Hard-Earned Win For Xewkija

GFA BOV GFL Division I
Gozo Stadium

Xewkija T: 3    (T.M. Dos Santos 29’, 86’; D. Shields 67’)

Sultana, J. Azzopardi, J. Vella, M. Xerri, M. Hrubsa, J.M. Vella, G. Hili, J. Cefai, D. Shields (T. Vella), D. Bogdanovic, T.M. Dos Santos.

Xaghra U: 1    (C. Dybril 15’)

Galea, M. Buhagiar, J. Buhagiar, E. Galea (J. Bajada), M. Portelli, A. Bezzina (S. Sultana), V.J. Saliba (D. Bartolo), G. Tushe, D. Sowatey, A. Laskov, C. Dybril.

Xewkija Tigers made it two wins in a row in their match from Match Day 3 of the championship against Xaghra United.  Xewkija were expected to obtain an easy victory considering that newly promoted side Xaghra showed some limitations in their opening matches of the championship. However, the Tigers struggled to convert their territorial supremacy into open scoring opportunities and also suffered from Xaghra’s counter breaks by Cisse Dybril.  In this match Xaghra were well organised and determined at their defensive department so that Xewkija’s strikers very often did not find space to conclude their actions.  As a result Xewkija seemed confused in their play for long stretches and only managed to clinch the victory through the quality of their individual players in attack who prevailed in the decisive moments.  The performance of Xaghra in this match may be encouraging for the next matches in the championship, especially because they remained in contention to earn their first point of the championship until the final minutes of the match.

Xewkija tried to put pressure on their opponents form the early stages of the match and in the second minute of play they had a goal by Gennaro Hili that was disallowed for an offside infringement.  In the seventh minute Xaghra’s goalie was called to make a difficult save following an attempt by Daniel Bogdanovic but on 15 minutes Xaghra surprised Xewkija when Cisse Dybril took the ball at the edge of the area and his shot ended in goal following a deflection by the defence.  Xewkija took some time to regain composure but managed to score the equaliser on 29 minutes when Xaghra’s defence failed to clear a low cross by dene Shields form the left flank and Thiago Melo Dos Santos concluded in goal with the ball hitting the crossbar before ended at the back of the net.  Xaghra were again dangerous on 35 minutes through a header by Gerald Tushe following a corner kick by Aleandro Bezzina that ended just wide.  Xewkija regain command of play during the final stages of the first half but the closest that they went to scoring was on 42 minutes through a shot by Daniel Bogdanovic, following a header in the area by Thaigo Melo Dos Santos, which ended wide.

Play was more balanced during the second period as Xaghra shared more play.  On 49 minutes Xewkija’s Daniel Bogdanovic almost surprised Xaghra’s keeper directly from a free kick but the latter managed to block the danger to a corner.  The same Bogdanovic entered the area with a personal action on 57 minutes but his shot ended high and Xaghra replied on 64 minutes through an attempt by Cisse Dybril that ended wide.  Xewkija took the lead on 67 minutes when Thiago Melo Dos Santos ran from the right flank and from his low cross Dene Shields fired in goal.  Xaghra went very close to level the score on 72 minutes but a strike from outside the area by Gerald Tushe ended just wide. Xewkija controlled Xaghra’s reaction and practically made sure of the victory on 86 minutes when they scored the third goal through an excellent shot from long distance by Thiago Melo Dos Santos that ended out of the reach of goalie Daniel Galea.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara