apr 20 14:43

IASC K/O Q/FINALS

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	0
SENGLEA YOUNGSTERS	0

(SENGLEA WIN 5-4 ON PENALTIES)

Birzebbugia Tigers' season came to an end when they were eliminated by Senglea Youngsters from the IASC knock out quarter finals by penalties after a 0-0 stalemate.

Senglea were the better side from the early stages of the game and the Tigers' rearguard was finding it difficult to cope with their opponents' pressure. Tigers had goalkeeper Chris Abdilla in great form and he denied Senglea from scoring in various occasions. After 8 minutes Abdilla denied R.Galea who headed from close range and a minute later, D.Aquilina's shot was again stopped by Abdilla. Senglea were again close to surge ahead but Gatt's powerful shot went inches wide.

Senglea's attacking was relentless and Sciberras shot wide after 16 minutes. Abdilla was again on the alert on 22 minutes when he denied R.Galea. Seconds later the Tigers' goalie was again providential when he blocked Grech's shot. From the subsequent corner kick central defender Aquilina was unlucky when his shot stamped against the post. The Tigers defence. under siege, was not conceding an inch but they were lucky not to go a goal behind when Senglea's Gatt hit the post with a shot from outside the area.

The initial minutes of the second half saw the Tigers emerge out of their defensive shell by operating with swift counterattacks and after just 1 minute, Justin Camilleri inserted himself in the Senglea defence only to see his effort blocked. After 7 minutes Sciberras' freekick for Senglea went high. Two minutes later, Galea's shot from close range beat Abdilla but Bronwen Bugeja cleared off the line. On the 13th minute mark, R.Galea connected with a deep cross only to see his shot go incredibly high with the goal gaping. Seconds later substitute Gilford shot from outside the area but Abdilla again saved.

The first real chance of the game for the Tigers came to Noel Tabone's way after 15 minutes but after he was cleared through in the penalty area, he shot high from a favourable position. Gilford again tried his luck for Senglea with another powerful shot which missed the target and 8 minutes from the end, the Tigers had a golden opportunity to take a surprise lead, when John Paul Barbara, today sporting the captain's armband, shot from inside the penalty area, but his diagonal effort went agonisingly inches wide. The game ended 0-0 and the penalty shoot out was needed to decide which team advanced to the semis. Senglea won 6-5 and the Tigers' season was over.

Penalty shoot-out: Tabone (B) goal, Gilford (S) goal, Galea (B) missed - hit woodwork, Buhagiar (S) goal, Desira (B) goal, J.Galea (S) missed - shot wide, Carabott Damato (B) goal, Gatt (S) goal, Barbara (B) goal, Sciberras (S) goal, Bugeja (B) missed - shot wide, R.Galea (S) goal

LINE-UP
1.	CHRISTOPHER ABDILLA
2.	ANTHERO AGIUS
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	DANIEL GALEA
5.	NOEL TABONE
6.	BRONWEN BUGEJA
7.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
8.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
9.	JUSTIN CAMILLERI
10.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA (C)
11.	ENNIO DESIRA
IN	14. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	JUSTIN CAMILLERI

 

apr 06 2008 11:56

IASC K/O FIRST ROUND

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	4
ST VENERA YELLOW BLUES	0

Birzebbugia Tigers claimed a place in the quarter finals of the IASC knock-out when they beat second division minnows St Venera Yellow Blues 4-0 and now face either Senglea Youngsters or Mgarr Falcons in the next round. Although the scoreline would give the impression of an easy win, the Tigers had to face a rather difficult task to see off their opponents who lost all their matches so far this season.

The game began on a quiet pace and it was not until the 10th minute when Barbara's diagonal shot ended inches wide. Seconds later the same forward tried his luck with a right-footed effort that soared high. On the other side of the pitch in a rare attacking foray, St Venera's Grech low shot ended wide.

On the 23rd minute mark the Tigers opened the score in a rather casual way when an opponents' defender anticipated his own keeper and deviated towards the net, with Celeste slotting an easy ball home. The Tigers had another attempt at goal when Agius' perfect cross found Celeste unmarked in the penalty area but his first time effort ended high. The last opportunity of the first half fell St Venera's way but Carbonaro's shot finished wide.

The second period began on the same rythym with the Tigers having the upperhand although it was Carbonaro for St Venera who went close but his direct shot from a freekick ended over the crossbar. After 19 minutes, substitute P.Carabott Damato served a perfect assist to C.Camilleri who from close distance blasted home to double the score. The Tigers upped their tempo and Celeste went close but his low shot finished wide.

