GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium
Nadur Y : 2 (D. Krstic 34’, J. Buttigieg 50’)
M.Muscat, D. Farrugia, C. Hili (B. Said), D. Krstic, S. Miloskovic, Sh. Attard, J. Buttigieg, S. Cassar, Sa. Attard, R. Da silva, N. Stojanovic.
Oaratory Y : 1 (J. Buttigieg 37’)
R. Sammut (C. Mercieca), D. Azzopardi (Jo. Attard), L. Mba Mutasi, M. Buttigieg, M. Azzopardi, K. Farrugia, F. Panagiotis, S. Mbacke, A. Bezzina, B.G. Mfulwane.
Nadur Youngsters remain the main challengers to the leaders for the title with the points obtained from a close win over Oratory Youths. The match turned out into a well contested encounter where the two sides needed a win for different reasons. Nadur needed the victory to remain close to the leaders while Oratory were aiming to obtain a positive result in their attempt to move away from the relegation zone. Nadur saw more of the ball during the encounter but they failed to convert their superiority into goals mainly because Oratory were well deployed and practically remained in contention to obtain at least a point form this match until the final whistle.
Play during the first half was rather balanced as Oratory managed to neutralise Nadur’s efforts to take command of play and managed to share play in the midfield. The Youths created the first attempt at goal of the encounter on 7 minutes through a strike by Gibson Mfulwane that missed the target. Two minutes later Nadur replied through a good shot by Shaun Attard from an unmarked position that was blocked by goalie Richard Sammut and on 19 minutes Nadur’s Stanimir Miloskovic entered Oratory’s area but defender Filopoulos Panagiotis recovered in time and denied the striker from concluding from an ideal position. The Youths had a good attempt on 21 minutes through Joshua Buttigieg that ended just wide and two minutes later Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut was well placed to turn to a corner a good shot by Shaun Attard following a cross by Saviour Attard. The same goalkeeper was called to make a difficult intervention to partially save a free kick by Stanimir Miloskovic and defender Manuel Buttigieg cleared the danger from the goalmouth to a corner. Nadur opened the score on 34 minutes when a corner kick by Stefan Cassar was deflected in front of Oratory’s goal and Darko Krstic pushed the ball from close distance. The Youths were not demoralised and three minutes later they levelled the score through Joshua Buttigieg who concluded the ball in goal from close distance after winning a tussle with the goalkeeper following a free kick from long distance by Daniel Azzopardi. On 39 minutes Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut saved a low shot by Darko Kristic and on the other side the Youths operated a break on 43 minutes through Gibson Mfulwane but Nadur’s keeper made an effective intervention and blocked the danger at the edge of the area. The same goalkeeper was again called to make a good save on 45 minute following a free kick by Daniel Azzopardi and Nadur replied with a good action in the second minute of stoppage time before half time through a strike by Charles Hili that was partially saved by goalie Richard Sammut and the same goalie saved well the header by Stanimir Miloskovic from the rebound.
Nadur came out more aggressive after the break and on 50 minutes they regained the lead through a low drive by Josef Buttigieg who was released in the area by Darko Krstic. Nadur continued to produce pressure on Oratory’s defence but they found it difficult to convert their play into good scoring opportunities. On 64 minutes Oratory’s substitute goalkeeper Courtney Mercieca was well placed to neutralise in two attempts a strike from outside the area by Nemanja Stojanovic. On 73 minutes Nadur went very close to score another goal but Stanimir Miloskovic had a good shot after receiving from Darko Krstic that was stopped by the post. Nadur went again close to make sure of the victory with the third goal on 88 minutes but a free kick by Darko Ktrstic was saved by goalie Courtney Mercieca. In the first minute of stoppage time the same goalkeeper made a good intervention to deny Darko Krstic from concluding in goal and central defender Luciano Mba Mutasi cleared the danger from the goalmouth. Oratory almost clinched a dramatic equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time but the striker failed to win the ball from a melee in front of Nadur’s goalmouth following a corner action so that the score remained unchanged.
Referee: Joseph Scerri
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