Zabbar St Patrick beat Marsaskala to claim deserved silverware

NATIONAL AMATEUR CUP FINAL 2021/22

24.04.2022
(Centenary Stadium, Ta' Qali)
ZABBAR ST PATRICK...6
MARSASKALA...2
(HT 2-2)

Fausto Craighero’s Zabbar St Patrick gave their dismal season some shine by winning the National Amateur Cup after beating neighbours Marsaskala last Sunday with the emphatic scoreline of 6-2. The yellows, quite incredibly, came from 2-0 down but after Marsaskala were reduced to ten men early in the match, Zabbar were all over their opponents, with their forward line cutting the Marsaskala rear-guard into pieces for the rest of the match. Thus, Zabbar became the first winners of this competition, after last seasons’s final between Zurrieq and Msida St Joseph was not played due to the Covid-19 measurements imposed.

Marsaskala, who won promotion to the Challenge League earlier this month, had the most perfect start they could wish for as after just two minutes, Adrian Carabott received a pass by captain Joseph Chetcuti, who dribbled in the box, serving Fabrizio Zammit whose low shot beat Zabbar goalkeeper Liam Lagana . Seven minutes later, Marsaskala doubled when a freekick from Dylan Zarb was headed past Lagana by Shawn Cesare, whose header ended up in the back of the net.However, on 16 minutes, Cesare received his marching orders with a straight red after denying David Oliveira an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Zabbar immediately took advantage as Miguel Ciantar, who played a blinder just as fellow midfielder Terence Agius, blasted the free-kick past Marasakala custodian Mario Bartolo. Zabbar equalised on 34 minutes when Isaac Abela crossed into the box, with Bartolo punching the ball into the feet of David Oliveira, who made no mistake from close range.

The second half belonged to Zabbar, who added another four goals to their rally. In the 52nd minute, Zabbar’s Kenneth Aquilina put his side into the lead when he received a ball from Francesco Gusman, beating Bartolo with a low shot. Aquilina came close to score Zabbar’s fourth just after the hour but his long-range shot sailed just high of the crossbar. But on 63 minutes, David Oliveira added another goal to his name, after a wonderful Zabbar built-up released the Brazilian who sent his shot through the legs of the Marsaskala goalie. Seven minutes later, St Patrick added goal number five thanks to a rare Carlo Magro goal and on 78 minutes, Aquilina added his second of the afternoon after receiving from substitute Rowen Ben Hamed, beating Bartolo for the sixth time.

After the match, Zabbar captain Carl Magro received the Amateur Cup out of the hands of MFA Vice President Adrian Casha, much to the joy of the faithful numerous Zabbar supporters who have been backing their side since day one of this ending 2021/22 season. This Saturday, Amateur League winners Zurrieq and Amateur Cup winners Zabbar St Patrick will close down the season in the National Amateur League with a match for more silverware, the Amateur Super Cup.


Images copyright by Stephen Gatt