MIA bow out in semis

Malta just missed out on a place in the final of the European Airport Football Championships (EAFC) after the MIA team lost to Vienna 1-0 at Upton Park yesterday.

The MIA team looked jaded yesterday as the physical strain of playing six 40-minute matches in two days took its toll on the players.

Simon Sultana's men struggled against the Austrians who scored the all-important goal in the first half.

The day had begun on a brighter note for MIA who squeezed into the semi-finals after preserving their unbeaten record at the end of the group matches of the second phase.

They kicked off the day with a match against London City Airport. Despite falling behind early on and having Jeffrey Zammit sent off after the break, they still salvaged a 1-1 draw courtesy of a Steve Said goal.

The Maltese then wrapped up their group commitments in style after they eased past Cork City 5-0. Birkirkara midfielder George Mallia hit a brace, one of them from a penalty, with the other goals coming from John Paul Muscat, Adam Debattista and Said.

At the end of the second phase, Malta finished level on five points with London Airport and Stansted but the MIA team went through as runners-up thanks to a better goal difference over Stansted.

London City won the EAFC trophy after beating Vienna 3-0 on penalties in the final following a goalless draw.