NADUR YOUNGSTERS -1- QALA St. JOSEPH -1- aet (3 - 1 penalties)

GozoStadium 21.09.2007

Joe Xerri (Qala), Marco Borg (Referee) and Anthony Portelli (Nadur)

Nadur Youngsters won the Independence Cup for a record 10times and for the 4^th consecutive time. The issued had to be decided on penalties as the final score after 120 minutes was still 1 – 1. Nadur had more of the ball and Qala’s intentions were clear from the start, which were to arrive to the penalty shoot out. Nadur were without injured defender, Marcos Rogerio Secco, and welcomed back Saviour Attard, himself out with injury. Nadur were still good enough to field a commanding team, although they are not finding the right formula from the start. Qala’s man to man marking was effective and didn’t leave much space for the Youngsters to operate. The referee had to show 3 red cards, 1 for Nadur 5 minutes from the final whistle and 2 for Qala during the 2^nd period of extra time, but neither side took any advantage of these sending offs. The goal conceded by Nadur was the 950th goal conceded by the Youngsters.

As expected, Nadur came out more aggressive and put the Qala defence under some pressure, without creating any real danger to Aktpan. On their first real approach to the Youngsters goal, the Maroons opened the score. On the 14^th minute, a through pass to Dione Lautier was not cleared by Nadur’s defender, Odavic, and Lautier had no difficulty in rounding Xuereb and places into an empty net. Nadur’s reaction was immediate and an A. Portelli’s lob just went over the top. Nadur kept pressing and equalised on the 22^nd minute. Joseph M. Portelli shot from the right seemed to be covered by Aktpan, but somehow the ball ended into the net. The holders were in command now and a J. M. Portelli’s free kick was met by C. Camilleri, only to be denied by Aktpan. Qala tried their luck with fast breaks on A. Fotso and J. Xerri, but Nadur’s defence were having the upper hand.

Nadur had 2 chances right on the start of the second half, first when from a corner taken by F. P. Azzopardi, C. Camilleri’s cross was cleared off the line by D. Abela, and later the Qala defence cleared again somehow a shot by C. E. Nwankwo. Qala had a soft shot by D. Lautier going wide from a very favourable position. J. Meilak saw his nice try from outside the area going just over the top. Aktpan was called into action in the 65^th minute, to superbly save a C. E. Nwankwo D. shot following a D. Odavic’s inch perfect cross. C. Camilleri concluded wide a cross by Nwankwo. J. Xerri had 2 attempts for Qala, first when he completely missed the posts, and later, from a direct free kick, when he was denied by the crossbar, although it seems that Xuereb had that angle covered. On the 40^th minute Nadur were down to 10 men. Frank Paul Azzopardi was shown the red card for dissent. This didn’t affect t the Youngsters as they kept playing and C. Camilleri was denied by an acrobatic save by Aktpan. Aktpan was first on the ball before Nwankwo following an A. Portelli’s cross. The final whistle found both teams’ level and extra time was needed.

Extra time didn’t really produced any interesting moments with Qala’s intentions now very much clear. They took all possible precautions to reach the penalty shoot out. For Nadur, J. M. Portelli and C. E. Nwankwo went close, although they sometimes play more individual then collective football. For the second period of extra time, Nadur employed D. Odavic in midfield and this improved their attacking role. Qala had 2 players sent off during this period. First in the 107^th minute Andreas Fotso was send off for a second Yellow card following a foul on Odavic, and 2 minutes later, Mark Bonello was shown a direct red card for another foul on the Serbian player. Qala could have stolen the match in the dying minutes when a free kick by J. Xerri was superbly deflected into a corner by Xuereb. No winner after 120 minutes and we assisted for the penalty shoots out.

Qala took the first and Mario Mifsud scored, Chidi Eric Nwankwo answered for Nadur, 1-1. Qala’s second by Dione Lautier was saved by Xuereb and Chris Camilleri put Nadur in front, 2-1. Goalkeeper Inim Aktpan saw his shot going wide and the saved Dejan Odavic’s try. The 4^th penalty for Qala was taken by the ex-Nadur player, Brian Portelli, but his shot was saved by Xuereb, with Anthony Portelli scoring the winner, 3-1.

After the match, Mr. Vincent Grech, chairman of the popular festivities at the Gozo Ministry, presented the Cups to Nadur’s Captain Anthony Portelli, in the presence of GFA officials.

Referee: Marco Borg

Nadur Youngsters Formation: Jonathan Xuereb; Peter Buttigieg; Jeffrey Meilak; Josef Buttigieg (Saviour Attard); Chris Camilleri; Charles Hili (Karol Mifsud); Frank Paul Azzopardi; Dejan Odavic; Chidi Eric Nwankwo; Anthony Portelli; Joseph M. Portelli.

A Jeffrey Meilak's header.

Frank Paul Azzopardi in action with Joseph M. Portelli watching close by.

Very quiet Youngsters followers during the first half.

Chris Camilleri calming things down

Josef Buttigieg fighting for a Chris Camilleri's cross

Applauding the equilizer

Chidi Eric Nwankwo's try was not met by Joseph m. Portelli

Shaun Muscat and Mario Portelli warming up

Releive at half time

Dejan Odavic, Peter Buttigieg, Jeffrey Meilak and Charles Hili

Dejan Odavic and Jeffrey Meilak

Anthony Portelli and Saviour Attard

Chris Camilleri and Saviour Attard covering Fotso

Youngsters Supporters

Jonathan Xuereb, Jeffrey Meilak, Dejan Odavic and Frank Paul Azzopardi

Nadur on the attack again

Chidi Eric Nwankwo scores his penalty

Jonathan Xuereb making one of his penalty saves

Captain Anthony Portelli scores the winning penalty

Standing ovation after winning through penalties

Captain Anthony Portelli and vice Captain Peter Buttigieg receiving the Throphies

Peter Buttigieg and Anthony Portelli with the Independence Cup

Our Cup - First but not last

Nadur Youngsters with president Eucharist Camilleri after winning the Independence Cup for the 4th time in succession and for a record 10th in history.