On the 23rd minute mark Migneco's long ball found Barbara unmarked in the area who headed home past Mula to widen further the gap. Minutes later Axiaq's cross was met by D.Galea whose first time shot finished metres wide. The Tigers were now in complete control of the game and seconds from the end, C.Camilleri sealed the result with his second goal of the match.

LINE-UP
1.	CHRISTOPHER ABDILLA
2.	ANTHERO AGIUS
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	DANIEL GALEA
5.	MICHAEL CIAPPARA
6.	STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER (c)
7.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
8.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
15.	RONNIE CELESTE
10.	NOEL TABONE
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	16. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	NOEL TABONE
IN	17. DARREN SPITERI
OUT	ANTHERO AGIUS

 

mar 31 2008 22:31

IASC K/O PREL ROUND

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	2
GZIRA UNITED	1

Birzebbugia Tigers qualified for the first round of the IASC Knock-Out when they beat second division side Gzira United in an entertaining match by the odd goal in three. The Tigers now face Sta Venera Yellow Blues next Sunday.

The Tigers were the livelier side right from the first whistle and after a few seconds Brownen Bugeja went close to open the score but his diagonal shot crossed Gzira's penalty area and went wide. Player-coach Migneco, today deployed in an attacking position tried his luck twice but his efforts resulted tame and created no real danger.

Lanzon went close for Gzira after 9 minutes but his low shot went wide. The game was now resulting in a balanced affair with gameplay concentrating in mid-pitch. After 26 minutes Abdilla, in the Tigers' goalposts was on the alert to block Sultana's drive from outside the penalty area. Seconds before the interval, J.P.Barbara blasted a good opportunity when his shot from inside the penalty area went high.

Barely twenty seconds had passed from the beginning of the second period, when Catania tested Abdilla with a low shot. In the 4th minute, the Tigers forged ahead, when Barbara served Bronwen Bugeja in the penalty area and the latter beat Mercieca with a left-footed diagonal shot. The joy was short-lived as 3 minutes later Gzira equalised when Lanzon deviated from close range to tie the score to 1-1.

After 11 minutes Gzira went close to take the lead but Lanzon squandered a good chance as he blasted wide from few metres away. Three minutes later the Tigers regained the lead, when Barbara's cross in the penalty area seemed easy prey for the Gzira keeper but in came Migneco who darted between the keeper and a Gzira defender and deviated with a header into the net.

Barbara's scorcher from twenty metres out hit the woodwork after 25 mintues and minutes later Axiaq sped through the opponents defence but instead of shooting he opted to served Camilleri who did not make contact with the ball. With Gzira all reversed in attack to obtain the equalizer, the Tigers had wide open prairies to operate in counter-attack and a multitude of chances to increase the score. Sub Justin Camilleri, although lively was also imprecise and he made the impossible when he wasted three golden goal-scoring chances in front of the keeper in the last minutes of the match.

LINE-UP
1.	CHRISTOPHER ABDILLA
2.	ANTHERO AGIUS
3.	DARREN SPITERI
14.	CHRIS BERNARD FARRUGIA
5.	DANIEL GALEA
6.	STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER (c)
7.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
8.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
9.	BRONWEN BUGEJA
10.	MARK MIGNECO
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	4. JUSTIN CAMILLERI
OUT	MARK MIGNECO

 

feb 24 2008 10:44

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs MOSTA GUNNERS 1 - 1

Birzebbugia Tigers avoided the drop to the lower tier of the Inter Amateur Soccer Competion right at the final match when they earned a most valuable point against Mosta Gunners. The Tigers needed only a point as they drew level in the table with Msida Red Stars with 6 points, but it is the latter that have been relegated due to the direct encounter which finished the Tigers' way back in January.

The early exchanges were marked by a shortage of scoring chances and matchplay was restricted to mid-pitch. Then out of the blues the Tigers forged ahead after 12 minutes. Mosta defender Azzopardi fumbled a clearance, with the ball hitting John Paul Barbara and looped over the Mosta keeper into the net. With a goal down, the Gunners tried to react but they were dangerous only once after 22 minutes when Gusman's shot was cleared away by D.Baldacchino. Two minutes later Barbara tried a speculative shot which created no peril to the Mosta defence.

