Oratory Make Sure of Qualification with Early Goals

GFA Cup Rd 1
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Oratory Y: 3       (B. Perello Palou 10’, 12’; I. Dolara 19’)

Camilleri (C. Mercieca), K. Borg, J. Polo Longarela, M. Gauci, B. Polo Longarela, K. Farrugia, B. Perello Palou, J. Attard (S. Saliba), I. Dolara (D. Azzopardi), M. Buttigieg, J. Bonnici.

Xaghra U: 0

Galea, St. Sultana, Si. Sultana, D. Sowatey, V.J. Saliba (D. Saliba), M. Portelli, A. Laskov, N. Vitorovic, G. Tushe, A. Bezzina (J. Bajada), D. Bartolo (S. Bonello).

In a match between two sides from the top flight Oratory Youths defeated Xaghra United and earned qualification to the next round of the competition.  Oratory opened a comfortable three-goal lead during the opening stages of the encounter and administered play with authority for the rest of the match.  The Youths were well organised at the defence and took full advantage of the Xaghra’s inexperience and capitalised by scoring the early goals.  In this match Xaghra once again showed their limitations in attack as they find it extremely difficult to convert their offensive efforts into dangerous scoring opportunities.  In this match the Blues also committed lack of concentration at their defensive department and compromised the possibility to remain in contention for a positive result.

In the fifth minute of play Oratory were unlucky when an excellent overhead kick by Borja Polo Longarela hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.  Xaghra replied two minutes later through a shot by Nikola Vitorovic that was saved by goalie Leonard Camilleri and on 10 minutes the Youths opened the scorfe through a low shot by Bartomeu Perello Palou after receiving from Borja Polo Longarela following some hesitation by Xaghra’s defence.  Xaghra seemed shocked and a minute later the same striker concluded incredibly wide following another pass by Borja Polo Longarela.  However, Bartomeu Perello Palou made up for the mistake and doubled the score on 12 minutes with another close ranged shot after receiving from Borja Polo Longarela.  On 17 minutes Xaghra had a header by Daniel Bartolo that ended high and two minutes later Oratory scored their third goal when Borja Polo Longarela took the ball from Xaghra’s defence and released Inigo Dolara who concluded in goal with a low shot.  On 22 minutes Xaghra had a free kick by Antonio Laskov that was saved with difficulty by goalie Leonard Camilleri and on 33 minutes Oratory went again close to scoring but a shot by Bartomeu Perello Palou from an ideal position ended high.  The same Oratory’s striker had another good attempt on 41 minutes that was saved with difficulty to a corner.

Xaghra tried to produce a reaction after the break and on 48 minutes Oratory’s keeper Leonard Camilleri saved with difficulty to a corner a free kick by Antonio Laskov that was also deflected by the defence.  On 53 minutes a corner kick by Oratory’s Bartomeu Perello Palou ended on the crossbar and three minutes later Oratory could have added another goal but Borja Polo Longarela failed to hit the target when he was face to face with the goalkeeper and the latter saved the danger.  Xaghra went again close to reduce the deficit on 57 minutes through a shot by Nikola Vitorovic that was deflected by the defence to another corner.  Xaghrea had their last possibility to score a goal on 65 minutes, but Oratory’s goalie Leonard Camilleri saved to a corner with the aid of the crossbar a header by Daniel Bartolo following a cross by Aleandro Bezzina.

Referee: Stefan Pace

Photo: Anaca Photography