Match Report

Bavaria 8-3 Sporting Gibraltar

After two league victories against Sporting, the Pinks were confident that this feat could be once again repeated to make it to the Cup Final. Both teams were missing influential players. Karl Balestrino and Karl Parody were fulfilling their last game of controversial suspensions and Chris Remorino also away in the U.K. Sporting talisman Jayce Consigliero was out injured with a broken wrist and Giles Roswell suspended.

The atmosphere was brewing nicely prior to kickoff with the Pink Ultras in early making plenty of noise. The game started a nervy affair as was expected in a high pressure game. However, the tension was broken for the Pinks after 10 minutes in the first half. Jamie Walker once again showing his worth in the big game putting the Pinks on the scoreboard. Iain Latin got the second as his cross turned shot from the sideline took a wicked deflection in off a Sporting defender. Dylan Casciaro loves a tap in and made it 3-0.

The Pinks were soon in a sticky situation after giving away 5 fouls within the space of 7 minutes and were walking a tight rope for the remainder of the first half. A silly foul brought Sporting back into the game momentarily as Joe Moreno converted from the penalty spot emphatically. Jamie Walker once again increased the gap with a fine finish coming off the right hand side. Sporting were once again gifted a penalty which Frank Warwick tipped on to the crossbar. His resulting throw setting up poacher supreme, Dylan Casciaro to tap in again from close range making it 5-1.

Iain Latin was causing Sporting all kinds of problems. His pace and strength on the bigger pitch was too much for their defenders to handle. His heat map would have been off the charts. He increased the first half lead to 6-1, bursting past two and smashing low into the net. However, Sporting were given a miniature lifeline with a cross deflecting in off Jaylan Desoiza who was unfortunate after putting in such a tidy first half performance. 6-2 at halftime.

The first few minutes of the second half were to be vital and coaches Montado and Bosio were eager to put that point across to their players to avoid any kind of miraculous comeback. The nerves were settled early into the second half as the game quickly turned into the Iain Latin show. He scored another two goals to take his tally for the game to four and 28 for the season! Another positive for the Pinks was the performance of James Noguera who used his strength very effectively in a new position for him at the top of the pitch. Sporting pulled another back from a free kick with 5 minutes to play but it was not to put a damper on a professional performance from the Pinks. It was built to be a tense game of futsal but turned out quite the opposite.

Our win sets up a cup final against South United who made it past Humphries on penalties after a thrilling 5-5 game.

MOTM – Iain Latin was dominant from start to finish. 4 goals and hardly put a foot wrong all game, in defence and attack!

Thank you to all our fans who turned out for the game and we hope to see you all again next week! You were our extra man on the pitch and truly brought the noise once again when the team needed it 🗣👏🏼

#ThePinks