GFA BOV GFL Division I
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Xewkija T : 2 (G. Hili 76’, D. Shields 90+5’)
Sultana, M. Xerri, D. Sakic, P. Buttigieg, J. Azzopardi, J.M. Vella (C. Bugeja), M. Hrubsa, R. Buttigieg, G. Hili, D. Shields, T.M. Dos Santos.
Nadur Y : 0
Grima, J. Buttigieg, S. Attard, C. Hili, R. Da Silva, D. Stojanovic, D. Dos Santos, C. Antunes, J. Grima (C. Debono), M. Zerafa.
Xewkija Tigers completed an impressive comeback with a victory over Nadur Youngsters in the main encounter of match-day nine of the championship. Before this match Nadur were sole leaders on the table, with a three point lead over the same Xewkija, four ahead of Kercem Ajax and five more than reigning champions Ghajnsielem. Xewkija, who were coming from an important win over Ghajnsielem in the previous weekend needed the victory to reach the same Nadur on the table and to erase the five-point gap that they had from the same Nadur at the end of the first round. With this result Xewkija also registered the double over Nadur and so far they are the only team who took the full points at stake from the Youngsters in the championship.
Nadur were aiming to make up for the disappointing result in the previous weekend when they dropped two precious points from the match against bottom placed Xaghra United. The Youngsters managed to express more offensive play but found it difficult to convert their play in goals as Xewkija defended well. Nadur had a player sent off midway through the second period and compromised the result with a defensive mistake minutes later so that they lost concentration and failed to produce a determined reaction during the remaining minutes. Xewkija ended up scoring a second goal deep into stoppage time to make sure of the important win which puts them on equal points with the same Nadur at the top of the table.
Nadur took the initiative of play from the early moments of the encounter and during the opening minutes they had two good attempts by Charles Hili and Claudio Antunes that missed the target. Xewkija first attempt at goal arrived on 10 minutes through a cross shot by Joseph Mario Vella that was saved with some difficulty by Nadur’s keeper Mark Grima. One minute later Nadur’s Dewide Dos Santos had a good shot that en ded just over the crossbar and in an immediate reply by Xewkija a low shot by Thiago Melo Dos Santos ended wide. On 19 minutes a free kick by Dewide Dos Santos was neutralised by Nadur’s keeper and on the half hour mark a header by Nadur’s Claudio Antunes from a free kick by Ronaldo Da Silva was weak and easily saved by goalie Steve Sultana. On 44 minutes Nadur created a good scoring opportunity when Darko Stojanovic headed inside the area from a corner kick by Dewide Dos Santos but Joseph Grima’s attempt from close distance ended wide.
In the first minute of play of the second period Nadur’s Claudio Antunes headed wide a good cross by Dewide Dos Santos and in an immediate reply by Xewkija a shot by Thiago Melo Dos Santos missed the target. On 48 minutes Nadur’s Claudio Abtuines had another attempt that ended aide and two minutes later Dewide Dos Santos also failed to hit the target with his shot from a good position. Nadur increased their pressure on Xewkija’s rear guard in the following minutes and on 66 minutes they also had the best opportunity to open the score when Claudio Antunes crossed from the right flank and the ball arrived to an unmarked Dewide Dos Santos who had his low shot partially saved by goalie Steve Sultana and Martin Hrubsa cleared the danger from the goalmouth to avoid a certain goal. Three minutes later Xewkija’s keeper Steve Sultana saved a free kick from long distance by Charles Hili and on 70 minutes Nadur were reduced to ten players when Josef Buttigieg was sent off for a second bookable offence. Xewkija grew in confidence and on 76 minutes they also opened the score when Gennaro Hili won the ball from Nadur’s defender Ronaldo Da Silva just outside the area and placed in goal with a low drive with the ball hitting the post before crossing the fatal line. Nadur were demoralised and Xewkija continued tom administer play for the rest of the encounter. In the second minute of stoppage time Nadur’s central defender Saviour Attard cleared the ball from the goalmouth following an effective break by Xewkija’s strikers but the Tigers sealed the victory with the second goal that arrived in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Thiago Melo Dos Santos entered Nadur’s area following a counter break but had his low shot partially saved by goalie Mark Grima. Dene Shields took the ball from the rebound and netted easily into an open goal among the celebrations of all Xewkija players and officials together with their numerous supporters.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Photos: Anaca Photography
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