GFA BOV GFL Division I
Gozo Stadium
Xaghra U: 0
Galea, S. Sultana (L. Attard), J. Buhagiar, S. Sultana, M. Portelli (J. Xerri), A. Bezzina, M. Buhagiar, N. Vitorovic, G. Tushe, D. Sowatey, A. Laskov.
Nadur Y: 1 (M. Stojanovic 21’)
Grima, J. Buttigieg, D. Stojanovic, P. Camilleri (M. Zerafa), S. Attard, M. Hyzler (C. Azzopardi), B. Said, C. Antunes, M. Stojanovic, J. Grima (C. Debono).
Nadur Youngsters registered a close win over Xaghra United in the match where the two sides were making a return to the flight of Gozitan football. Nadur’s win was deserved as they managed to produce more adventurous play and were also well deployed at their defence where they conceded very few opportunities to their opponents to conclude action towards the goal. On the other hand Xaghra tired hard to share play with their opponents but their best patch of play arrived during the last part of the first half when they managed to push their opponents within their half. However, Xaghra suffered Nadur’s play after the break through initiatives by Milos Stojanovic and Claudio Antunes, so that as time passed by they seemed demoralised and lacked the determination to increase their efforts in an attempt to earn a positive result from this encounter.
Xaghra almost surprised their opponents in the second minute of play when Aleandro Bezzina entered the area with a personal action but prolonged his last touch and goalie Mark Grima managed to save the danger before the striker could conclude from close distance. Nadur replied on 7 minutes through a shot from outside the area by Claudio Antunes that was neutralised by goalie Daniel Galea and three minutes later Nadur’s Darko Stojanovic incredibly lifted the ball over the cross bar following a free kick by Milos Stojanovic. Nadur gained confidence and on 16 minutes Claudio Antunes had a good shot that ended away from Xaghra’s goal. One minute later Nadur’s Milos Stojanovic had a goal that disallowed for an offside but the Youngsters managed to open the score on 21 minutes through a tap-in by Milos Stojanovic following a cross from the left flank by Joseph Grima. Xaghra managed to recover from the shock an produced a good pressure in an attempt to level the score. Xaghra were also unlucky on 35 minutes when a close ranged attempt by Nikola Vitorovic following a corner kick by Antoio Laskov that hit the crossbar.
During the early stages of the second period Nadur controlled play without difficulty as Xaghra’s reaction was sterile. Nadur were more dangerous mainly through counter breaks. On 54 minutes Nadur’s Milos Stojanovic had a shot from outside the area following a short clearance by Xaghra’s defence that missed the target and two minutes later Claudio Antunes entered the area with a personal action but had his attempt blocked by goalie Daniel Galea. On 65 minutes Nadur could have doubled the score when Brandon Said headed towards Claudio Antunes but the latter had his first timer that ended wide. Seven minutes later Nadur’s Milos Stojanovic had a curling shot that was easily saved by goalie Daniel Galea and on 75 minutes Xaghra had their best scoring opportunity of the second period but Daniel Sowatey had a close ranged header following a free kick by Antoio Laskov that was well saved by goalie Mark Grima. During the final stages Nadur tried to seal the victory by scoring the second goal but Xaghra’s goalie kept his side in contention with two good saves. On 84 minutes Xaghra’s goalie saved to a corner a free kick by Claudio Antunes and three minutes later the same goalkeeper neutralised a low shot by the same Brazilian striker. In the second minute of stoppage time Nadur went again close to scoring but a strike by Brandon Said ended wide.
Referee: Joe Agius
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