosta gaining control in midfield and putting pressure on our defence, and it was no surprise when after 11 minutes they equalised. A long freekick thrown into the Tigers' penalty area was cleared shortly and the ball finished in the path of Rupert Pace who from close range had the easiests of tasks to slot the ball home. Barely three minutes passed when Birzebbugia Tigers regained the lead with a gem of a goal scored by captain Clive Formosa. The central defender possessed himself of the ball in the defence, advanced through the opponents' midfield and after exchanging the ball with D.Caruana, progressed in Mosta's penalty area before placing a shot that finished at the back of the net. Mosta threw caution to the wind and tried to attack relentlessly to avoid defeat with the Tigers operating through swift counterattacks. Mosta hit the bar through a header and on the other end Bugeja had two golden opportunities to increase the lead, but his shots were twice cleared off the line. After 28 minutes, the Tigers widened further the gap when R.Celeste anticipated the onrushing Degiorgio and deposited the ball in an empty net from outside the penalty area. Birzebbugia Tigers were through to the semi-finals and now they face Senglea Youngsters in two weeks time.

Line-up: 1 - PAUL CELESTE; 2 - MATTHEW SCICLUNA, 4 - DANIEL GALEA (18 - ANTHERO AGIUS), 5 - CLIVE FORMOSA (capt), 3 - MARK MIGNECO; 10 - MATTHEW AXIAQ, 6 - JAMES PEPLOW, 7 - JEFFREY FENECH, 8 - DENIS CARUANA; 9 - ROBERT BUGEJA, 11 - RONNIE CELESTE

 

VIEW KNOCK-OUT FIXTURES AND RESULTS

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS' 1st DIVISION MATCH SCHEDULE

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS SQUAD

 

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