Zebbug R 0

Melita  4

Section B winners Melita made sure of a passage to the semifinals after scoring four times after the resumption against Section C 3 winners Zebbug R who were very slow in their approaches and also erratic in their passing.

The Zebbug rearguard played the offside game to perfection and the Melita forwards were caught 10 times in the trap. 

The first action came from Melita as Ryan Spiteri served Malcolm Gatt Baldacchino with a through ball in the area but a defender cleared the ball from his shot.

At the other end, Carl Cauchi served Carl Pace with a through ball outside the area but the ball sailed well over the bar from his shot.

In another action by Melita, Jeremy Mousu’ dribbled past a defender on the left flank, served Antoine Attard in the area and Zebbug keeper Samuel Bigeja denied him with a diving save.

Melita then won a corner kick on the left flank which was well-taken by Mousu’ and the ball missed the far post by inches as no player applied the killer touch.  

Zebbug won two free kicks in succession. Cauchi was fouled in midfield and Melita keeper Philip Schranz, who had a quiet Sunday afternoon, saved the shot by the same player.

Shawn Borg was then fouled just outside the area and Schranz saved the shot by Tyrone Muscat.

The last actions before the break were all created by Melita. Gatt Baldacchino entered the area after beating a defender and it seemed that he had been tripped but the referee showed him the yellow card for simulation.

Attard floated a perfect high ball in the area from a free kick and Neil Bonello missed the upright with a header. Mousu’ then saw an effort missing the far post while Isaac Curmi had a shot hitting the base of the upright with Bugeja beaten who then saved the rebound shot by Attard.

The second period was a total dominance by Melita as Zebbug created only two actions. Mousu’ served Curmi with a cross from the right and the ball was cleared to a corner following his close-range shot from inside the area. After a well-taken flag kick by Mousu’, Aidan Mizzi headed slightly out from inside the area. 

In the 53rd minute Melita opened the score as substitute Cain Abela served Mousu’ in the area after beating a defender and the latter shot hard and low past Bugeja. 

In a Zebbug action Wayne Zerafa served Pace with a long through ball and Schranz was forced to come out of his charge to smother the ball by diving at his feet. 

The score became 2-0 in the 62nd minute after a choral move between three players. Spiteri released Mousu’ on the right flank who then crossed the ball to Abela with the latter making no mistake with a low shot.   

Zebbug were reduced to 10 men as Shawn Borg was shown the red card after a second booking.

Melita scored two further goals in as many minutes between the 73rd and 75th minutes. Substitute Jeremy Spiteri Bailey served Mousu with a through ball in the area and he scored with a lobbed ball and Aidan Mizzi pounced on a loose ball outside the area and after Bugeja partly saved his shot, Abela scored from the rebound.  

Referee: Darryl Agius