Zurrieq Futsal Club

Zurrieq FC 5 vs Pentagon Properties BFC 3

The first round of the knock out presented Zurrieq with a very difficult opposition. Pentagon have 4 national team players and 2 foreigners in their ranks and made it to the Championship pool in the current season. On their part Zurrieq are coming from a very disappointing season as once again they missed promotion to the 1st division. For this encounter iz-Zrieraq were definetly the underdogs.

However coach Magri had different thoughts and since he knew the opponents quite well he seemed upbeat and confident. The plan was clear from the very first minutes of this game, Zurrieq were waiting for their opponents in their own half and playing on the counter attack whenever the chance arised. The first minutes were a balanced affair with Azzopardi very secure in his handling and Farrugia always a menace in the Zurrieq counter attacks. Busuttil marshalled the defence with the composure and strong attitude he is well known for. On the flanks Saliba and Caruana were more concentrated on defending than trying to get past their direct opponent. The balance was broken by a Farrugia free kick after 7 minutes as his thunder of a shot was slightly deflected and ended in the top corner. Pentagon soon equalised with a well taken goal. Their movement and passing showed that they were a very well organised team. The counter attacks of Zurrieq were always dangerous and Farrugia's goal instict showed once again when he made it 2-1. Soon after it was 3-1 with another counter attack this time concluded by Caruana. Edwin Curmi had to leave the pitch injured but both Zammit and Briffa were a rock in keeping the score in favour of Zurrieq. The introduction of Steve Hayman, with his presence and his fine technique he kept the ball in the opponents half and gave the rearguard some respite. The team sat back controlling their opponents and happy to go into the break with a 2 goal advantage. Few seconds before the half time whistle, Farrugia scored another goal! 4-1 for Zurrieq and a hattrick for Nathan Farrugia.

The Second Half started with a very determined Pentagon side, practically assaulting Azzopardi and if there was anyone who thought the game was over it was proving to be a misconception. The referee awarded Pentagon a penalty after a few seconds from the restart but Azzopardi dived to his right and made the perfect save! However Pentagon reduced the gap 4-2 for Zurrieq and all to play for. Pentagon introduced the flying Keeper from now on and they were all over the pitch. A very good move from their flying keeper ended with the ball in the back of the Zurrieq net and provided a very tense finale. This tactic was surely a very good move from Pentagon but it was proving to be dangerous as well and Zurrieq missed a couple of easy chances. The last few minutes seemed to last forever! Inside his own half Caruana was presented with an opportunity to shoot in an empty net which he duly converted and made it 5-3 for Zurrieq. That was to be the last action worthy of note. A most welcome victory for Zurrieq, the Underdogs made it to the next round were they will meet Naxxar.

Zurrieq FC 3 vs Stingrays 4

Zurrieq were missing some key players for this match and although not yet mathematically out of a promotion contention, they needed to win this game and hope for a series of miracles from other teams. Making a most positive welcome was Saviour Busuttil after a month sidelined through injury.

The match started with Zurrieq on the attack and both Caruana and Saliba missing open goal chances. The score was 1-0 to Zurrieq when Caruana found Saliba on the second post and the latter tapped in. Caruana made it 2-0 soon after for Zurrieq and it was looking bright. Shots by Busuttil and Briffa went very close to increase the lead but Stingrays came back and scored just before half time.

The second half produced a dismal performance from Zurrieq and Stingrays made the most of it by turning the score to 3-2 to their favour. A good move by Zammit saw him brought down by the Stringrays defender and Caruana made it 3-3 from the penalty spot but Stingrays went ahead soon after. Chances were wasted throughout the whole 20 minutes and the game ended 4-3 to Stingrays. The result has no importance on the final table but it surely did leave the Zurrieq Clan in a bad mood.

Zurrieq FC 3 vs Kerygma Kristal 3

For this match Zurrieq started with Ramon Formosa in goal. Coach Magri opted for an offensive formation since nothing else than 3 points were needed to keep pushing for promotion.

The match started on a high tempo and both teams made it clear that they were out for a win. In the early stages Zurrieq managed two shots on goal and were looking good and composed. On their hand Kerygma were counting on fast breaks and direct play. A freekick awarded to Zurrieq was taken by Nathan Farrugia, he striked a fierce rising shot in the net and put Zurrieq in the lead. After taking the lead Zurrieq sat back and waited for their opponents. This resulted in a siege on the Zurrieq goal and Kerygma found goalkeeper Formosa in a splendid form keeping them at bay on several occasions. The continous attacking by Kerygma opened some gaps in their defence and Zurrieq were very dangerous on two occasions when the Kerygma keeper saved very well on both Caruana and Hayman. Half time ended 1-0 for Zurrieq.

