| VALLETTA | Reggie Cini, Daniel Theuma, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Kris Laferla, Karl Bonnici (Rennie Forace), John Buttigieg, Gilbert Agius, Kamel Dvorzak, David Carabott, Chris Oretan (Sharlon Pace), Pavel Mraz (Nenad Veselji). |
| SLIEMA | Ernest Barry, Augustine Eguavon, Martin Gregory (Joseph Farrugia), Dybril Sylla, Zoran Antic (Branko Nisevic), Luke Dimech, Noel Turner, Carmel Busuttil, Orosco Anonam, Jean Claude Pagal (David Camilleri), Mark Anthony Bonnici. |
| Referee | Lorry Sammut |
| Scorers: | 18' Chris Oretan (V)
36' Chris Oretan (V)
40' Chris Oretan (V)
72' David Camilleri (S) |
| Red Cards: | John Buttigieg (V); Luke Dimech (S) |
| Comments: | Valletta FC defeated Sliema Wanderers 3-1 in the third game of the
Lowenbrau to claim the first honour of the season. This is the sixth time that the
Citizens won this pre-season tournament. This win should also act as a morale
booster in view of their participation in the UEFA Cup next Thursday where they will be
travelling to Croatia where they meet NK Rijeka. Sliema Wanderers will be
hosting Partizan Belgrade of Yugoslavia at Ta' Qali. Valletta lacked Darren Debono and Stefan Giglio but had Czech midfielder Kamel Dvorzak making his debut. Another new player, Sharlon Pace who joined the Citizens during the close season, was included in the second half. Sliema had a couple of
changes from the team which faced Birkirkara on Thursday with Noel Turner and
veteran Martin Gregory replacing Michael Mifsud and Mark Anthony Bonnici in the the
starting line-up. In the early stages, the two teams shared the exchanges but in the
18th minute, the Citizens took the lead thanks to a goal by former Naxxar striker Chris
Oretan. Sliema offered stiff resistance but towards the end of the first half, two
mistakes in their defence gave Valletta the opportunity to increase the lead and secure
the three points they needed to win the tournament. The second goal arrived in the
36th minute by Chris Oretan and four minutes later, the same player made it 3-0. In the
68th minute, John Buttigieg was sent off for Valletta for a second yellow card and four
minutes later, substitute David Camilleri reduced the gap. Just before the final whistle,
Luke Dimech was also sent off after receiving two yellow cards.
|
| BIRKIRKARA | Charles Sciberras, Drasko Braunovic, Roderick Briffa (Stefan Zahra), Michael Spiteri, Djordje Pintac, Ivan Zammit, Michael Cutajar (Alan Tabone), Jonathan Magri Overend, Kenneth Scicluna (Simon Sammut), Chucks Nwoko, Antoine Zahra. |
| SLIEMA | Ernest Barry, Augustine Eguavon, Mark Anthony Bonnici, Dybril Sylla, Zoran Antic, Luke Dimech, Jean Claude Pagal (Ian Ciantar), Carmel Busuttil, Michael Mifsud (Sandro Zammit Fava), Orosco Anonam, Massimo Grima. |
| Referee | Charles Agius |
| Scorers: | 2' Orosco Anonam (S)
70' Michael Cutajar (B) |
| Comments: | After a 1-1 draw on Monday between Birkirkara and Valletta, champions Birkirkara and holders Sliema Wanderers shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the second match of the Lowenbrau Cup. Besides former Nigerian international defender Augustine Eguavon, who returned for Sliema after a long-term injury, three players were making their debut for the Blues - Guinean-born defender Dybril Sylla, former Cameroon international Jean-Claude Pagal and Nigerian striker Orosco Anonam. And Orosco Anonam wasted no time to score for his new team as after just two minutes, he beat Birkirkara goalie Charles Sciberras to put Sliema ahead. Sciberras was deputising for Crescenzo De Vito who turned out to be ineligible to play for the Stripes. Birkirkara played a good first half, taking the lion's share of ball-possession but they they had few shots at goal. In the second half, Birkirkara kept searching for the equaliser which they obtained in the 70th minute thanks to a goal by Michael Cutajar. |
| BIRKIRKARA | Crescenzo De Vito, Drasko Braunovic, Graham Bencini (Simon Sammut), Michael Spiteri, Djordje Pintac (Roderick Briffa), Ivan Zammit, Kenneth Scicluna (Stefan Zahra), Hubert Suda, Antoine Zahra, Chucks Nwoko, Jonathan Magri Overend. |
| VALLETTA | Reggie Cini (Sean Sullivan), Daniel Theuma (Darren Debono), Jeffrey Chetcuti, Kris Laferla, Karl Bonnici, John Buttigieg, Gilbert Agius, Stefan Giglio, David Carabott, Chris Oretan, Pavel Mraz (Nenad Veselji). |
| Referee | Emmanuel R. Zammit |
| Scorers: | 6' David Carabott (V)
93' Jonathan Magri Overend (penalty) (B) |
| Red Cards: | Darren Debono (V); Hubert Suda (B) |
| Comments: | The new season 2000-01 kicked-off with the first competition of the season, the Lowenbrau Cup. This tournament is contested between the three teams taking part in the UEFA competitions, that is champions Birkirkara, Sliema Wanderers and Valletta. In the first game between rivals Birkirkara and Valletta, the Stripes notched an incredible 93rd minute equaliser after that Valletta had taken an early lead. The Citizens had three players making their debut - Chris Oretan, Karl Bonnici and David Carabott - while Birkirkara had young Italian goalie, Crescenzo De Vito guarding the posts for the first time. Valletta had an excellent start and they took just six minutes to take the lead thanks to David Carabott. In the second half, Birkirkara improved and managed to create some good chances. They also had two appeals for penalties turned down by referee ER Zammit. Nine minutes from time, two players, one from each side were sent off, Darren Debono for Valletta and Hubert Suda for Sliema. As the Citizens were heading for a win, Birkirkara managed to equalise in the 93rd minute when Antoine Zahra fell inside the area and the referee incredibly ordered a penalty. From the penalty spot, Jonathan Magri Overend converted. |
