Jum
il-Helsien Cup Final
31-03-2004
Zebbug Rovers 2 - Nadur Youngsters 2 (6-4 pen)
Gozo Stadium
report
by Charlie Grech
Zebbug Rovers won this season's Jum il-Helsien (Freedom Day) Cup, beating Nadur Youngsters 6-4 on penalties. It was a completely different match from the 4-0 beating last Sunday as Nadur played their hearts out and should feel very unlucky to finish on the loosing end. The Youngsters were without Charles Hili and Mark Buttigieg, injured, but their young side did enough to keep the cup at their club, but luck seems to be looking the other way.
Zebbug
were twice behind and manage to level the score in the last minute of
the game. Nadur had Panic injured
after only 11 minutes and A. Camilleri sent off on the 39th minute.
The game started with a shot from Eboh, which Falzon saved well.
Substitute J. Portelli hit the post from a Simoncic free kick in
the 15th minute. Nadur were
enjoying the better possession of the ball and it came with no surprise
that they opened the score on the 21st minute.
Again it was Alexander Simoncic who found the bottom right corner
of the net with a direct free kick. A.
Portelli should have increased the score but he was slow and the ball
was cleared. Simoncic provided
another chance for A. Portelli who’s shot was stopped by the post
again.
The second period of the game started with Zebbug going all out for the equalizer. Galea shot wide after only 35 seconds. Galea found Eboh whose header was well saved by Falzon for a corner. On the hour mark Zebbug were awarded a penalty when Portelli challenge on Cardona was judged as a foul in the area. Falzon saved Mahjoub Touali shot only for the same player to put away the rebound. 1-1.
Ten
men Nadur continued to play well and were still trying to take the game
their way. Simoncic found Chris Camilleri on the left and with a nice
shot put the Whites in the lead again, on the 71st minute.
Camilleri again shot wide from a good position soon after.
Falzon saved Cordina’s shot for a corner.
A. Portelli beat his marker but was slow and Camilleri cleared
the danger for Zebbug.
When everyone was thinking that Nadur were to be handed the Cup, on the 44th minute Zebbug were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area, in a central position, and Mahjoub Touali score with Falzon putting a hand to the ball but was not able to stop it going to the back of the net. 2-2 and the game had to go into extra time. P. Cardona solo run ended with his shot going well over the post. Nadur were feeling tired but were battling like brave lion hearts. Eboh took a short clearance by the Nadur defense and his tremendous shot went just wide.
In
the second period of extra time Galea’s lob was well saved by Falzon
for a corner. Simoncic tried his
luck only to see Xuereb saving well. C.
Camilleri took a cross by Simoncic but his shot was weak and gave Xuereb
no problems. With no side able to
find the winning goal, the match had to be decided by the penalty shoot
out. Nadur scored 2 by Kevin Buttigieg and Alexander Simoncic while
Mario Bonello's shot was saved by Xuereb and Brian Portelli hit the
upright.
Zebbug
scored the 4 they took by Mario Azzopardi, Joseph Cordina, John Eboh and
Mahjoub Touali. This was Zebbug
Rovers fourth-consecutive victory over Nadur Youngsters.
These 2 sides will be meeting again at least two times more this
season, one in the final of the G.F.A. Cup (date still to be decided)
and in the last game of the third round of the league.
Referee:
Anton Zammit
The
Nadur Youngsters formation: Justin Falzon; Jeffrey Meilak; Kevin
Buttigieg; Brian Portelli; Alexander Simoncic; Mario Bonello; Paul
Camilleri; Aaron Camilleri; Radivoj Panic (Joseph Portelli); Anthony
Portelli (Frank Paul Azzopardi); Chris Camilleri.
