The Under17 campaign started with a 3-2 loss against Mqabba.

 

The team which has yet to be strenghtened with more signings dominated play in the first half but did not convert the chances created into goals. Luck was not on our side and even some offside decisions raised a couple of eyebrows.

 

In one occassion, the ball hit both uprights in the same goal attempt before the ball was cleared to safety. Fgura deservedly took the lead minutes from the break when Hayden Farrugia passed to Jeslan Caruana from the byline who acrobatically turned into the net. Before this goal, some easy chances created included a shot by Farrugia which went over the bar and Johann Cardona did not manage to beat the goalkeeper in a one on one situation.

 

In the second half, seemed that the heat took the better of us as Mqabba equalized immediately from a freekick and went ahead when they headed home a corner. Buttigieg was at fault in the third goal when he failed to save a distant shot. At the other end our shots at goal went inches wide. Mqabba were reduced to ten man when skipper Malcolm Psaila was floored as he advanced towards goal. Equilbrium was again reinstated when Jeslan Caruana was shown the second yellow for dissent. Even with 10 men Fgura continued to surge forward and found the net thanks to Psaila who eluded the offside trap and anticipated the goalkeeper's rush to find the net.

 

The team left the field empty handed in a match we deserved to win.