The second half started on the same note, Kerygma constantly on the attack but Zurrieq always dangerous on the fast breaks. Magri's tactic seemed to be working to perfection as on one of such occasions, Zurrieq doubled the lead again through Farrugia who made it 2- 0 with a solo effort. Zurrieq were playing with more confidence now but a substitution mistake while kerygma had the possesion left two Kerygma players free to combine and a shot from the right made it 2-1. Kerygma were now attacking with all their force and deservedly made it 2 - 2 soon after. The final whistle was approaching now and the game seemed destined for a 2 - 2 draw. Zurrieq played a corner across the Kerygma goal and Steve Hayman was on hand to tap in home barely a few seconds after coming on as a sub. The game was already in added time and the goal brought loud cheers from the Zurrieq bench. Strangely enough the referee gave more added time and with their very last attack Kerygma drew level! It was a very harsh decision by the referee as the Kerygma player clearly played the ball with his hand when on the goal line he corrected an outbound shot in the net. This provoked lenghty protests and the referee had to dismiss Nathan Farrugia who was on the bench.

The result proves fatal as now Zurrieq will have to play in the second division for yet another season, on their hand Kerygma are still not sure of a place in the first division. The fact that Zurrieq were not capable of keeping their lead in a various number of games was the main issue which kept promotion away, lack of good fortune was another reason but team spirit was never lacking. In a week's time Zurrieq will play Stringrays for their last match of the season.

Zurrieq FC 2 vs Paola Downtowns 2

Zurrieq needed a win to continue their push for promotion, this resulted in a very exciting start and the very attacking formation chosen by Sammut to start this match made it clear that he was all out to win. Zurrieq dictated play in the early stages, Nathan Farrugia seemed particularly up for the challenge and after a few minutes he hit the post following a freecick from well outside the area. The attacking trio of Farrugia, Saliba and Caruana were creating many chances but this meant that the team would suffer the Downtowns counter attacks, in fact goalkeeper Azzopardi had to be alert in a couple of counter attacks by Paola.

A good combination between Saliba and Farrugia was irregularly blocked by a Downtowns defender, a clear penalty duly whistled by the referee. From the spot Caruana made no mistake, 1-0 for Zurrieq. In one of their counter attacks Paola Downtowns soon equalised the score when a Set piece combination for Zurrieq was intercepted and three Paola players combined well to make it 1-1 and all to play for.

Zurrieq once again went ahead through Caruana but 30 seconds later the Downtowns equalised again! 2-2! It was a very entertaining game and both sides showed a very good technical and tactical Futsal.  Zurrieq had another couple of chances to score but the Paola custodian was always alert keeping the trouble away with good saves. Paola Dowtowns also had their chances but Briffa and later on Zammit held on very well. The game proceeded as a stalemate until half time.

The second half was a different story. Zurrieq were more determined and many chances were coming their way. The Paola Downtowns goalkeeper together with some stubborn defending kept the score draw but it seemed that any moment Zurrieq will forge ahead. A goal line clearance and other chances were missed by the Zurrieq players, most shots were on target and when it was not a goalkeeper save it was the post to block the shots. A Christopher Farrugia fierce drive from outside the area hit the post and it was to be the last action as the referees whistled time up.

Zurrieq FC 7 vs Wilkinson Swords 2 

After barely 35 seconds, Zurrieq were already ahead courtesy of a good goal scored by Alexei Saliba. It seemed an easy game from than on but Zurrieq were not able to build on that score and it had to be a couple of very good saves from our solid goalkeeper Ramon Formosa to keep the advantage. Assistant coach Sammut made some changes and the new players on the field seemed to respond to the substitution as they increased the lead to 3-0 until the half time whistle. Both goals were scored by Ian Attard, his second goal being a very good collective effort as after a series of one touch football Attard placed the ball beyond the keepers reach.

The second half started with the first line up again, with only one change being the entrance of Alex Muscat instead of Steve Hayman. Wilkinson reduced the gap and put some pressure on Zurrieq, it was 3-1 and all to play for. A piece of magic from Muscat put Roderick Caruana alone infront of the keeper and he made it 4-1 for Zurrieq. Alexei Saliba made it 5-1 soon after and debutant Curmi had a very positive debut scoring the sixth goal for Zurrieq. Now Zurrieq seemed in command and Nathan Farrugia had a couple of fierce shots missing by an inch! Zurrieq football was technical but unfortunately some gaps in defence resulted in another goal for the Swords. However Briffa had th last say with his first goal of the season. Final result 7-2 for Zurrieq!

