GFA BOV GFL Division I
Gozo Stadium
Xaghra U: 1 (D. Cisse 47’)
Azzopardi, J. Buhagiar (J. Scerri), S. Sultana (M. Grima), D. Sowatey, V.J. Saliba, M. Portelli, A. Laskov, G. Tushe, A. Bezzina, M.D. Cisse, D. Bartolo (J. Bajada).
Victoria H: 2 (K. Farrugia 13’, H. Maciel 50’)
Parnis, D. Farrugia, C. Mercieca, M. Bamba, F. Camilleri, S. Attard, C. Mercieca, K. Farrugia, O.I. Guobadia (J. Pace), J. Vella (M. Montano, M. Bezzina), H. Maciel.
Victoria Hotspurs recovered from a difficult start to the championship despite their ambitions to be among the main challengers for the title by obtaining their first win from their match against bottom placed Xaghra United. Victoria’s win was hard earned. The Citizens, who had Ramon Zammit leading the team from the bench for the first time, seemed heading towards a comfortable performance as they opened the score at an early stage of the encounter. However, Xaghra, who had Vesko Petrovic who was making his debut as a coach with the Blues, had a good reaction after a timid approach during the opening stages. As time passed by Xaghra gained confidence and remained in contention to earn their first positive result in the championship until the final whistle but they did not manage to capitalise from the scoring opportunities that they created so that they remain without a point after four matches.
The Hotspurs tried to take command of play from the early stages of the encounter and managed to open the score in their first serious attempt at goal. In the seventh minute a shot by Shaun Attard ended at the feet of an unmarked Kevin Farrugia inside the area who placed in goal with a low shot. Victoria continued to enjoy some territorial supremacy but the found it difficult to create danger inside Xaghra’s area. The closest that the Hotspurs went to scoring was on 23 minutes when Shaun Attard produced a personal action and entered inside Xaghra’s area but the striker had his initiative stopped in time by goalie Frankie Azzopardi. Xaghra had a good patch of play minutes later and went close to scoring in at least three consecutive actions. On 28 minutes a shot by Amtoio Laskov ended wide and one minute later Mademba Djibril Cisse entered Victoria’s territory but his lob aimed to an unattended goal missed the target. On the half hour mark an effort by Xaghra’s Gerald Tushe ended wide and less than a minute later the Hotspurs replied through a personal action by Shaun Attard that was blocked in time by central defender Daniel Sowatey so that the first half ended with the Hotspurs in the lead.
Xaghra gained confidence and came out much more aggressive for the second period. The Blues also levelled the score on 47 minutes through a header from close distance by Mademba Djibril Cisse following a cross from the left flank by Gerald Tushe. The Hotspurs however managed to regain the lead three minutes later through a direct free kick by Henrique Maciel that surprised Xaghra’s keeper. The match became more interesting as the two sides increased their intensity of play for different reasons. The Hotspurs tried to add more goals to their lead while Xaghra showed determination in their attempt to level the score for the second time. On 51 minutes Xaghra’s goalie Frankie Azzopardi partially saved a shot by Henrique Maciel and the defence cleared the danger and less than a minute later Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis was called to make a good intervention to block an attempt by Aleandro Bezzina. The same goalkeeper was well placed on 57 minutes to save an effort by Daniel Bartolo following a prolonged action in the area form a free kick and on 67 minutes Xaghra’s keeper neutralised a strike by Miguel Montano who entered the field as a substitute at the beginning of the second half. Four minutes later the Hotspurs were dangerous through a good shot by Kevin Farrugia that was saved to a corner by Xaghra’s goalie and two minutes later Xaghra operated a good counter break when Antoio Laskov released Mademba Djibril Cisse but the latter saw his low drive that was stopped by the base of the post with the goalkeeper beaten. The same Cisse had another attempt on 79 minutes that was neutralised by Victoria’s keeper and one minute later Xaghra’s goalie Frankie Azzoaprdi kept his side in contention with a good save to turn to a corner a shot by Shaun Attard following a cross by Henrique Maciel. The Hotspurs went again close to scoring on 83 minutes through a shot by Shaun Attard that ended on the side of the net and Xaghra’s last opportunity to save the result arrived in the first minute of stoppage time when Victoria’s goalie failed to clear the ball from the area and from the resultant melee Daniel Sowatey concluded wide.
Referee: Andrea Naudi
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