GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Munxar F : 3 (S. Muscat 22’, 54’; J. Parnis 33’)
L. Gatt, K. Borg, C. Gafa, B. Meilak (M. Azzopardi), M. Debrincat, S. Muscat, C. Bugeja, O. Curmi, M.M. Uzor, J. Parnis (N. Attard), P. Said (R. Sammut).
Xaghra U : 1 (M. Galea 60’pen.)
F. Azzopardi, S. Sultana, M. Galea, D. Bajada, S. Galea, J. Bajada, A. Xiberras, S. Bonello (A. Tabone), G. Farrugia (O. Pogukay), M.D. Glodi,, M. Grima (E. Xiberras).
Munxar Falcons retained their comfortable lead on the table with three points obtained from a win over bottom placed Xaghra United. In this match Xaghra had an encouraging start and shared play with Munxar for a good part of the first half but the Blues were erratic in their finishing and suffered two goals from set pieces that compromised their possibility to obtain a positive result after five consecutive defeats. Munxar confirmed their strong potential this season as they resisted to Xaghra’s play during the first half hour of play and punished their opponents with two goals scored in the space of ten minutes. Munxar administered their lead during the last hour of play and consolidated their superiority over their opponents by scoring another goal after the break. With this result Munxar consolidated their position at the top of the table and remain the hot favourites to win promotion this season.
Play was quite balanced during the opening stages as Xaghra seemed determined to make up for the heavy defeat conceded in their match against Munxar of the first round. On 13 minutes the Blues had a good strike by Gabriel Farrugia that ended just wide and Munxar replied through a close ranged shot by Jordi Parnis that was saved to a corner by goalie Frankie Farrugia. From the resultant corner action Xaghra’s defence cleared badly and the ball arrived to Jordi Parnis who crossed form the left flank but Oliver Curmi headed over the crossbar from an ideal position. On 18 minutes Munxar’s Samuel Muscat had a good attempt from long distance that missed the target and on 22 minutes the current leaders fo the category opened the score through a shot by Samuel Muscat directly from a free kick. Xaghra replied one minute later through a header by Silvan Bonello following a corner action that was saved by goalie Liam Gatt and on 24 minutes Munxar’s central defender Keith Borg made up for a mistake by the goalkeeper and managed to block an effort by Daniel Glodi who was entering alone in the area. Munxar doubled the score on 33 minutes through another direct free kick this time taken by Jordi Parnis that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper. Minutes later Xaghra’s keeper left his position in time to block an effort by Paul Said and in the last minutes of the first half Xaghra could have re-opened the issue but their strikers were erratic and failed to capitalise. On 41 minutes a shot by Daniel Glodi was well saved by goalie Liam Gatt and one minute later the same goalkeeper managed to save with the aid of the post a low shot by Adrian Xiberras following a personal action.
In the fifth minute of play of the second period Munxar could have added another goal when Oliver Curmi pushed the ball in goal following a corner kick by Brian Meilak but the goal was disallowed for a foul on David Bajada. Munxar however scored their third goal on 54 minutes through a curling shot from the edge of the area by Samuel Muscat that surprised goalie Frankie Azzopardi. Xaghra went again close to scoring on 58 minutes but an effort by Daniel Glodi from a good position was neutralised by goalie Liam Gatt. Two minutes later Xaghra were awarded a penalty for a foul by Chris Gafa on Johann Bajada. Gafa was sent off for his infringement on the striker and Manuel Galea reduced the deficit with his shot from the spot kick. Minutes later Munxar’s Michael Mathias Uzor went close to add another goal on two separate occasion but hios first attempt ended just wide and in the second occasion Xaghra’s goalie managed to clear away a low shot addressed to the far post. On 80 minutes Xaghra’s central defender Savio Galea cleared off the goalmouth a low shot by Christian Bugeja that was addressed towards an open goal as the goalkeeper was beaten. One minute later Munxar were awarded penalty for a foul by Savio Galea on Jordi Parnis, but Michael Matthias Uzor had his shot from the spot kick saved to a corner by goalie Frankie Azzopardi. The same goalkeeper denied Michael Matthias Uzor from scoring another goal for his side with a good intervention in the second minute of stoppage time, and form the rebound Munxar’s substitute Mario Azzopardi headed wide with an open goal at his mercy so that the score remained unchanged untilt he final whistle.
Referee: Paul Apap
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