Leaders Nadur Held to a Draw

GFA BOV GFL Division I
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Nadur Y     :        1       (M. Stojanovic 77’)
Grima, C. Azzopardi, S. Attard, D. Stojanovic, R. Da Silva, C. Hili, M. Hyzler (B. Said), M. Stojanovic, C. Antunes, D. Dos Santos, C. Debono (M. Zerafa).

Xaghra U   :        1       (N. Vitorovic 48’)
Galea, S. Sultana (J. Buhagiar), V.J. Saliba, M. Portelli, D. Sowatey, S. Sultana, J. Bajada (A. Bezzina), D. Bartolo (O. Pogukay), G. Tushe, F. Kosova.

Leaders of the BOV Gozo Football League Division I Nadur Youngsters were surprisingly held to a draw by bottom placed Xaghra United and lost an opportunity to consolidate their position on the table.  Nadur, who were eliminated from two competitions in the previous two weekends, were expected to earn three easy points form this encounter but they found it extremely difficult to convert their territorial supremacy into scoring opportunities as Xaghra were well organised at their defence.  Xaghra grew in confidence as time passed by and their efforts were rewarded by earning their first point in the championship.

Nadur tried to take command of play from the very beginning and in the fifth minute of play a shot by Dewide Dos Santos from outside the area that ended wide.  On 14 minutes Nadur had another attempt from long distance through Charles Hili that was neutralised by goalie Daniel Galea.  As time passed by Xaghra started to share play with their more quoted opponents in the midfield but Nadur regained command of play during the final stages of the first half and went close to scoring on more than one occasion. On 32 minutes a free kick by Dewide Dos Santos was well saved by goalie Daniel Galea and on 39 minutes Claudio Antunes released himself from his direct opponent in the area but he prolonged the ball and missed the opportunity to hit towards goal.  One minute later Xaghra’s goalie Daniel Galea was well placed to save an effort by Claudio Antunes and on 41 minutes Nadur protested for a penalty when Dewide Dos Santos ended in the floor in the area following a challenge with an opponent.

Xaghra had an excellent start to the second period and opened the score on 48 minute through a strike by Nikola Vitorovic from outside the area after receiving from debutant Franci Kosova that surprised goalie Mark Grima.  Nadur seemed shocked and two minutes later Xaghra’s Matthew Portelli had an attempt that was deflected by the defence and saved easily by goalie Mark Grima.  On 58 minutes Nadur’s Claudio Antunes had an attempt that was saved with difficulty by goalie Daniel Galea with the aid of the post and on 59 minutes Nadur protested for a penalty alleging handling by Daniel Sowatey in a melee inside Xaghra’s area.  Xaghra in the meantime continued to threaten Nadur’s rear guard with counter breaks and on 61 minutes Franci Kosova had an attempt that ended wide.  The same striker could have doubled the score for his side on 63 minutes when he entered the area after receiving from substitute Aleandro Bezzina but goalie Mark Grima kept his side ion contention by turning the ball to a corner.  On 67 minutes Nadur had a shot by Charles Hili that was partially saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri and Xaghra’s defence managed to clear the ball to a corner before Milos Stojanovic could hit the ball into an open goal.  In the following minutes goalie Daniel Spiteri continued to produce important interventions to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a series of corner actions and set pieces.  Nadur levelled the score on 77 minutes when Xaghra’s goalie failed to hold a low shot by Dewide Dos Santos and Milos Stojanovic took the ball and placed in goal from close distance.  Nadur tried to increase their effort to turn the result in their favour and on 85 minutes a strike by Dewide Dos Santos ended wide.  Nadur had their last opportunity to earn the victory on the stroke of regular time when Claudio Antunes entered Xaghra’s area but passed the ball instead of concluding his action and the ball ended wide.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha