Malta FA Jubilee Cup 2nd phase Statistics & Curiosities

JUBILEE CUP
STATISTICS & CURIOSITIES

The celebrations of the 125th Anniversary of the Malta Football Association came to a climax last Monday, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, when Valletta and Sliema Wanderers met in the Final of the Jubilee Cup, in what developed into a true feast of football with Valletta as worthy winners. The competition brought back memories of the National League 100th Anniversary Cup in 2010 and the Centenary Cup 25 years ago who were, ironically, also both won by Valletta.

The Jubilee Cup started on 29th August with a Preliminary Round match between the Malta Veterans and a selection of MESA players, the first of 72 matches played in a timeframe of a bit more than 14 weeks. The competition was divided into two phases, with the first phase of 35 games being split into three regions and a Member Association’s group, who brought forward ten teams who progressed to the second phase.

A few rules were adapted when compared to the traditional knockout competitions. No extra-time was played in case of a draw after the regular 90 minutes, which meant that 14 games had to be decided by penalties. Teams could include a maximum of 11 foreign players on the team sheet, with a maximum of five in the starting line-up. A novel idea as it was stimulating the clubs to field more nursery players and, during the second phase only, in total 15 youngsters, of which 12 Maltese, managed to make their senior debuts.

Only three players played the maximum minutes across all five matches (450 minutes) in the second phase which are Jean Borg, Adam Magri Overend (both Sliema Wanderers) and Keith Brewer Jr of winners Valletta.

Looking further into the second phase records we can conclude that 556 players were used by the 32 teams. A total of 367 (64.8%) of the players used were Maltese, against 199 (35.2%) foreigners. With 23 players each, Zabbar St Patrick, Mosta and Naxxar Lions used the most players. Zebbug Rangers used the most Maltese players, 17 from the 22 used, and with 13 foreign players from 22, Hamrun Spartans used the most foreign players. With an average age of just over 29, Sliema Wanderers and Marsaxlokk fielded the oldest team while Mosta, with an average age of 22.2, fielded the youngest team, closely followed by Kirkop United with 22.4. The average age of all teams in the second phase was 26.

A total of 33 referees were used with Ezekiel Barbara and Rapjan Xhyra officiating the most games with four matches each. They were assisted by 53 linesman with Wayne Spiteri heading this list with seven Jubilee Cup games.

Over the course of 72 matches, a total of 261 strikers and headers found the back of the net by 189 different scorers from 22 nationalities. Most of these were Maltese (103), but also 59 from Brazil, 27 from Nigeria and 14 from Colombians. Two of the goals were scored by homegrown players and there were also five own goals.

A total of 125 goals were scored in the first half, while 136 were netted after the break. In total, 75 teams have taken part, but 59 of them have managed to score. Among these goals, were 28 braces, one hat-trick, one poker (four goals), and one cinquina (five goals). In addition, 12 goals were scored from the penalty spot and substitutes contributed with 37 goals. Most of the goals, 50, were scored in the period between minutes 31 and 45, closely followed by 48 goals scored in the minutes between 76 and 90. Least goals, 35, were scored in the opening 15 minutes while there were also seven stoppage time goals. The Top Scorer is Auwal Abba, who was part of the SWAN selection, with seven goals to his name, followed by David Oliveira (Zabbar St Patrick) and Yuri de Jesus Messias of Valletta with five goals each.

Goals by rounds:
• Preliminary Round: 20
• First Round: 121
• Second Round: 32
• Last 32: 43
• Last 16: 27
• Quarter-Finals: 12
• Semi-Finals: 2
• Final: 4

Goals by stadia:
• Centenary Stadium: 95
• Victor Tedesco Stadium: 51
• Sirens Stadium: 43
• Gozo Stadium: 37
• Charles Abela Stadium: 16
• National Stadium: 8
• Luxol Stadium: 6
• Tony Bezzina Stadium: 5

Youngest goalscorer:
Luka Haber (Nadur Y.) – 16 years, two months, nine days
5th September v St Lawrence Spurs (6-0) – 89' pen. – Gozo Stadium - (I Round)

Oldest goalscorer:
Andrew Cohen (Malta Veterans) – 44 years, three months, 30 days
12th September v MAFA (3-1) – 59' – Centenary Stadium - (II Round)

Earliest goal:
Diego Fernando Rodriguez Angulo (Nadur Y.)
5th September v St Lawrence Spurs (6-0) – 3' – Gozo Stadium – (I Round)

Latest goal:
Brandon Diego Paiber (Valletta)
3rd December v Tarxien Rainbows (2-0) – 95' – National Stadium – (Semi-Final)

Landmark goals
1st goal: Jean Carlos Ibarra Grueso (MESA) – 29th August v Malta Veterans – 77' (1-0) – Centenary Stadium – Round 1
100th goal: Innocent John Awori (Qormi) – 8th September v Marsaskala – 33' (1-0) – Centenary Stadium – Round 1
200th goal: Jonathan Monney (Zurrieq) – 18th October v Vittoriosa S.  – 82' (1-0) – Victor Tedesco Stadium – Round 3
261st and last goal: Jose Fernando Gomes Junior (Sliema W.) – 8th December v Valletta – 86' (1-3) – Final