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29.10.13 Carelessness costs Swieqi dear
FA TROPHY Saturday, 26th October 2013 Venue: Luxol Stadium
SWIEQI UNITED 2 SIGGIEWI 5 (AET)
Football is certainly a cruel game, and this was evident when Swieqi succumbed to a last minute goal in the FA Trophy fixture against Siggiewi. Buoyed by a great pre-match atmosphere, Swieqi hit the ground running with some good penetrating passes during the first 10 minutes. With Dos Santos operating very effectively on the wing, his astute dribbling and mazy runs began to cause many problems for the Siggiewi defence. It therefore came as no surprise when just after ten minutes, MATTHEW FENECH latched on to Dos Santos' cross to make the score 1-0 Swieqi. The Blues did not stop advancing and on 20 minutes, Robert Magro dispatched a clinical cross from the right which found KENNETH EKEZIE's head to make it 2-0 and Swieqi were in dreamland.
As is often the case in a cup tie, the inevitable always happens. Merely five minutes later, JOSEPH MERCIECA's shot from the half way line eluded keeper Jianiro Camilleri, hit the upright and went it. A cruel and soft goal to concede from a Swieqi perspective. More drama was to unfold at the end of the first half. Whilst debutant Sean Sebastian Gordon was arguing, Siggiewi player Mark Camilleri grabbed him by the neck and pushed him away. Camilleri was duly sent off thereby reducing Siggiewi to ten men.
The Blues were bent on protecting their priceless lead in the second half and went close on several occasions too. Dos Santos was again dangerous with Mark Spiteri's shot also resulting in a good save from the Siggiewi keeper. With Siggiewi growing into the game and the Blues defending, it came as no surprise when on 93 minutes, JASON CAMILLERI found the net after he was left unmarked from a dangerous cross. A cruel and bitter ending for Swieqi who were 30 seconds away from progressing to the 3rd Round of the cup.
The goal was certainly a killer blow as Swieqi totally collapsed in Extra-time. Goals by JASON CAMILLERI, LUKE CASSAR and MARK DEGUARA capped a disappointing end to a fixture which had started with so much promise. A very harsh lesson for Swieqi United but one which entails a quick recovery as the focus now shifts towards the League.
Swieqi United: J. Camilleri, K. Calleja, G. Refalo, E. Caruana, S. Borg, M. Fenech (T. Kurtulush), K. Ekezie, R. Magro, M. Spiteri, S. Gordon (W. Galea), A. Dos Santos (T. Naudi)
Siggiewi: J. Cilia, A. Cassar, J. Grima, E. Vella, N. Galea, M. Muscat, M. Camilleri, J. Mercieca (L. Cassar), D. Cluett (J. Camilleri), C. Briffa (M. Deguara), K. Buhagiar
Referee: Etienne Mangion
Article: Dr Michael Calleja
Photography: (C) Jeffrick Cachia. http://www.facebook.com/jeffrickcachia89
