St Patrick 0

Zebbug R 0

(St Patrick won 4-3 on penalties)

A scrappy match was decided by the penalty shoot out, with the Saints finally emerging winners 4-3. The match had nothing really worth noting, with St Patrick the better team in the first half, even though playing with a man less as from the fifteen minutes. In the second half Zebbug dominated the first part but St Patrick again took the upper hand and dominated the final stages especially after Zebbug were in turn reduced to ten men.

St Patrick were the better team in the early stages of the match even though Zebbug held well with some constant pressing especially in the centre of the field. After missing some opportunities, the Saints were dealt a severe blow when Mark Pullicino was sent off for elbowing Lagana on 17 minutes.

Zebbug grew in composure as they tried to take advantage of their numerical superiority. On 25 minutes Zebbug went very close when Marlon Vella was blocked by a well timed sortie by the St Patrick goalkeeper.

On the half hour St Patrick had their best patch creating a series of scoring chances with the Zebbug goalkeeper always on the alert.

On 33 minutes a Bronwen Bugeja shot was saved by Bartolo, and a minute later a Luke Sciberras powerful run was finally blocked by Bartolo. On 36 minutes from a Sciberras freekick, Alex Ellul's shot on the turn was brilliantly saved by Bartolo and from the resulting corner Luke Sciberras again tested the Zebbug goalkeeper.

On the resumption Zebbug introduced Gilbert Scerri and Silvan Privitelli and these two players gave the Rangers a new lease of life. They dominated the first fifteen minutes of the match going near with a Marlon Vella shot that was locked by Mintoff. Zebbug's best chance came on 60 minutes when Deguara's header was brilliantly saved by Mintoff. Minutes later Lagana tested Mintoff from the edge of the area. St Patrick introduced Tonna for Milovanovic to block Gilbert Scerri's runs on the left flank.

Nine minutes from time both teams were back on level terms, when Zebbug captain George Saliba was sent off after his second booking. The Saints were unlucky a minute later when off a Failla freekick, the ball came in Zerafa's path, and his shot slammed against the base of the upright.

The match had to be resolved with the penalty shoot out. Both sides scored their first three penalties with Cassar, Failla and Zerafa on the mark for St Patrick and Stephen Calleja, Gilbert Scerri and Lagana for Zebugg. David Gauci's penalty was saved by the Zebbug goalkeeper but Zebbug failed to take advantage as they also missed the fourth penalty with Marlon Vella shooting wide. Ellul scored the fifth penalty for St Patrick, with goalkeeper Mintoff effecting the decisive save off Deguara's final penalty.

St Patrick - S. Mintoff, R. Mifsud, S. Zerafa, M. Pullicino, D. Milovanovic (Y. Tonna), B. Bugeja, A. Ellul, L. Sciberras, J. Farrugia (G. Failla), T. Farrugia (R. Cassar), D. Gauci.

Zebbug R - B. Bartolo, J. Mercieca, G. Frendo (G. Scerri), E. Calleja, R. Ellul (S. Privitelli), J. Cilia, A. Lagana, S. Calleja, G. Saliba, M.A. Deguara, M. Vella

Referee - T. Farrugia Cann