The second period was a more intriguing affair as the Tigers tried to defend their precious lead. B.Bugeja and A.Borg both had solo efforts in the first minutes which the Mosta defence controlled well. On the other end, Micallef tried his luck with a long-range freekick that ended high. The Gunners were gathering momentum and it was no surprise when on the 17th minute mark they equalised. Captain Kevin Sammut blasted a fierce shot from outside the penalty area into the top corner albeit Celeste dived to his right to save. 1-1 and game on.

Gusman threatened to score again for Mosta but his header went wide. After 26 minutes, the Tigers were handed a freekick from 25 metres out. Ciappara's powerful shot thumped against the crossbar and finished high. C.Camilleri and J.P.Barbara made way for two substitute defenders, as the Tigers tried to defend the result and subsequently their status in the first division. M.Scicluna tried his luck with a low shot that Aquilina saved well. Right at the final whistle Mosta were awarded a freekick just outside the penalty area from a central position but Sammut's shot soared high and wide. This was the last chance of the match and when seconds later referee P.Caruana signalled the end of the game, signs of relief showed on the faces of the Tiges' clan for this narrow escape.

LINE-UP
1.	PAUL CELESTE
2.	DANIEL GALEA
3.	MARK MIGNECO (c)
4.	MICHAEL CIAPPARA
5.	DENNIS BALDACCHINO
6.	CLIVE FORMOSA
7.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
8.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
9.	ALEXANDER BORG
10.	BRONWEN BUGEJA
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	13. MATTHEW SCICLUNA
OUT	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
IN	15. CHRIS BERNARD FARRUGIA
OUT	JOHN PAUL BARBARA

 

 

feb 03 2008 21:47

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs FLORIANA AJAX 0-0

Birzebbugia Tigers earned a precious point in their bid to avoid the drop when the held Floriana Ajax in a 0-0 draw.

The first half was a balanced affair with goal scoring opportunites rare. The Tigers' only foray in attack came after 10 minutes when Ronnie Celeste's spectacular overhead kick missed the target by a few inches. Floriana's only chance to score came after 30 minutes when Paul Celeste saved well on a Floriana forward that found himself unmarked in the penalty area.

Clive Formosa was unlucky ten minutes in the second period when his freekick stamped against the crossbar. Few minutes later Formosa served Barbara whose shot was cleared off the line by a Floriana defender. On the other end P.Celeste was providential when he produced a point blank save on a Floriana forward. Minutes from the end Barbara once again tried his luck but his left-footed effort was not met by anyone in the penalty area with the ball finishing wide.

LINE-UP
1.	PAUL CELESTE
2.	ANTHERO AGIUS
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	DANIEL GALEA
5.	DARREN SPITERI
6.	CLIVE FORMOSA
7.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
8.	NOEL TABONE
9.	RONNIE CELESTE
10.	BRONWEN BUGEJA
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	14. CHARLTON CAMILLERI
OUT	BRONWEN BUGEJA

 

jan 28 2008 12:25

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS.... 2

MSIDA RED STARS.......... 0

Birzebbugia Tigers bounced back from three consecutive defeats when they had the better of Msida Red Stars courtesy of two second half goals. The Tigers now lie in seventh position one point ahead of Marsa Trinity and Mosta Gunners who have a game in hand. For the first time in the Tigers' history the match was officiated by a female referee, Ms Esther Farrugia

The first period of the match was a balanced affair with goal-scoring opportunities a rarity. An attempt by M.Axiaq from outside the area finished just wide after a few seconds and on the 9th minute mark P.Celeste in the Tigers' goalposts produced an elastic save off a long-range effort by Msida's Grech. Four minutes later Msida wasted a golden opportunity when Sapiano shot high over the bar.

Five minutes before the interval Formosa 's low drive from outside the area found Zahra on the alert and right on the stroke of half time, Msida's Grima went close but his shot went wide.

Msida began the second period on the attack and first Pace then Sapiano went close to score but Celeste blocked their attempts. After 16 minutes the Tigers went ahead when Bronwen Bugeja's left-footed shot from just inside the area finished at the back of the net. Msida tried to react but they proved no real threat to equalise. After 21 minutes the Tigers went close to double the score when Alex Borg found himself in a favourable position after a swift counter attack but his low shot finished just wide with only the keeper to beat.

