GFA BOV GFL Division I
Gozo Stadium
Xaghra U : 0
D. Galea, J. Buhagiar, D. Bajada (S. Galea), D. Sowatey, Si. Sultana, O. Pogukay, M. Portelli, Jo. Bajada (V.J. Saliba), M. Bezzina, J. Xerri (G. Farrugia), St. Sultana.
Victoria H : 3 (M. Camilleri 7’, E. Nwankwo 50’, M. Bamba 66’)
A. Parnis, J.P. Grima, J. Pace, M. Bamba, O.I. Guobadia, K. Farrugia, J. Tabone, E. Nwankwo, C. Mercieca, H. Maciel, M. Camilleri (J. Grech).
Victoria Hotspurs retained their chances to end the championship in the fourth place on the table with a victory over bottom placed Xaghra United. The Hotspurs dominated the match for long stretches and earned the victory with a goal scored during the first half and two other goals scored after the break. Xaghra tried hard to earn a positive result but their efforts were compromised just before the half hour mark when they had a player sent off and therefore they remain without a win in the championship from twenty matches.
Xaghra almost surprised their more quoted opponents in the third minute of play when Michael Bezzina entered Victoria’s area with a personal action but his shot form a good position ended high. On 6 minutes the Hotspurs were denied from scoring by Xaghra’s goalie Daniel Galea who made three consecutive interventions to block a close ranged shot by Osa Icecream Guobadia and two shots by Moussa Bamba. One minute later the Citizens opened the score when Mark Camilleri received the ball at the edge of the area and placed in goal with a low drive. The Hotspurs kept insisting and on 14 minutes two consecutive shots from close distance by Eric Nwankwo were blocked by the defence. Six minutes later an attempt by Henrique Maciel from a good position ended wide. On 27 minutes Xaghra were reduced to ten players when Steve Sultana was dismissed from the match by the referee for a foul on Henrique Maciel. The same Maciel could have added another goal for the Hotspurs on 32 minutes but his shot was saved to a corner by Xaghra’s goalie Daniel Galea. From the resultant corner action the ball arrived to an unmarked Kevin Farrugia who concluded high from a good position.
Victoria doubled the score on 50 minutes when Xaghra’s rear guard failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a cross from the right flank and Eric Nwankwo. Victoria continued to keep control of play while Xaghra’s sporadic break were easily neutralised by Victoria’s defence. On 63 minutes Victoria’s Henrique Maciel entered Xaghra’s area with a personal action but his strike was stopped by the post. On 66 minutes the Hotspurs scored their third goal through a tap-in by Moussa Bamba following a cross from the right flank by Osa Icecream Guobadia. Xaghra’s best opportunity to score a consolation goal arrived on 87 minutes when Michael Bezzina entered Victoria’s area, turned around the goalkeeper but his shot ended wide. One minute later Xaghra’s goalie Daniel Galea denied the Hotspurs from scoring another goal when he turned to a corner a close ranged attempt by Eric Nwankwo following a cross by Jason Pace.
Referee: Mario Apap
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