MATCH DETAILS
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II
13 April 2019 – Gozo Stadium
St Lawrence S : 2 (M. Fagbeja 61’, E. Portelli 90+3’)
Brignoli, C. Mercieca (S. Sultana), A. Xiberras, C. Grima, J. Theuma, M. Fagbeja, C. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, L. Buttigieg (E. Portelli), M. Zerafa, L. Attard (P.A. Camilleri).
Sannat L : 1 (E.R. Okpokwu 21’pen)
Mercieca, M. Portelli (E. Gauci), N. Micallef, J. Buttigieg, J. Zammit, E.R. Okpokwiu, D. Borg, B. Said, M. Mifsud, D. Bellotti, F.J. Xuereb.
MATCH REPORT
In the last match from Match-Day 19 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the second division, St Lawrence Spurs registered a surprise 2-1 win over Sannat Lions so that the Spurs made sure of their third place on the table at the end of the league while Sannat lost their top position and fell three points behind Xaghra United. This was the penultimate match of the campaign for the two sides and Sannat needed a win to remain co-leaders with Xaghra United so that the title and promotion issue would be determined in the last match between the same Sannat and Xaghra. With this result Sannat would need a win in the last match against Xaghra to force a decider if they wish to prolong their hopes to win promotion this season. Ironically, Sannat ended up dropping from the top position in this Match-Day as they have been leaders of the table for the previous 18 rounds of the league. In this match between Sannat and St Lawrence, Sannat held territorial supremacy for most of the encounter but St Lawrence remained in contention and managed to turn a defeat into a win with a decisive goal that arrived seconds away from the final whistle.
Sannat tried to take command of paly from the early stages and in the third minute of play a shot by Brandon Said following a low cross by Joseph Zammit was well blocked by St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli. Sannat opened the score on 21 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Christian Azzopardi on Fabian Xuereb and Ebube Ralph Okpokwu converted from the spot kick. Sannat could have doubled the score on 35 minutes when Brandon Said won the ball from St Lawrence’s defence but had his first attempt that was blocked by St Lawrence’s defence and form the rebound the same Said saw his shot ending wide. One minute later the Spurs replied through a shot from outside the area by Jason Theuma following a corner action that was well saved by goalie Courtney Mercieca. On 38 minutes the Spurs were again dangerous when Adrian Xiberras released Muda Fagbeja but the latter had his shot form a good position that was well saved by Sannat’s keeper. On 44 minutes Sannat went again close to scoring through a header by Brandon Said following a cross by Fabian Xuereb that was saved by St Lawrence’s goalie Angelo Brignoli.
Sannat regained command of play during the opening minutes of the second half but they failed to capitalise on at least three occasions when Brandon Said, Joseph Zammit and Ebube Ralph Okpokwu missed good opportunities to conclude from close distance. On 52 minutes the Spurs replied with a shot by Luke Attard that ended high and one minute later Sannat’s Ebube Ralph Okpokwu incredibly lifted over the crossbar from close distance and on 61 minutes St Lawrence levelled the score with a direct free kick by Muda Fagbeja that surprised Sannat’s keeper. The two sides started to produce more offensive play and on 62 m intes St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli was well placed to block an attempt by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu who was alone inside St Lawrence’s area. One minute later the Spurs were dangerous through a shot by Jason Theuma that ended wide and on 67 minutes Sannat’s Dylan Bellotti also failed to hit the target and his shot ended away from goal. The Spurs replied on 71 minutes with a shot from outside the area by Jason Theuma that was saved by goalie Courtney Mercieca with the aid of the crossbar. Sannat went again to scoring on 81 minutes but a header by Brandon Said form a corner kick by Mario Mifsud and on 89 minutes Sannat ended up with a player less on the field of play when Daniel Borg was sent off for a second bookable offence. In the first minute of stoppage time Sannat could have regained the lead but a low shot by Brandon Said following a cross by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu was hit by the base of the post. St Lawrence however clinched the win with a goal that arrived in the third minute of stoppage time as substitute Eric Portelli surprised Sannat’s keeper with a shot from outside the area.
Referee: Ryan Caruana
0 Comments