After 26 minutes the Tigers widened further the gap when Bronwen Bugeja's cross from the left after a solo effort was deviated into an empty net by an Msida defender. Two minutes later Msida were inches away to score but Grech's shot was blocked on the line by D.Galea.

LINE-UP
88.	PAUL CELESTE
2.	DANIEL GALEA
3.	MARK MIGNECO (c)
4.	DARREN SPITERI
14.	CHRIS BERNARD FARRUGIA
6.	ENNIO DESIRA
7.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
8.	CLIVE FORMOSA
9.	BRONWEN BUGEJA
10.	ALEXANDER BORG
11.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
IN	13. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	ALEXANDER BORG
IN	15. DYLAN CASSAR
OUT	CHARLTON CAMILLERI

 

jan 13 2008 10:44

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS....2

LUQA JUNIORS................5

Birzebbugia Tigers edged closer to relegation when they suffered their third consecutive defeat this time at the hands of leaders Luqa Juniors by 5 goals to 2.

Luqa were much the livelier side and they searched for an opening goal right from the first whistle. Psaila's freekick went wide after 3 minutes and J.Micallef went twice close to open the score soon afterwards. On the other end, Celeste had a golden opportunity to put the Tigers ahead but his close-range effort after a Schwienbacher's cross went desperately high. Luqa opened the score on the 17th minute mark when Owen Psaila's low shot sailed past Mercieca into the net. Four minutes later the same Mercieca proved decisive when he rushed to the edge of the penalty area to clear off Micallef and seconds later Abdilla's header went inches wide.

The Tigers went agonisingly close to equalise when Barbara's right-footed effort after 28 minutes beat D'Agostino but ended wide. After 30 minutes Luqa doubled the score when Jesmond Micallef hit a swerving shot in the top corner past a helpless Mercieca. Seconds from the interval, Luqa widened further the gap when Jean-Pierre Abdilla capitalised on a defensive blunder and shot past the Tigers' keeper in an empty net.

With three goals to their disadvantage, the Tigers faced an uphill struggle in the second period. They began to attack constantly and proved a threat to the Luqa defence right from the start. After 6 minutes they were rewarded for their efforts when Celeste was fouled in the penalty area and the same forward, today with the captain's armband, scored from the penalty spot.

After 14 minutes Luqa restored the 3-goal advantage with a goal from substitute Rio Micallef who blasted a low shot from outside the penalty area. On the 20th minute mark the Tigers were awarded a freekick from mid-pitch and Barbara's long cross found Celeste who headed from close range but his effort was saved partially by D'Agostino with the ball finishing in the path of Bronwen Bugeja who hit low into an empty net to make the score 4-2. Four minutes later, the same Bugeja was unlucky when his dipping shot hit the woodwork.

Luqa scored thier fifth goal after 30 minutes by Randolph Penza. On the other end, Luqa goalie denied Migneco from scoring when he blocked his left-footed effort directly from a freekick. Seconds from the end the Tigers were again unlucky when Barbara's cross hit the post.

LINE-UP
99.	JEAN PAUL MERCIECA
2.	WAYNE HAMER
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	ANTHERO AGIUS
5.	DARREN SPITERI
6.	STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER
7.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
8.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
15.	RONNIE CELESTE (c)
10.	ENNIO DESIRA
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	13. NOEL TABONE
OUT	ANTHERO AGIUS
IN	14. BRONWEN BUGEJA
OUT	WAYNE HAMER

 

 

dec 09 2007 11:57

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS.......0

MARSA TRINITY................3 (R.MANGION 26', 70', A.PORTELLI 59')

Birzebbugia Tigers succumbed to another defeat, this time against wooden spoonists Marsa Trinity, with the team now sliding in just seven days to the bottom of the first division.

The match began on a quite note and the first 25 minutes were void of any dangerous attacks, apart from two tame shots by the Tigers' A.Galea and Camilleri which created no real threat to the Marsa goalie. On their first real attack, Marsa opened the score. Ralph Mangion took charge of a direct freekick from just outside the penalty area and with a fine shot beat the helpless Mangion. The Tigers' attacks were unproductive and confused but four minutes from the end of the first period, Stefan Schwienbacher had a chance to equalise but his shot from a freekick was well saved by Cutajar in Marsa's goalposts.

