The Good Cause Fund Cup U/16 KO

Tarxien R 1

Mgarr U 1

(5-3 on penalties)

Section C side Mgarr were eliminated from the Knock Out Competition, but they left the pitch with their heads held high as they were only eliminated after the penalty shoot-out.

Few were the actions in the first period as play was mainly restricted to midfield. The first action came from Mgarr when the game was hardly a minute old as from a cross from the right by Joseph Zammit, David Zerafa drove slightly over the bar.

In Tarxien's first attack in the 7th minute they nearly forged ahead; Matthew Galdes served Luke Grech with a through ball outside Mgarr's area and as Mgarr keeper Franklin Muscat came out of his charge he tried his luck with a lobbed ball but a defender cleared the ball on the fatal line.

Tarxien took the lead on 16 minutes. After a run down the right flank, Matthew Galdes crossed to Luke Grech and he pounced on a faulty clearance and netted with a low shot from inside the area.

The second period was a total dominance by Mgarr who were all out to obtain the equaliser. Three minutes after the restart the Tarxien keeper handled the ball outside the area during a drop kick but from the resultant free kick taken by Joseph Zammit the ball was blocked by the defensive wall.

The woodwork denied Mgarr on 54 minutes. After Simon Abela was fouled outside the area, the ball thumped against the bar from the free kick by the same player, the ball was partly cleared and Matthew Vella shot the rebound slightly over the bar.

Mgarr kept pressing and after Zak Vella was fouled outside the area the ball missed the upright by inches from the free- kick by Stefan Vella.

In the 63rd minute Mgarr were rewarded for their efforts. After a well-taken flag kick by Nicholas Debono, Noel Vassallo scored with a low shot from inside the area.

In Tarxien's only attack in the second period they were awarded a free kick on the left flank of the area which was taken by Clive Fenech but Franklin Muscat turned the ball to corner with a diving save.

As the game ended in a draw penalty kicks had to be taken to determine the winner.

Tarxien managed to score four and Warren Zerafa had his shot saved by Muscat. Mgarr scored two, Noel Vassallo drove out and Chris Agius saved the shot by Simon Abela.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil

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APS Bank U/16 Section B

Balzan Y 2

Marsaxlokk 0

Balzan were the better outfit throughout the game being more precise in their passing and created much more occasions than Marsaxlokk who only managed three shots at goal one of which came from a free kick.

George Caruana tried very hard with his good runs down the flanks but found little or no support from his team mates. Keeper Luca Bugeja saved his side from a much heavier defeat and the woodwork denied Balzan on three occasions.

The first three occasions were created by Balzan. Neil Abela served Anthony Mifsud with a through ball outside Marsaxlokk's half but Michael Borg's freekick was saved by Bugeja. Daniel Cachia served Duncan Micallef with a long throw-in in the area and Bugeja saved his header. Duncan Micallef saw his free kick hitting the post and Bugeja saved the rebound shot by Neil Abela.

George Caruana crossed the ball from the right but found no takers in the Balzan area. Balzan resumed with their pressure. A well-taken flag kick by Michael Borg was headed away by a defender. Balzan keeper Bernard Camilleri saved a free kick by Christian Grech and after George Caruana was fouled outside the area Camilleri saved the shot by Dalton Magri.

Balzan completely dominated the second period with Marsaxlokk trying very hard to operate on the break. From an Anthony Mifsud flag kick the ball was partially fisted away by Bugeja and the ball was cleared away with difficulty.

The woodwork denied Balzan in the 54th minute when the ball hit the bar from a shot by substitute Andrea Deguara after he won a loose ball in Marsaxlokk's area.

The deadlock was broken on 59 minutes. Duncan Micallef served Andrea Deguara with a through ball in the area and he netted with a rising shot from inside the area.

Two minutes later the woodwork came to Marsaxlokk's rescue once again when the ball hit the base of the upright from a shot by Lydon Micallef.

In the 64th minute Balzan doubled the score through Michael Borg who was served with a short corner pass by Anthony Mifsud and scored with a lobbed ball.

Two minutes later the score nearly became 3-0; a one-two between Lydon Micallef and Manolito Nappa ended with Bugeja coming out of his charge to smother the ball with a diving save at Micallef’s feet.

In a last fling by Marsaxlokk, substitute Justin Pava served Caruana on the right flank who saw his shot hitting the base of the upright with Balzan keeper Bernard Camilleri beaten.

Referee: Jude Utulu

Player of match: Duncan Micallef (Balzan Y)