Zurrieq FC Futsal 0 vs Tal-Werqa S.G. 0

Zurrieq FC Futsal 2 vs Stringrays 0

Zurrieq FC Futsal 4 vs Kristal Kerygma 4

Unfortunatly for this match between the top two teams, Zurrieq had various players injured and had to enter the Corradino pitch with only 10 players. Immediately Zurrieq showed that they were going to give everything in this game, . .  they wanted the three points . . . they wanted the win. And in fact after few minutes they managed to score through Nathan Farrugia who managed to shoot the ball past the Kerygma keeper making his first goal of the season. The match continued with the same rhythm and kerygma striker although pressed from a Zurrieq defender managed to shot past the Zurrieq keeper from a closed angle. Zurrieq reacted immediately and within few minutes, not to say, few seconds, Alexei Saliba shot the ball into kerygma's net for the second time. Various open score occassions were missed from Zurrieq and the first half finished 2 -1 for Zurrieq.

As the whistle blowed for the commencement of the second half, Zurrieq continued to press hard on kerygma and in a few minutes, Nathan Farrugia scored his second goal of the game and the third for Zurrieq after a one touch passing between him and Clayton Gatt. Score occassions were missed by Zurrieq either through lack of concentration in front of the post or through bad luck but the fourth goal arrived again through Nathan Farrugia (making it a hat-trick for him) after Alexei Saliba lobbed the ball over the Kerygma keeper and hit the post and after the rebound Nathan managed to put it in. Although 4 -1, there was still time unfortunately for the unbelievable to happen! Kerygma managed to score their second goal from a free kick and this gave them heart, while disoriented Zurrieq. Kerygma began to put everything on the attack with their keeper helping the manouevre. Infact Zurrieq tried some long shots but all ended a little bit out from the Kerygma posts. In one occassion a rebound within Zurrieq area ended near a kerygma player and he placed the ball into the net making it three for kerygma. Few minutes remained and another rebound within Zurrieq area again ended up near a kerygma player who fired the ball into Zurrieq's net making it 4 all. Only few seconds remianed and there was no time for a try! Unfortunately a very good game from Zurrieq ended up in an unmerited draw who suffered from few mistakes made!

Zurrieq FC Futsal 2 vs Paola Down Town FC 1

Zurrieq FC 5 vs Wilkonsons Swords 1

A collective output . . . this was what was asked of the players from the coach in the dressing rooms prior to the match, . . . . and the response was positive as shown from the result. The Zurrieq squad came out on the pitch very concentrated and determined to win as not to compromise the rest of the season. After the initial whistle from the referee, Zurrieq commenced to do possession with one to two touch passing and ready to shot when near the opponents posts. After some score opportunities missing, it was Alexei Saliba who opened the score for Zurrieq with a powerful shot from the left side of the opponents posts. Zurrieq continued to press and this time it was Christopher Farrugia who again with a powerful shot managed to score the second goal for Zurrieq. Coach Magri began to perform some substitutions, with the match level from Zurrieq remaining within the same level.  A one touch passing from Steve to Nathan on the left wing and the latter returned the ball to Steve Hayman who managed to shot past the Wilkonson keeper into the net putting Zurrieq with three goals on the lead throughout the first half.

In the beginning of the second half Zurrieq continued to do ther play and few occassions were missed. Wilkonsons Swords began to press showing that they did not want to loose and in fact they managed to score when their forward managed to turn round Zurrieq defender and shot in Zurrieq's net. This goal gave heart to Wilkonsons but Zurrieq had other ideas. Christopher Farrugia managed to dribble his opponent and with a powerful shot scored the fourth goal for Zurrieq. Again some open-score occassions were missed and even the post was hit from Zurrieq. At the end a through pass towards Steve Hayman, found Zurrieq's forward face-to-face with Wilkonsons keeper who coming out of the posts, gave the opportunity to Hayman to dribble him and put the ball in the net for the fifth time. The final whistle ended the match leaving Zurrieq with a wonderful and merited win of 5 -1.

Zurrieq FC 2 vs Hacienda Bar FC 2

Unfortunately for this match, Zurrieq had four players missing due to injury problems but this did not dishearten the rest of the squad. Coach Magri changed the tactics from last game and this resulted in two goals in the first three minutes of the match. The players began to do possession and running without the ball to create space and Ian Attard managed to put Zurrieq on the lead after a pass from Steve Hayman. Zurrieq continued to press hard and with one touch play Alexei Saliba scored his first official goal with Zurrieq just by pushing the ball into the net after a pass from Ivan Zammit. At this point, Hacienda's players seemed not to know what's happened. Hacienda's players began to make mistakes and although Zurrieq had the best of the match did not manage to score. At the end of teh first half Zurrieq began to loose confidence in their play and began to leave the initiative to the opponents.

