Victoria Hotspurs Extend Their Good Moment of Form

GFA BOV GFL Division I                                                                             Gozo Stadium

Kercem A       :           2          (G. Franca Amadio 11’pen., O. Spiteri 69’)

J.P. Cassar, O. Spiteri, M. Mifsud, P. Kyumyurdzhiev, M. Tabone, J. Buttigieg, A. Mizzi, J.P. Mizzi (C. Debono), B. Berzati, G. Franca Amadio, T. Grozev.

Victoria H       :           3          (H. Maciel 17’, 25’pen., 62’)

1. Parnis, M. Bamba, J. Tabone, K. Farrugia, J. Pace, O.I. Guobadia, D. Sytnik (S. Caruana), H. Maciel, J. Bajada (J. Grech), F. Camilleri, C. Mercieca (J.P. Grima).

Victoria Hotspurs turned a defeat into a 3-2 win over Kercem Ajax and with the points obtained they move to just one point behind the same Kercem and increased their possibility to end the championship in the fourth place on the final standings at the expense of the same Ajax.  This match between these two sides occupying mid-table positions was well contested.  Kercem were aiming to recover from the defeat conceded in their previous match while the Hotspurs needed the points to reduce their gap from Kercem and also to prolong their good moment of form particularly after their victory over the challengers for the title Xewkija Tigers in their previous match.  The Hotspurs were trailing by one goal midway through the first half but they had a good reaction and by the hour mark they turned the result into a two goal lead.  However, they suffered Kercem’s play during the final stages and the result could have easily ended in a draw as Kercem reduced the deficit and had two attempts on separate occasions that were stopped by the woodwork.  Victoria’s hero in this victory was once again their Brazilian striker Henrique Maciel who scored the three goals for his side.  With these goals Maciel is not serious challenger for the honour reserved for the top scorer of the championship.

Kercem were more adventurous in their play during the opening minutes of the match.  <in the third minute Kercem’s Trayo Grozev had an attempt form close distance that was well blocked by Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis.  The same goalie was called to make another important intervention two minutes later when he left his position up to the edge of the edge to take the ball from Trayo Grozev who was ready to conclude towards an open goal after winning the ball from Victoria’s defence.  Kercem opened the score on 11 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for a challenge by Victoria’s Moussa Bamba on Gustavo Franca Amadio and the latter converted from the spot kick.  Kercem could have doubled the score on 14 minutes when the same Franca Amadio took a back pass by a Victoria defender but his attempt was well blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis.  The Hotspurs managed to recover from a difficult moment and levelled the score on 17 minutes when Denis Sytnik released Henrique Maciel inside Kercem’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low drive.  Kercem were shocked and the Citizens turned the result in their favour on 25 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Andrew Mizzi on Denis Sytnik and Henrique Maciel netted with his shot from the spot kick.  Kercem’s reaction was sterile as the Hotspurs grew in confidence and administered play with authority.  On 36 minutes Victoria’s Henrique Maciel had a good shot that ended wide and on 43 minutes Kercem protested for a penalty following a challenge by James Tabone on Trayo Grozev but Kercem’s striker was punished for simulation.  On 45 minutes Kercem could have levelled the score but strikers Andrew Mizzi and Joshua Buttigieg both failed to connect following an inviting corner kick by Mario Mifsud.

The Hotspurs were again dangerous on 52 minutes through a shot by Christian Mercieca following a good action by Henrique Maciel that ended wide and on 58 minutes Kercem were unlucky when a direct free kick by Gustavo Franca Amadio was stopped by the crossbar.  The Hotspurs increased their lead on 62 minutes through a tap-in by Henrique Maciel following a low cross by Christian Mercieca.  Kercem kept insisting in an attempt to recover the deficit and they managed to reduce the gap to just one goal on 69 minutes through a low shot by Owen Spiteri following a personal action.  The Ajax had their best opportunity to save the result on 71 minutes but Joshua Buttigieg’s shot after receiving from Andrew Mizzi was stopped by the post and Victoria’s central defender Moussa Bamba cleared the danger form the goalmouth.  Until the end of the match the Hotspurs managed to resist to Kercem’s reaction so that the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Dorian Caruana