mar 31 2007 14:04

AMATEUR CUP FINAL

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs MSIDA RED STARS 4 - 2

Birzebbugia Tigers won the IASC Amateur Cup for the third time in their history when they beat in an entertaining match second division Msida Red Stars by 4 goals to 2.

The first period of the match was an eventful affair, with all the six goals coming through the first 35 minutes. Although Msida went close to score first after Vidal blasted high from a favourable position, it was the Tigers who drew first blood after 11 minutes. Agius blocked an Msida attack and served Scicluna whose precise long ball found R.Celeste in the opponents penalty area, with the latter after dribbling a defender placed the ball in the net with a low shot. Three minutes later, the Tigers doubled the score. They were awarded a freekick from a central position and Schwienbacher's direct shot found the back of the net. Soon afterwards N.Farrugia did not capitalise from a defensive blunder as his shot was blocked.

Msida tried to regain composure and surged forward in search of a goal. In the 28th minute veteran striker J.Pace connected with a cross from the corner kick and with a header reduced the arrears. Two minutes later Msida scored again. The same Pace squeezed past Ciappara and Mangion and deviated the ball home to tie the score to 2-2. The Tigers reacted well to this shock and a minute from the end of the first period they surged ahead. Cachia found Celeste unmarked in the penalty area whose precise shot beat for the third time the Msida keeper. Barely a minute passed when the Tigers scored again. C.Camilleri saw his rising shot partially saved by Edwards and with the ball bouncing on the goal line, in came R.Celeste who slotted home and sealed the fourth hat-trick of the season.

The first minutes of the second period were a quiet matter and play was restricted for long stretches in the midfield sector. M.Axiaq and P.Carabott Damato were brought in for the Tigers and it was not until the 15th minute that L.Vella went close for Msida when he saw his powerful shot from inside the area saved well by Mangion. The same keeper rushed into Pace's feet minutes later to avoid further trouble.

With Msida constantly in attack, the Tigers began to operate with swift breaks as they found open gaps in the opponents' defence. N.Farrugia advanced solitary but saw his low shot saved by the keeper. Minutes later the same fate fell to Axiaq as he failed to beat the keeper. Ten minutes from the end, Schwienbacher's curly shot from a direct freekick was saved spectacularly by Edwards.

Signs of fatigue were looming on both teams and the Tigers managed to keep the Msida forwards at bay up to the end of Lorry Sammut's final whistle. The Tigers emerged as winners and concluded this season on a high note. After the game, captain Schwienbacher was presented with the Amateur Cup by Marsa Trinity delegate, Mr Joe Spiteri.

 

LINE-UP
1.	MATTHEW MANGION
2.	ANTHERO AGIUS
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	MATTHEW SCICLUNA
5.	MICHAEL CIAPPARA
6.	STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER (c)
7.	KEVIN TONNA
8.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
9.	NEVILLE FARRUGIA
15.	RONNIE CELESTE
11.	PETER CACHIA
IN	16. MATTHEW AXIAQ
OUT	MARK MIGNECO
IN	10. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	RONNIE CELESTE

 

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