Blacks lift cup after shootout

Ghajnsielem 2
Xewkija Tigers 2
(Ghajnsielem won 4-1 on pens.)

Ghajnsielem won the Freedom Day Cup for the second time after beating Xewkija Tigers in a penalty shootout. Victory could have gone either way even though the Tigers, who cancelled a two-goal deficit, had more possession of the ball.

A minute of silence was observed before the match in respect of former Ghajnsielem player and club official Frankie Xuereb. The 49-year-old passed away recently during a stay in the United States.

Ghajnsielem were the league champions last year and Xewkija Tigers the 2005 GFA Cup winners. However, so far this season the two teams failed to leave their mark with the Blacks hovering dangerously in the drop zone in Division One.

Ghajnsielem opened the score in the 39th minute through Errol Grima and doubled their lead midway through the second half with a Joe Attard goal.

Andreas Fotso pulled one back for Xewkija who forced extra time with an Edmond Tchawou goal in the 89th minute.

During stoppage time Ghajnsielem had Renato Conceicao sent off for retaliation.

Ghajnsielem scored four times in the penalty shootout, through Joseph Buttigieg, Loretu Scicluna, Larry Buttigieg and Joseph Attard. Xewkija scored only once through Benneth Njoku.

Joseph Cordina's shot hit the crossbar and Blacks 'keeper Saviour Darmanin saved Michael Pace's penalty.

After the match Vincent Grech, chairman of the organising committee at the Ministry for Gozo, presented the trophy to Ghajnsielem captain Brian Meilak.

Ghajnsielem: S. Darmanin, J. Scicluna, R. Conceicao, T. Belhaj (L. Haber), J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, L. Scicluna, J. Attard, E. Grima, L. Buttigieg, F. Galea (S. Azzopardi).

Xewkija: S. Debono, B. Njoku, M. Cremona, J. Cefai, J. Cordina, A. Fotso, M. Pace, J. Azzopardi, D. Cilia, C. Bugeja (P. Spiteri), E. Tchawou.

Referee: Paul Apap.