After a few seconds from the opening of the second period, defender D.Galea saw his close range header finish wide after a Barbara's corner kick. Marsa replied with a Cachia shot which was blocked by Mangion. After 17 minutes Barbara's low shot beat Cutajar but was cleared off the line by a Marsa defender. Merely a minute later the same Barbara was unlucky when his header went just wide. On the 23rd minute mark Barbara was again close to level the score when his left-footed effort was scrambled by the Marsa goalie who had only to thank his lucky stars that the ball did not finish at the back of the net. A minute later Marsa doubled the score when from the goalkeeper's kick, Angelo Portelli rose high and headed comfortably into the net. The Tigers reaction was nowhere to be seen and in the dying moments Ralph Mangion sealed the issue with a rising shot which finished beyond Mangion to seal Marsa's 3-0 win.

LINE-UP
1.	MATTHEW MANGION
2.	ANTHERO AGIUS
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	WAYNE HAMER
5.	DANIEL GALEA
6.	STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER (c)
7.	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
8.	ANDREW GALEA
9.	ALEXANDER BORG
10.	PAUL SALIBA
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	15. MATTHEW AXIAQ
OUT	PAUL SALIBA
IN	13. CHRISTOPHER ABDILLA
OUT	WAYNE HAMER

 

dec 02 2007 13:37

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS vs ZURRIEQ WOLVES 1 - 5

Birzebbugia Tigers suffered their worst defeat for over a decade when they were trounced by Zurrieq Wolves 5-1 to see their hopes of clinching this year's title evaporate in ten minutes of pure folly early in the second half. It was the second heaviest defeat in the Tigers' history after the 1-7 defeat by Zejtun Red Stars way back in April 1996.

Zurrieq were the better side right from the first whistle and Prendergast had the first chance of the game when his shot went wide after just 3 minutes. On the other end Formosa tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area which was saved by Galea. Zurrieq drew first blood after 13 minutes when veteran Joe Falzon eluded the offside trap and beat the onrushing Mercieca with a fine lob. Soon afterwards winger Axiaq tried his luck with a fine shot which ended just wide. Formosa's rasping shot from outside the area finished inches over the crossbar after 18 minutes and moments later Celeste did not capitalise from Zurrieq goalie's blunder when he blasted wide with the goal begging.

The Tigers were rewarded for their efforts on the 29th minute mark when Migneco's deep left-footed cross was met high in the air by Ronnie Celeste who beat Galea with a fine header to equalise. The joy was short-lived as in the 33rd minute, Tigers' former Libyan midfielder, Kamal Fallah Edgeli, punished the napping Tigers' defence when he rounded Mercieca and deposited in an empty net.

The unbelievable happened in the initial moments of the second period when the Tigers threw in the towel and permitted Zurrieq to wreak havoc and tear apart the rearguard to score three times. Kamal Edgeli marked his brace after 5 minutes with a low shot from just inside the area to increase the lead and then it was A.Galea's turn to score two minutes later. Zurrieq showed no pity as the Tigers looked totally disarrayed and Falzon notched an easy goal in the 10th minute to make the score 5-1.

The Tigers' reaction was nowhere to be seen and apart from a Celeste's effort which was blocked on the goal-line by Zurrieq keeper they did not threaten again to score. On the other end Sultana was close to increase furthermore the lead but his long-range effort was punched away into a corner by Mercieca. Zurrieq finished the game with ten men as Sultana was shown the red card after 22 minutes after protesting harshly with the match official. The one-man advantage was not capitalised by the Tigers as their gameplay seemed confused and their attacking forays too sterile with Zurrieq controlling up to the final whistle to win their third consecutive match and join Luqa and Senglea at the top with the Tigers now languishing at the wrong end of the table.

LINE-UP
99.	JEAN PAUL MERCIECA
2.	WAYNE HAMER
3.	MARK MIGNECO
4.	CLAYTON XUEREB
5.	MICHAEL CIAPPARA
6.	STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER (c)
7.	MATTHEW AXIAQ
8.	CLIVE FORMOSA
15.	RONNIE CELESTE
10.	NOEL TABONE
11.	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	16. PETER CACHIA
OUT	CLIVE FORMOSA
IN	18. MATTHEW SCICLUNA
OUT	STEFAN SCHWIENBACHER
IN	17. RYAN D'AMATO
OUT	MARK MIGNECO

 

VIEW BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS MATCH SCHEDULE 2007/08

VIEW IASC FIRST DIVISION RESULTS AND TABLE 2007/08

VIEW IASC SECOND DIVISION RESULTS AND TABLE 2007/08

 

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