Kercem Obtain Large Win in a Match with Five Penalties

GFA BOV GFL Division I                                                                             Gozo Stadium

Xaghra U        :           3          (A. Laskov 2’pen., G. Tushe 55’pen., M. Bezzina 81’)

1. Galea, J. Buhagiar, D. Sowatey, D. Bajada (J. Bajada), A. Xiberras (M. Portelli), G. Tushe, S. Sultana, J. Xerri (V.J. Saliba), A. Laskov, N. Vitorovic, M. Bezzina.

Kercem A       :           6          (G.F. Amadio 9’pen, 55’pen., 80’; T. Grozev 11’, 28’, 50’pen.)

J.P. Cassar, L. Grima, P. Kyukyurdzhiev, O. Spiteri, M. Mifsud, P. Taylor, J.P. Mizzi, C. Debono, T. Grozev, A. Mizzi (J. Buttigieg), G. Franca Amadio.

Kercem Ajax consolidated their fourth place on the table with a 6-3 win over bottom placed Xaghra United.  Kercem were the better side for most of the ninety minutes but Xaghra tried to produce offensive play and as a result the match produce several scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field.  In this match Xaghra also showed their limitations in their defensive departments as they commit mistakes which compromise the possibility to earn points.  Kercem’s strikers Gustavo Franca Amadio and Trayo Grozev scored a hat-trick each.  Kercem conceded an early goal but paved the way to the victory by turning the score in their favour with three goals scored before the half hour mark.  The large score was undoubtedly determined by five penalties, three awarded to Kercem and two to Xaghra, which were all scored.

Xaghra had an excellent start and in the second minute of play they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Owen Spiteri on Antonio Laskov and the same Bulgarian midfielder opened the score with his shot from the spot kick.  Kercem had an immediate reaction and in the fifth minute of play a shot from an angled position by Andrew Mizzi ended just wide.  One minute later the same striker had an attempt hat also missed the target and on 9 minutes the referee awarded a penalty to Kercem for handling by Xaghra’s Joseph Buhagiar and Gustavo Franca Amadio levelled the score with his shot from the spot.  Two minutes later Kercem took the lead through a close range shot by Trayo Grozev following a corner kick by Mario Mifsud.  Xaghra continued to suffer Kercem’s play and on 16 minutes Xaghra’s goalie Daniel Galea saved to a corner with difficulty a free kick by Gustavo Franca Amadio.  On 26 minutes Kercem’s Philip Taylor headed over the crossbar following a corner kick by Mario Mifsud and two minutes later the Ajax added another goal through Trayo Grozev who concluded in goal, after receiving in the area form Andrew Mizzi.  On 32 minutes Xaghra replied through a free kick by Antonio Laskov that ended just wide and three minutes later Kercem went close to scoring through a shot by Jean Paul Mizzi that ended high.  Xaghra’s goalie was well placed on 37 minutes to block two consecutive attempts by Andrew Mizzi and Philip Taylor.  One minute later Xaghra protested for a penalty in a confused action inside Kercem’s area and from the same action Kercem’s Christian Debono cleared off the fatal line to avoid a certain goal following an effort by Gerald Tushe.  Seconds before half time Xaghra went again close to reduce the score but Nikola Vitorovic’s back heel was saved by goalie John Paul Cassar.

Kercem added another goal in the fifth minute of play of the second period from a penalty, awarded for a foul by the goalkeeper on Gustavo Franca Amadio, and converted by Trayo Grozev.  Three minutes later Xaghra were also awarded a penalty, for a foul by Andrew Mizzi on Antonio Laskov, and Gerald Tushe reduced the score with his shot from the spot kick.  On 55 minutes the same Tushe committed a foul on Kercem’s Gustavo Franca Amadio inside the area, the referee awarded the fifth penalty and the same Kercem striker made it 4-2 with his shot form the spot kick.  Gustavo Franca Amadio could have added another goal on 59 minutes but his attempt was saved to a corner by goalie Daniel Galea.  Five minutes later the same goalkeeper was well placed to deny Trayo Grozev from concluding in goal and on 72 minutes Kercem were again dangerous through an effort by Gustavo Franca Amadio that ended wide.  One minute later a good shot by Xaghra’s Michael Bezzina was saved in two attempts by Kercem’s goalie John Paul Cassar and on 79 minutes Kercem’s substitute Joshua Buttigieg had a good shot that was deflected by central defender Daniel Sowatey but the ball was stopped by the woodwork with the goalkeeper beaten.  Kercem scotred their sixth goal on 80 minted when a shot by Trayo Grozev was partially saved by goalie Daniel Galea and from the rebound Gustavo Franca Amadio concluded in goal from close distance.  One minute later Xaghra scored their third goal through a tap-in by Michael Bezzina following an inviting pass by Nikola Vitorovic and the same Bezzina could have scored another goal on 86 minutes but his attempt was neutralised by goalie John Paul Cassar.

Referee: Emanuel Grech