MIA team in second phase at EAFC tournament

The Maltese team is through to the second phase of the European Airport Football Championships (EAFC), currently being played in London, after finishing top of their group with maximum points yesterday.

The Malta International Airport side, coached by Simon Sultana, opened their preliminary group commitments against German team Hannover, winners of the EAFC Shield in the last edition in Munich two years ago.

A solitary goal by Sean Magro was enough for the MIA team to grind out a 1-0 win.

In the next 40-minute match, MIA maintained their momentum when they eased past Birmingham 3-0.

Magro was again the protagonist for the Maltese as the Mqabba midfielder netted a brace with the other goal coming from George Mallia.

The MIA team finished first in the group with six points and progressed to the second phase where they are joined by seven other teams.

The qualified teams have been split into two groups of four with Malta MIA being drawn in the same pool with Stansted, Cork City and London City Airport.

The Maltese played their first match of the second phase yesterday afternoon. They faced Stansted and the match turned out to be a nervy affair. In the end, the score was 1-1 after Mallia grabbed an equaliser from a free-kick.

This morning, Malta MIA play their remaining two group matches against Cork City and London City Airport.

The Maltese, still looking for their first success in the competition, are bidding to finish in the top two places in the group to progress to the semi-finals which will be played at Upton Park in the afternoon.