Luxol St Andrews and Swieqi United are firm favourites to progress to the final of the Enemed Futsal Premier League after winning the first leg play-offs semi-finals in a comfortable way against their respective opponents.
Luxol beat University of Malta with a 6-1 scoreline. As expected the team led by Gabriel Dobre came out well and by the end of the first half they were two goals up. In the second half, the Universitarians reduced the score although it was still the team from St Andrew who continued to score.
Brazilian player Celino Alves scored twice while Andy Mangion, Emil Raducu, Gregory Busuttil and an own goal by Lozada Motta continued to add to the score for the winners. The same Lozada pulled one back for the Students.
The two sides meet again on Wednesday for the second leg.
Referees: Clinton Cassar, Jude Amin Utulu, Pierre Bonnici.
On the other hand, Swieqi United beat Ta’ Xbiex 5-1 to edge closer to the final. The team led by Dylan Micallef had most of the possession with Ta’ Xbiex who started some dangerous counterattacks with goalkeeper Brandon Debono who was always alert.
Micheal Borg scored a double with Santiago Cruz, Justin Theuma and Dylan Pace also adding their names among the scorers. Ta Xbiex scored the only goal of the game from Christian Wismayer.
Both teams will meet this Friday for the second leg.
Referees: Stephen Vella, Andrea Naudi, Clint Cassar.
Meanwhile the Maltese national under-19 team and Fgura United offered a beautiful and uncertain game until the end in the play-off game from the Enemed Challenger League.
The Maltese youths prevailed in the penalty shoot-out after the final score at the end of the 40 minutes was 5-5.
Collin Sammut, David Nathan Balzan, Denzel Camilleri, Kubilay Karadol and Mason Agius scored for the Maltese while Sebastian Nayar hitting a poker with Diego Arturo Scuro adding another.
Thus Fgura ended their commitments for this season with Malta U19 who will play against Żurrieq FC in the semi-finals. On the other hand, St George’s will face Marsaskala in the other semi-final.
Referees: Stephen Vella, Pierre Bonnici, Marco Orazio la Rosa.
Andy Mangion wins Enemed Futsal Player of February 2023 award
Luxol’s Andy Mangion is the winner of the Enemed Futsal Player of the month for February 2023.
Mangion, who is 33 years old, has a vast experience in local futsal as he donned the shirts of Todos, Floriana, San Ġwann and Hamrun Spartans. He joined Luxol in the 2016/2017 season where he won the major local honours in local futsal.
The month of February was an exceptional one for the Maltese international player, as he scored important goals to help his team climb to first place in the Enemed Futsal Premier League.
The presentation to Andy Mangion was made by the FMA president Mark Borg where apart from the trophy, he was also given some vouchers from the sponsors.
Amir Ashtiyani claims Enemed Challenger Player of the Month
Marsaskala Futsal’s Amir Ashtiyani claimed the Enemed Challenger Player of the Month award for February.
Ashtiyani is new to Maltese futsal but he settled well with the Southseasiders as he netted important goals for them to help them grab a place in the Challenger play-offs semifinal.
The presentation to Amir Ashtiyani was made by the FMA treasurer Matthew Borg where apart from the trophy, he was also given some vouchers from the sponsors.