In the second half Zurrieq began again to press and create occassions. Open score occassions were missed due to an attentive Hacienda's keeper as well as lack of concentration in front of the opponents' post. Some mistakes were made even through simple passing and in one occassion Hacienda managed to score in a counter attack. The rest of the second half continued in this manner and in the last few seconds of the match Hacienda'a attacker managed to go turn around Zurrieq defender and shot a low shot in Zurrieq's net making the score 2 - 2.

Zurrieq FC Futsal Formation: Julian Azzopardi(Gk); Ian Attard; Ivan Zammit; Alexei Saliba; Steve Hayman; Trevor Briffa; Saviour Busuttil; Roderick Caruana (Capt.); Frankie Sammut; Alex Muscat; Alan Muscat (Gk). Coach: George Magri. Kit Manager: Roderick Zammit.

Zurrieq FC Futsal Scorers: Ian Attard; Alexei Saliba.

Zurrieq FC 2 vs El Mundos Valletta St. Paul's 3

In just few seconds from the initial referee's whistle, Zurrieq found themselves one goal down. It was a fast corner set piece taken by Valletta's players which left Zurrieq defence unguarded. The game was all on the uphill. Zurrieq were finding it very hard to get concentrated and play the game. It took all the effort from coach Magri from the bench to push forward his players to play as they used to. Some substitutions were also made and the team mechanism began to loose and do the game. They started to push forward, at first with some shots from outside the area and then pressing all pitch, also managed to shot from nearby. But they found Valletta's keeper in a very good mood and were he did not manage to get the ball it was the pole who helped him. In fact, in the first half, Trevor Briffa hit the pole and bar three times. Although Zurrieq now had the better of the game and lost a lot of goal opportunities, it was Valletta again who doubled from another corner set piece exactly before the whistle of the end of the first half.

Zurrieq players were demoralised in the dressing rooms but with the speech from the coach and the encouragement from all players, Zurrieq entered for the second half trying to give the best they could. Infact it was a good effort from Saviour Busuttil who with some foot play managed to disorientate his opponent and fired a low shot in the opponents net and reduced the score gap in the first minutes of the second half. Valletta were now a bit disconcentrated, and Zurrieq pressed hard but again the opponent's keeper said no to every shot and chance Zurrieq had. Few minutes from the end, it was again Valletta who managed to score, again from a corner set piece. Zurrieq tried its best and a good work from Steve Hayman on the left flank managed to get past the on coming keeper and passed to Roderick Caruana who had only to put the ball in the net although pressed by an opponent  making the score 3 - 2. Few seconds remaining for the final whistle and Zurrieq tried but was all for nothing. Unfortunately the first loss came too soon not to demorolise the team but to give it more will to fight till the end!

Zurrieq FC Futsal 7 vs Tal-Werqa SC 1

After one minute of silence to commemorate the loss of one of Tal-Werqa SC players, the first match of the new season commenced for both teams. Although attentive in their play, Zurrieq were a little bit more adventurous then their opponents and created two to three open score chances in the first minutes of the game. Tal-Werqa too had their occassions but found an attentive defense and Alan Muscat in the post in his first official match with the team reactive to every situation. A through pass towards Steve Hayman who manage to disoreintate his opponent found himself face to face with Tal-Werqa goalie and managed to place the ball in the net. Continuous pressing and running, resulted in a counter attack who saw Ian Attard managing to score the second goal for Zurrieq. Few minutes later, in a similar one-two counter attack saw again Ian Attard to come face to face with the Tal-Werqa keeper and after dribbling him, he shot the ball towards the net but a defender stopped the ball with his hands. The referee had no choice but to show the red card to the defender and sending him off the pitch and awarding Zurrieq a penalty shot, which was taken by captain Roderick Caruana whom fired a powerful shot under the top post making the result 3 - 0 in favour of Zurrieq for the first half.

Continuous substitutions during both halves managed to keep Zurrieq's match rhythm stable. Zurrieq continued the second half similar to the end of the first half with continuous ball possession but Tal-Werqa came out pressing trying to lower the difference in goals. And they managed to do it when a long pass crossing all pitch found the Zurrieq defence disoriented and the sole attacker fired a low shot in Zurrieq's net. Zurrieq reacted and after a few minutes a low powerful shot from outside the opponents area from Karl Sacco made the score 4 - 1. A pass towards the opponents area, found Roderick Caruana attentive and with a wonderful header lobbed the ball over the oncoming Tal-Werqa keeper towards the net. It was again Roderick Caruana who scored again making his first hat-trick of the season. Some open score chances were missed, but through a corner set piece, Ivan Zammit managed to shot the ball in the top part of Tal-Werqa post making the final score 7 - 1.