Under 19 Youth League Section B

Rabat Ajax FC   0 - 1   Lija Athletic FC   [Ht: 0 - 0]

Date: 21-Sep-2006 ~ Venue: Pace Grasso Stadium ~ Kick-Off: 09.00hrs.

The Lija Under 19 team, struggled much more than expected to beat a sprightly Rabat Ajax side and bag the first three points of the season. The Magpies never conceded any spaces and fought for each ball in mid-field. The Rabat goal-keeper, James Borg, must also be commended for the numerous saves that he performed throughout the match. The first minutes of the match were rather stale, with very few scoring opportunities created by both sides. It was only by the 18th minute, when a first clear chance was noticed. Lija Athletic's skipper, Daniel Cremona received a brilliant cross-shot from the left but then missed a sitter in front of goal, as his finishing shot was superbly blocked at point-blank by the Rabat goalie. On 26 minutes, Andrè Scicluna saved the day for the Lija rearguard when he pulled the ball off the fatal line just in time, after the keeper mishandled it while attempting to keep away. The Magpies started growing in their play, and close to the half hour they went close through their captain Paul Falzon, who curled a shot that sailed slightly high off the bar. Four minutes from the break, the Rabat custodian performed another great save as he firmly gripped the ball into his clutches following a menacing low angled shot. Three minutes later, the Reds were once again close, but Karl Saliba's effort hit the side-netting, very close to the post. 

[ Half-time: 0-0 ]

The first minutes of the second period were rather drab, but ten minutes upon re-start, Hubert Friggieri came close for Lija with a weak shot. Nevertheless, his effort was easily kept away by the alert Rabat keeper. Five minutes later, it was the Reds again attacking - Bryan Deguara unleashed a powerful angled volley that was somehow repelled by Borg, the Rabat custodian. In the 64th minute, Andrè Scicluna cleared an insidious ball from the area, following a corner for Rabat. The Magpies were once again dangerous some instances later, and caught the Lija defence on a wrong foot, with three players racing against two. Kevin Ellul, the Lija keeper, kept out in two attempts and neutralised the danger. The Athletic were also denied a penalty mid-way through the second half, after Bryan Deguara was seen being forcefully pulled from his shirt in the penalty area, in a very clear open scoring opportunity. Lija kept insisting and pushed hard for the winning goal. In the 78th minute, the Rabat Ajax defenders as well as some magnificent keeper saves denied Lija a goal on three consecutive occasions, when a series of shots never found a breakthrough within the impermeable Rabat rearguard. On 84 minutes, Daniel Cremona missed a good chance for the Reds when he shot high a free-kick, awarded from an ideal position. Nevertheless, three minutes from time, Cremona made up for his previous lost chance when he finally broke the stalemate and awarded Lija with a hard-fought, narrow 1-0 victory. He beautifully lobbed the ball over a posse of Rabat defenders and their misplaced keeper, who were all gathered in the penalty area helplessly staring at the ball descending nicely into an empty net.

[ Full-time: 0-1 ]

Lija Athletic player of the Match: Andrè Scicluna.

  << Team Formation >>

<< Kevin Ellul -- Josef Laferla -- Hubert Friggieri -- Stephen Tanti (Carmel Muscat) -- Daniel Gauci -- Daniel Cremona -- Christian Agius -- Mark Cremona -- Karl Saliba (Omar Toutoungi) -- Andrè Scicluna -- Bryan Deguara >>

Report by Samuel M. Cutajar ©  

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