Marsaskala win historic promotion to Challenge League

NAL PROMOTION DECIDER 2021/22

Marsaskala 2 Gharghur 1

Marsaskala, one of Malta’s youngest clubs with their foundation year of 2010, were promoted to the Challenge League, beating Gharghur 2-1 in the Promotion Decider on Saturday afternoon. A wonderful feat for the seasiders, who had a fantastic season in Group B of the Amateur League, leaving hot favourites Zabbar St Patrick behind them in the ranking, only to bow down for group winners Zurrieq. Gharghur, who reacted strongly in the second half after Marsaskala opened the score just before half-time, have one more chance to win promotion as they now play in the Final of the Promotion Play-Offs.

With Gharghur, the suspended Philip Camilleri was missing in defence, while success coach Kevin Borg-Degiorgio opted to start without Jean Scholey and David Zammit, the former coming in as a second half substitute. Marsaskala had centre-back Mark Vassallo out injured, while influential midfielder Abubaker Bello-Osagie started on the bench but entering the fray late in the match.

On 11 minutes, Fabrizio Zammit sent Adrian Carabott through, with Nicholas Formosa pushing Carabott down just outside the area. Nearly 40-year-old veteran Joseph Chetcuti drilled the free-kick in the Gharghur wall, who eventually cleared the danger. Five minutes later, the Gharghur defence failed to clear the ball from a corner action and Shawn Cesare’s header ended up against the crossbar. Marsaskala definitely saw more of the ball in the first half, pushing Gharghur into their own half. Two minutes before the break, Marsaskala opened the score when Fabrizio Zammit was sent through on the right and beat Gharghur custodian Andrew Zammit with a low shot to give his team a deserved 1-0 lead at half-time.

On the resumption, Gharghur tried to get back into the match. Kurt Camilleri tried his luck with a shot from just outside the box on 52 minutes which missed target by an inch, while on 59 minutes, Marsaskala escaped when an Ikechukwu Igwemeke thunderbolt hit the woodwork with Daniel Attard completely beaten. Three minutes later on the other side, Chetcuti missed a sitter, with Zammit blocking his close-range effort. On 77 minutes, Gharghur equalised thanks to a glorious header by Formosa from a precise Scholey cross, which gave Attard no chance. The game looked to head for extra time, however, two minutes before the end of regular time, it was again Fabrizio Zammit who scored, this time with a splendid header from a Josuel Spiteri corner kick. After the final whistle, Marsaskala celebrated their biggest achievement in the club’s history in front of their numerous supporters present at the Luxol Stadium. Their season is not over yet as they play in the Amateur Cup final against Zabbar St Patrick later on this month.


NAL PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS 1^ST ROUND

Kalkara United 5 Mdina Knights 1

The first Promotion Play-Off between Kalkara United and Mdina Knights on Sunday afternoon proved to be a no contest, with Kalkara dominating the fixture from start to finish. The 5-1 final score was a right reflection of strength, with Mdina only showing their true potential after the match was decided already. Before the match, Kalkara goalkeeper Jonathan Vella was given a memento for his 300^th career game.

On eight minutes, Mdina custodian Wallace Galea performed a great save on an Ahmad Ayoub edge-of-the-box free-kick. From the corner that followed, Kalkara took the lead through an unfortunate own goal by Mdina defender Gianluca Vella. On 18 minutes, Kalkara doubled thanks to Ayoub, who finished off a perfect through pass by Andrea Hammett. Mdina’s first goal attempt arrived on 28 minutes when Andy-Paul Camilleri brought the best out of Vella with a rising 20-meters distance shot, which the Kalkara custodian turned into a corner. However, on the half hour, Kalkara added their third thanks to a tap in by Andriy Pisani, who rounded off a wonderful individual action by Michael Theuma, who outplayed two opponents in brilliant style. Two minutes later, Matthew Degiorgio missed a sitter in front of an empty goal after some good work by Ayoub on the right wing. The same Degiorgio saw his grounder turned into a corner by Galea on 43 minutes.

However, seven minutes after the break, Degiorgio headed home Kalkara’s number four at the far post after a cross by Jael Vella. On 62 minutes, Mdina were awarded a penalty after a handball incident in the Kalkara box by Cedric Zahra. James Borg coolly converted the spot kick to give Mdina a lifeline. But substitute Joao Orban added Kalkara’s fifth on 69 minutes, beating substitute goalkeeper Dwayne Camilleri from close-range. Kalkara will now meet Zabbar St Patrick in the second round of the Promotion Play-Offs this Saturday.


Mtarfa 3 Msida St Joseph 1

Mtarfa featured for the very first time in their young history in the Promotion Play-Offs, shaking off the resistance of Msida St Joseph by beating them 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. It was a deserved win for the Northerners, who now will play Birzebbuga St Peter’s in the 2^nd round this upcoming Saturday.

In the 11^th minute of the game, Mtarfa were awarded a penalty after a handball incident in the Msida box by Jurgen Gauci. Kurt Zammit did not fail from the spot to give his team an early advantage. Msida reacted well with the front trio of Danny Claridge, Warren Zerafa and Jason Camilleri keeping the Mtarfa rear guard on their toes. But the best chances in the first half were for Mtarfa. On 36 minutes, a Daryl Micallef grounder from outside the area just missed target, while in the 43th minute, Alejandro Brincat outran his direct marker on the right wing but hit the side-netting with only Msida goalkeeper Justin Tonna to beat.  

Five minutes after the break, Brincat’s lob over the on-storming Tonna just missed target. Just before the hour, Msida equalised. A free-kick was given just outside the box for a hands ball by Diego Agius, with Jason Camilleri curling the free-kick top corner with Clive Caruana beaten. Msida were clearly encouraged by this goal and pressed even harder for a winner. But it was Mtarfa who regained the lead on 69 minutes thanks to Nestor Canas, who beat Tonna with an opportunistic goal. The unmarked Canas could have added Mtarfa’s third on 82 minutes but his attempt from the edge of the box sailed inches wide. But it was substitiute Dylan Douglas Camilleri who put the result beyond doubt with a cross shot on 85 minutes which totally surprised Tonna. Gauci’s attempt for Msida two minutes into stoppage time was well saved by Caruana.

Images copyright by Stephen Gatt