VICTOR CIANGURA

Good Causes Fund Cup

U-14 InterSection KO

St Andrew 1

Floriana 2

Floriana qualified to play the semi final against Gozo after beating St Andrew with the odd goal in three. They enjoyed the lion's share of exchanges in the first period but they lacked the final finishing touch. St Andrew created only two occasions in the first period. Referee Mohammed Khalil had a very firm control of the proceedings and very cleverly applied the advantage clause.

The first action came from Floriana when Sacha Borg was fouled on the left flank but the ball was cleared by a Saints defender after the free kick shot by Jeremy Baldacchino.

In their first attack in the 7th minute, St Andrew opened the score. After a run down the right flank by Jean P Calleja, who outsped three opponents in the process, he served Nicholas Mifsud Bonnici with a cross and he netted after entering the area.

Following this early set-back Floriana created occasion after another: Zachary Mizzi was fouled on the left flank and from the free kick shot by Carl Dalli, Sacha Borg drove over the bar from inside the area, Kurt Farrugia served Joshua Cutajar with a cross from the right but Saints keeper Zack Valletta saved his shot and from a flag kick by Dalli, Luca Casha headed over the bar, and the last action before the break came from St Andrew as Jean P Calleja served Michael Johnson in the area, Greens keeper Jurgen Borg partly saved his shot and the ball was somehow cleared to safety,

The Greens created more occasions than St Andrew who opted to operate on long balls and crowded the midfield in an effort to defend their slender lead.

Substitute Luke Cesareo served Jean P Calleja with a through ball but Borg served his effort from outside the area and Luke Mercieca served Jean P Calleja with another through ball but he missed the upright with his shot.

The reaction by Floriana was a cross from the right by Dalli which was partly cleared and Luke Scorfna drove the rebound over the bar and Zackary Mizzi served Luca Casha in the area but the Saints keeper denied him with a timely sortie.

In the 51st minute Floriana equalised: a Saints forward was caught in an off side position in three quarters pitch, the free kick was taken by the Floriana keeper who floated a high ball in the area and after it was partially cleared came in the path of Luca Casha and from his hard drive the ball was deflected into the net by a Saints defender.

Three minutes later St Andrew came very close to take the lead as Jean P Calleja served Mifsud Bonnici in the area and the ball missed the upright by inches from his shot. A minute before normal time Floriana scored a dramatic winner.

Luca Casha won a tussle on the right flank and after advancing served Sacha Borg on the the left flank and he scored a beauty with a rising shot from 30 metres in the top right hand corner of the net past a helples Valletta.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil

Gozo 2

Marsa 1

The Gozitans managed to qualify for the semi final after defeating Marsa in a game that never reached any heights. The youngsters from the sister island were more aggresive in their approaches and more precise in their passing. Marsa also had their good moments but they lack punch up front.

Marsa were first to threaten: after Anthony Gafa was fouled on the left flank the ball was cleared by a defender following the free kick shot by Brandon Bugeja, after a run down the right flank by Jeremy Vella the ball was cleared to a corner from his cross, which was taken by Bugeja but Juan Scerri headed out from inside the area.

The Gozitans reacted as Ian Xuereb served Steve Dimech in the area but he drove high over the bar and after a free kick shot by Jonathan Said the ball was partly cleared and Marsa keeper Malcolm Cassar saved a header by Chris Dimech and the last action before the break came from Marsa as Elland Vella served Jeremy Vella with a cross from the left but he headed over the bar.

Five minutes after restart Gozo forged ahead through Kevin Farrugia who headed in from inside the area after he was put through by Jason Vella. After a run down the right flank by Jeremy Vella, Gozo keeper Matthew Muscat neutralised the ball from his dangerous cross. The Gozitans kept insisting and the Marsa keeper saved a header by Xuereb after a cross from the right by Robert Vassallo.

The score became 2-0 in the 47th minute: after a rund down the right flank by Vassallo he served Xuereb with a cross in the area, Cassar partially saved his shot and the same player scored from the rebound.

Marsa now were trying very hard to get back in the game and Muscat was forced to fist the ball away after a cross from the right by Jeremy Vella and did like-wise minutes later after a free kick shot by Brandon Bugeja.

Two minutes before the end Marsa reduced the gap after Scerri was fouled outside the area and Elland Vella scored a spectacular goal with a rising shot from 30 metres.

Referee:Jonathan Bonello