10-man Zurrieq do the unthinkable

Today's contribution goes back only as far as May 1999. It is, however, one of the most dramatic and exciting stories I have encountered in 50 odd years in football.

I do not usually follow Division One competition but since the games that afternoon were being played in nearby Corradino and because of the importance of the two matches I decided to trudge along. I was certainly not disappointed.

Before the start of the afternoon's programme, Gozo FC were already declared Division One champions.

Zurrieq were lying in second place with 30 points and Lija close behind with 29. At the same time, Mellieha were fighting for their lives at the other end of the table. The northerners needed to beat Zurrieq that day to keep alive their slim hopes of survival.

In the first match, Lija met Tarxien Rainbows in a promotion cruncher. The Reds needed nothing less than a victory to leapfrog Zurrieq into second place. The Rainbows, however, could still clinch promotion if they beat Lija.

Lija had a great match against Tarxien. Playing a sound tactical game they waited for their opponents to come at them and then struck with quick counter-attacks. Lija's plan worked perfectly and in the end they won 3-0.

The Lija players' task was over but they still had to wait for the next encounter in the hope that Zurrieq would slip up.

Mellieha stunned their opponents with a goal after only three minutes. A Gotthard Conti corner was met by Mario Cutajar whose first-time shot seemed to be going astray but William Borg somehow managed to slot the ball home.

Zurrieq reacted immediately and a few minutes later Sacco scored a merited equaliser. Then, Nikolai Kirilov won the ball just outside the Mellieha box and ran into the area before rounding goalkeeper Ray Mifsud to score the second.

Zurrieq continued to press for more but on the half-hour Mellieha drew level. Kamal Edgeli headed in a perfect Mario Cutajar centre.

With the score 2-2 at half-time, the Lija clan could start to hope of an upset.

On resumption, Mellieha started to play even better. They fought for every ball and pressed their opponents further and further back into their area. However, as is nearly always the case in such situations, it was Zurrieq who took the advantage.

In the 65th minute, Naudi fouled Zammit in the box and referee Mark Spiteri did not hesitate to point to the dreaded spot. From the penalty, Mark Sultana sent Mifsud the wrong way to make the score 3-2.

The drama did not stop there. Five minutes later Kirilov was sent off after a hard tackle on Caruana. It was perhaps a tough decision but the referee was finding it difficult to control the two sets of players, who seemed to become more nervous with each passing minute.

Two minutes later, Mellieha made the most of their numerical advantage. Franco Francalanza fouled Borg in the box. Borg took the penalty himself and equalised much to the delight of the Lija faithful who naturally stayed on to witness the outcome of the encounter. They were sensing now that Mellieha might after all, be able to do them a favour.

Premature celebrations

Zurrieq reacted strongly but ten minutes from time Mellieha seemed to have sealed Zurrieq's fate when Edgeli sprinted past Francalanza and rounded the keeper to make the score 4-3.

Mellieha, and Lija, looked to be home and dry. Their fans were already celebrating when Zammit threw Zurrieq a lifeline by beating Mifsud with a grounder from just outside the box - 4-4.

A draw, however, was not enough for Zurrieq. Therefore, throwing caution to the wind, they went all out for the killer. The tension now was unbearable. The seconds ticked away. Mellieha substitutes Alexis Galea and David Bonanno worked themselves into an ideal position only for the latter to shot wide.

The 90 minutes were over and the game was well into stoppage time when the unthinkable happened. Zurrieq won a free-kick.

Sultana went up for the ball and the next moment Mifsud was reaching backwards to pick the ball out of the net.

The Zurrieq players, coach, officials and fans were in raptures. They had done what moments before had seemed impossible.

Zurrieq beat Mellieha to join Gozo in the Premier League and condemn Mellieha to the Second Division. Lija had to wait another year.

For the record

May 8, 1999 - Hibernians Ground
Division One - Zurrieq vs Mellieha 5-4

Zurrieq: M. Farrugia, A. Briffa, E. Zammit, V. Schembri, N. Camilleri, F. Francalanza, S. Sacco (J. Saliba), M. Sultana, N. Kirilov, T. Caruana, (T. Bonnici), G. Camenzuli.

Mellieha: R. Mifsud, M. Caruana, R. Farrugia (M. Debono), C. Gauci, R. Vella (D. Bonanno), G. Naudi, K. Gauci, G. Conti (A. Galea), K. Edgeli, M. Cutajar, W. Borg.

Scorers: Sacco, Kirilov, Sultana (2), Zammit; Borg (2), Edgeli (2).

Referee: Mark Spiteri.