GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium
Xewkija T : 1 (S. Bajada 83’)
F. Vella, J. Azzopardi, M. Gauci (M. Xerri), M. Hrubsa, D. Bogdanovic, S. Bajada, G. Hili, J.M. Vella, M. Stojanovic, H.T. Barbosa Honorato, T. Vella (O. Xuereb)..
Victoria H : 3 (H. Maciel 32’, E. Lattes 79’, A. Debrincat 87’)
A. Parnis (D. Galea), L. Grima, A. Azzopardi (J. Tabone), S.F. Bajada, D. Sowatey, F. Apap, C. Mercieca (A. Debrincat), E. Lattes, J. Camilleri, D.L. Galder, H. Maciel.
Victoria Hotspurs, who are already mathematically champions this season, registered their eighteenth win from twenty matches in the championship in their match against Xewkija Tigers. This encounter turned out into an interesting match as the Hotspurs were aiming to obtain their third win over the ex-champions, while Xewkija seemed determined to obtain a positive result against the newly crowned champions of Gozitan football. The Tigers actually produced an offensive match but they were often erratic in their finishing and compromised the possibility to obtain at least a point with decisive mistakes by their defensive department.
Play during the opening minutes of the match was quite balanced and the strikers of the two sides found it difficult to create danger towards the respective goals. On 14 minutes a curling shot by Xewkjija’s Shaun Bajada ended just wide and on 31 minutes Xewkija were again dangerous but a shot by Halleson Thiago Barbosa Honorato was weak and was neutralised by Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis. The Hotspurs opened the score on 32 minutes when Xewkija’s goalie cleared the ball badly from the edge of the area although with the intention to pass to central defender Manwel Gauci, but Henrique Maciel took the ball, entered the area and fired in goal as the goalkeeper was still trying to recover his ideal position. Xewkija were shocked and the Hotspurs were again dangerous on 41 minutes through a shot by Henrique Maciel that was saved to a corner by goalie Franklin Vella. Xewkija’s best scoring opportunity of the first half arrived on 45 minutes through a shot by Thomas Vella that ended wide.
After the break Xewkija tried to put some pressure on Victoria’s defence. On 50 minutes an attempt by Gennaro Hili ended just wide from Victoria’s goal and one minute later the Hotspurs replied through a shot from outside the area by Dwomoh Lombas Galder that ended just over the crossbar. On 53 minutes Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis neutralised another effort by Halleson Thiago Barbosa Honorato and one minute later Xewkija’s Shaun Bajada had a direct free kick that ended high. During the final stages of the match the two sides tried to be more offensive and as a result the respective defensive departments became more exposed. On 77 minute Xewkija’s Halleson Thiago Barbosa Honorato had a header following a corner kick by Daniel Bogdanovic that ended wide and two minutes later then Hotspurs scored their second goal when Dwomoh Lombas Galder passed to Emiliano Lattes outside Xewkija’s area and the latter saw his shot ending in goal as Xewkija’s keeper failed to hold the ball which bounced inside the small area. Xewkija reduced the deficit on 83 minutes when a shot cross by Shaun Bajada found substitute goalkeeper Daniel Galea still unprepared and the ball ended in goal. On 87 minutes the Hotspurs practically made sure of the victory when Xewkija’s defence failed to clear the ball from the area following a counter break by Dwomoh Lombas Galder and John Camilleri, Xewkija’s keeper partially saved a shot by Dwomoh Lombas Galder and from the rebound substitute Andrea Debrincat concluded easily into an open goal. Xewkija’s best opportunity to score the second goal arrived on 90 minutes but a free kick by Daniel Bogdanovic ended wide.
Referee: Kurt Saliba
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