Senglea champions, Luqa promoted to Challenge League

NATIONAL AMATEUR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF
Senglea Athletic 2-0 Msida St Joseph
The winners of the 2022/23 Izibet National Amateur League are Senglea Athletic, who beat Msida St Joseph 2-0 in the Championship Play Off. The team of coach Edgar Degabriele were the better team on the day and therefore their victory was much deserved. Compliments however also for Neville Galea’s Msida, who battled hard but had to admit that Senglea were the most powerful side on Sunday morning. The Reds also had centre-back Edward Bugeja missing through injury, one of their best players this season, which forced Galea into a few changes. The match itself was an enjoyable one, with both sets of supporters cheering their players in a very good attendance.
The first action was created by Msida in the 11th minute when Kevin Sammut was denied by Senglea keeper Carmelo Caruana. On 22 minutes, Senglea were awarded a penalty when Carmelo Farrugia brought down Larens Vella in the box. However, from the 11 metre-mark, Timmy Thomas saw his shot parried by the young goalkeeper Andre Spiteri. But Senglea were not to be denied and took the lead in the 38th minute when Sebastian Perdomo, one of the team’s top performers this season, advanced well in his usual style and beat Spiteri with a shot from just outside the box.
Right on the resumption, the Cottonera side opened well as it was Aidan Azzopardi who hit the post with a powerful shot. For the remaining part of the match, Msida tried hard to force an equaliser but there was no way through the Senglea rear-guard. In fact, on the counter-attack it was Senglea who created the best chances and sealed the victory at the death after Azzopardi took full advantage of a defensive blunder, much to the delight of the Senglea faithful who set the party going at the Centenary Stadium. At the end of the match, captain Timmy Thomas was presented with the cup by the MFA Vice-President Adrian Casha.

NATIONAL AMATEUR LEAGUE RUNNERS-UP PLAY-OFF
Mgarr United 1-2 Luqa St Andrew’s
A bit later on Sunday but then at the Sirens Stadium, 2nd placed teams Luqa St Andrew’s and Mgarr United battled it out to determine who will be promoted to the 2023/24 Challenge League. Against all odds, it was Luqa who came out victors, beating an in-form Mgarr side who surprisingly were kept at bay for long stretches, with the expulsion on the hour of Julian Camilleri as key moment in the match. To be fair, the original St Andrew’s played a great tactical match, with coach Edmond Lufi doing his homework well, creating near perfect tactics to deny their more quoted opponents. Although the match was conditioned by high winds, a very good number of spectators attended this decider, creating a good atmosphere for such an occasion.
In the first twenty minutes both teams struggled to create any scoring opportunities. The first dangerous attack was registered in the 28th minute by Mgarr from a corner action, that was headed just over the bar by Andreas Galea. Unfortunately, the same player got a serious injury minutes later and had to be substituted, which was the first setback for the Northerners.
As the second half commenced, Leejoe Schembri was unlucky not to open the scoring as his shot from a cross by substitute Saturday Nanapere hit the crossbar. Minutes later, Amateur League Top Scorer Christian Saint Ebisindor had another great opportunity to break the deadlock but the shot by the Nigerian was well saved by Luqa custodian Damien Borg. With Mgarr threatening to take the match in control, the game was heavily compromised when ex Luqa player Julian Camilleri received a second yellow card on the hour after a late tackle on young Luqa playmaker Alan Abdelrahman. With this numerical advantage, Luqa finally broke the deadlock ten minutes from time when, from a corner by Abdelrahman, Sam Kind hit home, sending the Luqa supporters into delirium. Deep into stoppage time, the Saints were awarded a penalty when substitute Lucky Nwaogu was fouled inside the box, with Fabien Lufi cheekily converting the spot kick with a ‘Panenka’. Just before the final whistle, Saint Ebisindor did score, pulling one back for Mgarr which turned out to be a consolation goal as seconds later, the party started for Luqa. Despite a turbulent season, with continuously languishing between third and fourth spot, they return to second tier football with a strong finish of the season after an absence of only one season.

PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS QUARTER FINALS
Gharghur 2-3 Kalkara United
Last Saturday, in the first game at the Sirens Stadium, saw Gharghur face off Kalkara in what was a thrilling match that completely lived up to its expectations. With two teams throwing all out on attack, the spectators were certainly not disappointed, with as result an emerging odd goal in five victory for the seasiders. Kalkara established the win through three first half goals, but with Gharghur coming back strong after the break it was an open contest throughout.
The first two goals of the match were both scored from the penalty spot. On 12 minutes, Kalkara’s Dylan Micallef was fouled in the box with Jean-Paul Formosa converting. Seven minutes later, Isaac Chircop was tripped inside the area with Gharghur being awarded a spot kick as well. Erik Pietribiasi, returning from suspension, stepped up and calmly slotted home.
However, Kalkara didn’t take long to re-establish their advantage as in the 25th minute, Kyle Azzopardi found Vadim Gulceac with a through pass, who from the left side of the box put the ball into the top right corner with a shot that took a deflection off a Gharghur defender. In the 31st minute Kyle Azzopardi was in the thick of the action once again as he hit the bar with a shot from outside the box. Two minutes later on the other side, Chircop’s attempt sailed inches over the bar.
Formosa continued to be a headache for the Gharghur defence and just after the half-hour mark, the nippy winger created havoc in the Gharghur box with a shot initially parried by Andrew Zammit but turned into his own goal by Owen Magri.
Kevin Borg-Degiorgio’s side were back in the match on 52 minutes when Sam Agius, who had been giving trouble to the Kalkara defenders throughout the game, reduced the deficit as he was sent through by Pietribiasi, outsmarting goalkeeper Mario Bartolo. After this goal, the game quieted down in terms of goal scoring opportunities, with both defences effectively reorganising. However, the best chances were for Gharghur as on 65 minutes, Robert Ciantar’s shot from outside the box went just wide and in the 80th minute, Pietribiasi’s freekick was saved by Bartolo. In the final minutes of the game, things were hotting up but Kalkara managed to hold on to their slender lead.

Zabbar St Patrick 3-0 Rabat Ajax
In the second match last Saturday at the same venue, Zabbar proved to be too strong for Rabat Ajax, scoring three goals without reply against a plucky Magpies side who were, however, never really into the match. As usual this season, Zabbar displayed attacking tactics, which resulted in two first half goals, while Rabat struggled to impose their game plan throughout the 90 minutes. Therefore, much to the credit of Zabbar, the match never reached great heights with the outcome being decided before the break.
In the 15th minute, St Patrick opened the score when Nick Borg crossed the ball to first half protagonist David Oliveira, who beat a defender and finished off into the bottom corner. Nick Borg and David Oliveira combined again well for Zabbar’s second goal, with the Brazilian beating his direct marker in the air, heading towards Borg who doubled for Zabbar.
After lemon time, Zabbar easily controlled the game, never letting Rabat into the match by creating most of the danger themselves in the speed they dictated. On the stroke of full-time, Kurt Borg dribbled past two players on the left side of the box and finished well to beat Ajax custodian Justin Tonna, rubberstamping his side’s victory with a third goal.
Zabbar will now face Kalkara United tonight at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, kick off 20h30, with the winner playing the Promotion Play-Off Final against Mgarr United on 30 April for the last remaining spot in the 2023/24 Challenge League.