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Ghajnsielem F.C. vs Xewkija Tigers 1-0

(Saturday, 21st September 2002)

Watch the highlights of the match on video streaming Start

Ghajnsielem F.C. beat Xewkija Tigers 1-0 with two minutes to go in sudden death extra-time to claim the Independence Cup for the sixth time in their history and for the first time in the last fifteen years.

This match was war of attrition. In sweltering heat, the two teams were at each other's throats in the first half of the match, with Xewkija gaining the upper hand as the game wore on. There were no clear cut scoring chances to speak of with most of the play taking place between the edges of the two penalty boxes. Ghajnsielem's attack was shorn of the services of Dione Lautier, who was recovering from an operation on his broken nose. Joseph Buttigieg looked out of sorts in his spot. The Blacks tried several tactical moves shifting players around and substituting others.

In the second half, Xewkija felt the strain of their first half effort and conceded the initiative to the Blacks. Ghajnsielem were a blunt instrument up front. Having said that the Blacks did hit the cross-bar on two occasions. First a long range free kick from Martin Cremona struck the bar with Shaun Debono looking. Then with time running out Brian Meilak unleashed a terrific volley that had game winner written all over it. Unfortunately, it struck the bar. In an amazing twist of fate, Xewkija went forward and obtained a free kick in the danger zone. From the ensuing cross Sabri Rais headed into the box. Joseph Attard I, who with Brian Meilak, had an otherwise immaculate game at the back, miscued the clearance. The ball bounced over Sammy Attard and looked set to go in. Incredibly, the ball bounced off the bar and was cleared to safety. The referee blew the final whistle.

Ghajnsielem dictated play in extra-time without creating clear cut chances. Gothard Conte twice got goal-side of Loreto Scicluna but shot wide in one occasion and was dispossessed by the same Scicluna in the other occasion. In the second half of extra-time, Peter Caruana played his trump card. In comes Jeremy Camilleri to fortify the attack. Suddenly the Blacks looked like scoring. Sure enough it happened. Errol Grima, for lack of a better option, slid the ball to the advancing Scicluna on the left. Scicluna dummied left before swinging a cross to Camilleri. Jeremy expertly nodded the ball down to Joseph Attard II, who controlled the ball and went right, before unleashing a shot back across to the left hand corner of the net. As the ball ball nestled its way in, the Blacks' supporters went absolutely wild. Needless to say, the drained players mustered whatever energy they had left to leap around in joy and relief. It had been fifteen years since Alfred Xuereb slotted home the winning penalty in the Independence Cup triumph of 1987/88. Now new heroes are emerging, Attard and Camilleri, in this one, who knows who will be next!

Although, Xewkija did give as much as they received in this one, it is hard to deny that Ghajnsielem got just deserts. The Blacks beat Nadur Y., Zebbug R. and the same Tigers without conceding a goal before grabbing hold of this cherished cup, the same three teams that will duke it out with Ghajnsielem for the league title in this coming season.

The President of the G.F.A., Mr. Joe Cordina and Mr. Tony Borg, on behalf of the Minister for Gozo, presented the Independence Cup and another cup for the Club to keep to Ghajnsielem captain Loreto Scicluna and vice-captain, Joe Debono. 

Formation:
Sammy Attard, Brian Meilak, Joseph Attard I, Loreto Scicluna (c), Martin Cremona, Matthew Portelli, Tarik Belhaj (Joe Debono), Frank Buttigieg (Jeremy Camilleri), Aloy Ihebulu, Errol Grima, Joseph Buttigieg (Joseph Attard II).

Scorers:
Joseph Attard II

Watch the highlights of the match on video streaming Start
Click here to visit the official website of the Ghajnsielem F.C.