INDEPENDENCE CUP                                      PRELIMINARY ROUND

NADUR YOUNGSTERS -3- SANNAT LIONS -1-

Gozo Stadium                                                                                                 02.02.2007

Champions and Independence Cup holders, Nadur Youngsters, started their defense of the cup with a win over last season’s championship main challengers, Sannat Lions. It was a match that did not really show much of both teams potential, as it was only the first match of the season for both. Nadur, fielding four new players from last season, (namely Charles Hili, Chris Camilleri, Serbian, Dejan Odovic, and Brazilian, Marcos Rogerio Secco) did enough to win the match and, with a bit more attention, they could have won with a better goal difference. All 4 of them left a good impression, even though it was their first match together. It was also a good start for Mario Bonello, in his first match in charge of Nadur. He will be assisted by Salvu Rapa.

Sannat had the first shot at goal when E. Grima’s shot ended wide. Nadur, on their first approach to the Lions area, opened the score in the 4^th minute. A coral action by D. Odovic who beat his marker, passed to J. M. Portelli, whose shot beat Bajada and Anthony Portelli made sure that it ends in the back of the net. A direct free kick by S. Rais went wide. Sannat went close when Xuereb punched a corner by M. Formosa into the patch of the unmarked F. De Andrade, but the latter shot went high over the bar. Then we assisted for a patch when Sannat were seeing a lot more of the ball with Nadur controlling without much difficulty without any danger at all for both goalkeepers. J. M. Portelli took a cross by F. P. Azzopardi only to see Bajada saving his shot. From the resulting corner Bajada superbly saved M. R. Secco’s header into another corner. On the other side, Xuereb missed the ball that came to De Andrade but Xuereb recovered well to gather his header before crossing the vital line. A. Portelli’s try went high and Bajada saved from J. Buttigieg’s feet. A header by A. Portelli just missed the post following a cross by C. Camilleri. The half time whistle found Nadur in front with that one goal.

Sannat could not have a better start to the second part of the game when on the 46^th minute they equalized. A free kick from outside the area provoked havoc in the Youngsters defense and debutant Kenneth Mercieca placed behind Xuereb. Xuereb had to make a one-handed save to deny M. Muscat. Bajada saved a free kick by C. Camilleri and from the resulting corner M. R. Secco headed wide. Nadur started to push men forward and on the 70^th minute the regained the lead. A one-two action between C. Camilleri and J. Buttigieg following a short cornet ended with Chris Camilleri shooting behind Bajada from a tight angle. Nadur were now in total command with the Lions failing to make a reaction. Camilleri found A. Portelli, only to try a weak shot directly into Bajada. A solo action by C. Hili ended with Bajada tipping the ball into a corner. The Lions defense cleared with difficulty an action between S. Muscat, J. M. Portelli and D. Odovic. On the 91^st minute, Charles Hili marked his return to the Nadur side with the third goal when he took a cross by J. M. Portelli and powered the ball into the net. Nadur Youngsters will now face Victoria Hotspurs (who beat Xaghra United 3-1 (1-1) after extra time) in the Semi Finals of the Independence Cup, next Sunday, 9^th September at 4pm (Gozo Stadium)..

Referee: Anton Zammit

Nadur Youngsters Formation: Jonathan Xuereb; Peter Buttigieg; Jeffrey Meilak; Marcos Rogerio Secco; Frank Paul Azzopardi (Shaun Muscat); Charles Hili; Chris Camilleri; Dejan Odovic; Josef Buttigieg (Karol Mifsud); Anthony Portelli; Joseph M. Portelli (Joseph Portelli Said).