GFA BOV GFL Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Sannat L : 2 (A. Adesina 8’, S. Baala 38’)
Brignoli, J. Buttigieg, O. Xuereb, F. Xuereb, D.U. Monday, D. Borg (J. Zammit), M. Muscat, S. Baala (A. Camilleri), A. Adesina (K. Bonnici), N. Micallef, A. Debono.
Qala S : 1 (K. Kacoli 76’ pen.)
Buttigieg, M. Pace, G. Sillato, N. Portelli, L. Meilak (F. Mumford), B. Meilak, S. Dimech (C. Caruana), W. Cassar (L. Portelli), J. Buttigieg, M. Mamo, K. Kacoli.
Sannat Lions obtained a hard-earned win over Qala Saints and are now on equal points at the top of the table together with Gharb Rangers. Sannat had an excellent start in this match and scored an early goal but did not manage to keep command of play. Just after the half hour the Maroons had a player sent off and Sannat capitalised with a second goal that arrived in the final stages of the first half. Qala were not demoralised and had a good reaction during the second half so that they remained in contention, despite playing with ten players, and the final score remained uncertain until the final whistle.
In the third minute of play Sannat had a good opportunity by Sunday Baala that ended wide and Qala replied on 7 minutes through a shot by Kevin Kacoli that was saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli. One minute later Sannat opened the score through a shot from outside the area by Ajibade Adesina that ended out of the reach of goalie Franco Buttigieg. On 10 minutes Sannat went again close to scoring but an attempt by Ajibade Adesina after receving from Sunday Baala was saved in two attempts by goalie Franco Buttigieg. Qala recovered from the difficult start and started to share more play with their opponents. On 33 minutes Qala’s Gabriele Sillato had a header from a corner kick by Marlon Mamo that ended just high and in one minute later a close ranged attempt by Steve Dimech following a corner kick by Brian Meilak was saved with some difficulty by goalie Angelo Brignoli. On 35 minutes Qala were reduced to ten players when Gabriele Sillato was sent off for denying Sunday Baala from concluding towards goal following a counter break. From the resultant free kick Omar Xuereb’s shot ended just wide. Sannat doubled the score on 38 minutes when Qala’s keeper failed to clear the ball from the area following pressure by Daniel Borg and Sunday Baala took advantage of the situation, took the ball and netted with a low shot.
Qala tried to recover the deficit after the break and on 53 minute a strike from outside the area by Brian Meilak ended away from Sannat’s goal. One minute alter a header by William Cassar from a corner action was stopped by the crossbar and in the following minutes Sannat regained territorial supremacy. On 61 minutes Sannat could have added another goal but Josiah Buttigieg had a low shot that was well saved by goalie Franco Buttigieg. Two minutes later Qala operated a counter break but Steve Dimech had his shot form an angled position that ended wide. The Maroons went again close to re-open the issue on 69 minutes but a header by Kevin Kacoli following a cross by substitute Christoph Caruana hit the post. Qala managed to reduce the deficit on 76 minute when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Omar Xuereb on Christoph Caruana and Kevin Kacoli converted with his shot from the spot kick. On 79 minutes Sannat’s Omar Xuereb almost made up immediately for the penalty committed but his low shot from an angled position ended just wide. Qala tried to increase their pressure over their opponents during the final stages but the closest that they went to save the result was in the second minute of stoppage time when Sannat’s goalie cleared within the area a free kick by Brian Meilak but Joseph Buttigieg lifted over the crossbar from an ideal position.
Referee: Paul Apap
Photos: Anaca Photography
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