Winner
MFPA are the winners of the first edition of our Christmas Cup 2019. They managed to secure their victory in Extra-time against the unbeaten Wardija FC.
The Final was as expected and we saw two strong sides battling for a win. Wardija FC started very aggressive and managed to open the score by Stephen Wellman in the first minutes. A powerful shot from outside the penalty area left no chance for Rueben Gauci. They continued to put pressure on MFPA. MFPA managed to draw level when a free-kick from Carlo Mamo was going wide but Simon Shead headed the ball in.
Once again Wardija pushing for a goal and Orosco Anonam shot was too strong for Gauci to keep it out. At the end of first-half, the referee awarded a penalty to MFPA, seeing a push on Carlo Mamo. From the spot, Carlo Mamo sent Ernest Barry on the other side to make them equal.
Second half was a quiet one, both teams cautious in their moves to avoid mistakes. Wardija managed to score again with Marlon Briffa dribbling from the left and a cross-shot that was deflected by Branko Nisevic into his own goal. While MFPA started to play better as a team during the second it was another Wardija goal that gave a two-goal lead.
Ten minutes from time Wardija FC could have increased their lead by Gilbert Scerri and Stephen Wellman lobs hitting the up-right with Rueben Gauci looking, but a very good opportunity was missed by Marlon Briffa when one to one with Rueben Gauci he hit the post. After that MFPA increased in their momentum and managed to grab a goal back from a rebound by Simon Shead. Wardija started to look tired and in fact, within minutes MFPA equalised. Wardija could not settle in the game and MFPA took the advantage to take the lead by a good move from the right by Branko Nisevic. Wardija managed to put the game into extra-time, exactly in the dying moment by a powerful shot of Massimo Schembri.
In the extra time, MFPA took control of the game and managed to score two goals each half to win easily over depleted Wardija FC.
