Xewkija obtain important win with ten players

by | Dec 8, 2017 | News

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Xewkija T : 3 (J.M. Vella 46’, M. Stojanovic 50’, C. Antunes 53’)

F. Vella, J. Azzopardi, M. Xerri, G. Hili (T. Vella), M. Hrubsa, R. Buttigieg, J.M. Vella, M. Stojanovic, J. G. Vella, T.M. Dos Santos (J. Cefai), C. Antunes Pavlidis (L. Cilia).

SK Victoria W : 2 (A.A. Ige 61’, A. Touarha 90+5’)

L. Camilleri, J. Buhagiar, I. Xuereb, G.D. Diaz Valdiviezo, C. Sciortino, A.G. Vella (A. Touarha), P. Dordevic, A. Adesina, A.A. Ige, N. Vella, S. Baala.


Xewkija Tigers had a positive start in the second round of the championship as they earned the full points at stake form a deserved win over bottom placed SK Victoria Wanderers.  Xewkija played almost all of the encounter with a player less on the field as they had a player sent off in the sixth minute of play. However, the Tigers still expressed territorial supremacy over their opponents throughout the ninety minutes.  Xewkija found it difficult to create serious scoring opportunities during the first half but paved the way to the win with three goals scored during the opening minutes of the second half.  The Wanderers, who had a positive performance during the first half, compromised their possibility to obtain at least a point form this match with defensive mistake during the opening stages of the second half so that their reaction only served to make the score more respectable.

The challengers for the title tried to take command of play from the very beginning but in the sixth minute of play they ended up with a player less on the field when Rodney Buttigieg was sent off for elbowing on Ian Xuereb that was noted by the assistant referee.  Xewkija still managed to hold command of play despite the fact that they had a player less on the field.  On 12 minutes a shot by Claudio Antunes following a short clearance by the defence was well saved by goalie Leonard Camilleri and three minutes later a shot by Rodney Buttigieg from an ideal position missed the target.  The Wanderers managed to control Xewkija’s initiative for most of the first half but the Tigers created two other good scoring opportunities before half time.  On 34 minutes Victoria’s keeper partially saved a shot cross by Joseph Azzopardi and form the rebound Milos Stojanovic concluded badly from close distance sn on 42 minutes a free kick by Claudio Antunes missed the target so that the first half ended in a goalless draw.

Xewkija came out very aggressive for the second period and scored three goals in the space of eight minutes.  After just fifteen seconds of play Victoria’s defence failed to defend the ball inside their area so that Rodney Buttigieg took the ball but his attempt towards an open goal was cleared to a corner by Chris Sciortino.  From the resultant corner kick by Gennaro Hili the ball arrived to an unmarked Joseph Mario Vella who surprised the goalkeeper with a strike form the edge of the area to open the score.  On 49 minutes Xewkija’s Claudio Antunes had a good attempt form a good position that was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie Leonard Camilleri.  Xewkija however doubled the score one minute later when Gennaro Hili unmarked Milos Stojanovic and the latter netted with a low shot.  The Wanderers continued to be very erratic at their defensive department and on 53 minutes Xewkija scored their third goal, when Thiago Melo Dos Santos took the ball from Victoria’s rear guard and released Claudio Antunes who placed in goal with a low drive that was out of the reach of the goalkeeper.  Xewkija reduced their pressure and on 61 minutes the Wanderers took advantage as they scored their first goal through a header by Abdullahi Ige following a free kick from long distance by Ian Xuereb.  Xewkija however regained control of play and on 69 minutes they went close to scoring through a shot by Gennaro Hili after receiving from Rodney Buttigieg that ended just wide.  One minute later the Wanderers were also reduced to ten players as Gabriel Dario Diaz Valdiviezo was sent off for holding Claudio Antunes who was entering the area.  From the resultant free kick the attempt by Milos Stojanovic was stopped by the post.  The Wanderers increased their efforts during the final stages of the encounter and on 88 minutes Xewkija’s goalie Franklin Vella left his position in time to block an effort by Sunday Baala who entered the area with a personal action.  In the fifth minute of stoppage time Victoria scored their second goal through a strike by substitute Aaron Touarha who was released in the area by Abdullahi Ige.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic

 

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