The Good Cause Fund Cup

Under 16 KO Second phase

Birkirkara 2

Mosta 0

Birkirkara managed to qualify for the quarter final stage after beating Mosta who were without two of their regulars through injury, but they deserved the verdict as they were convincing in their approaches.

The first action came from Mosta when David Causon was fouled on the right flank of the area but Stripes keeper Christian Francica saved Scerri’s free kick .

Birkirkara soon reacted by creating action after another; Christian Gatt served Wayne Scerri in the area but Mosta keeper Noel Attard foiled him from concluding with a timely sortie, Gatt was fouled on the left edge of the area and the ball was cleared away from the free kick shot by the same player, Gatt served Scerri in the area and was illegally floored by two defenders but the referee saw nothing wrong and waved play-on and Scerri was put through just outside Mosta’s area and after he was pulled from behind by a defender the ball missed the bar by inches from the free kick shot by Andreas Galea, and in a Mosta reaction, Mark Vassallo served Alex Cini with a through ball in the area but Francica foiled him from concluding with a perfect timely sortie.

After a well-taken flag kick by Gatt, Attard partly fisted the ball away and from the rebound shot by Eman Borg the ball was cleared to another corner, at the other end, Gianluca Theuma served Cini with a through ball in the area but he was foiled from further progression by a timely tackle by Carl Montebello and the last action before the break came from Birkirkara as Scerri served Diansand Brincat with a through ball on the right flank and from the latter’s cross Scerri missed the upright from his shot

Five minutes after restart the Stripes forged ahead. James Scerri handled the ball outside Mosta’s area, from the free kick by Lee Borg the ball was partially cleared and Brincat pounced on the loose ball to score with a low shot.

After this early second-half lead Birkirkara kept pressing and created two further actions.

Mosta also had their good moments between the 52nd and 57th minute as they created four actions in succession but failed to equalise.

After a run down the left flank Alex Cini crossed the ball in the area which was partly cleared and from the rebound shot by Theuma, Francica turned the ball to corner, Cini then served Theuma with a through ball just outside Birkirkara’s area and Francica came out of his charge to block the ball from the latter’s shot, after David Causon was fouled outside the area the ball was cleared with difficulty from the free kick shot taken by James Scerri and after Bernard Galea served Theuma with a through ball Francica saved his shot from outside the area in two attempts.

In the second minute of added time Birkirkara doubled the score. Matthew Cassar won a loose ball in Mosta’s area and served Brincat with a through ball who after entering the area he shot past Attard for a second time obtaining his side’s second goal and a personal brace.

Referee: Josef Bartolo

APS Bank U-16 Section B

Naxxar L. 3

Msida 2

The final score belies the true difference between the two teams as Naxxar were much more organized and methodical in their approaches. Following this result Naxxar are on 13 points from six games and Msida are on 8 points from seven games, this was the fourth win for Naxxar while Msida suffered their third defeat.

The first action came from Naxxar when Shaun Borg Cardona served Anthony Spiteri with a through ball in the area who lobbed the ball past the onrushing Msida keeper Matthew Mulholland but Kevin Formosa cleared the ball on the fatal line.

On the other end, Charles Fenech beat two defenders but his shot missed the upright by inches.

Naxxar opened the score in the 17th minute. Kurt Formosa was fouled on the left flank, Clive Borg Bonaci scored with the free kick - a beautiful rising shot from 40 metres.

Minutes later Msida were awarded a free kick. Phiram floated a perfect ball in Naxxar’s area and Ryan Xuereb headed the ball out.

The last two actions before the break were created by Naxxar.

After a run down the left flank by Andrea Farrugia he served Anthony Spiteri with a cross-pass but Mulholland neutralised the ball and after Borg Cardona was fouled outside the area Mulholland saved in two attempts Borg Bonaci’s free kick shot by Borg Bonaci.

Two minutes after restart Naxxar doubled the score. Anthony Spiteri served Andrea Farrugia with a through ball in the area who was tackled by James Xuereb who in an attempt to clear the ball he deflected the ball into his own net.

Encouraged by this second goal Naxxar kept pressing. But the woodwork denied Msida in the 52nd minute. Sachai Phiram pounced on a faulty clearance outside Naxxar’s area and the ball thumped the bar from his strong shot with Naxxar keeper Anton Micallef beaten.

Mulholland then saved a cross-shot from the left by Spiteri after he was served with a through ball by Andrea Farrugia. Msida won a corner kick on the right flank which was well-taken by Phiram and Charles Fenech headed out from inside the area.

Naxxar scored a third goal on the hour. The ever-present Andrea Farrugia served Spiteri on the right flank with a perfect through ball and from his cross, substitute Ryan Sammut netted with a low shot.

Six minutes from the end Msida managed to reduce the gap as Phiram was fouled outside Naxxar’s area and he scored a beauty with a fine rising shot from the resultant free kick from 35 metres.

In the fourth minute of added time they scored a second goal as James Xuereb served Phiram in the area, the latter’s shot was partially cleared and Jonathan Attard was on hand to shoot in the rebound.

Referee: Matthew Vella

Player of the match: Andrea Farrugia (Naxxar L)