Nadur Concede Second Consecutive Defeat

GFA BOV GFL Division I                                                                             Gozo Stadium

Victoria H       :           2          (H. Maciel 28’, M. Camilleri 86’)

1. Parnis, M. Bamba, J. Tabone, J. Pace, J.P. Grima, O.I. Guodabia, J. Bajada (M. Camilleri), C. Mercieca (A. Bezzina), J. Vella (S. Caruana), D. Sytnik, H. Maciel.

Nadur Y          :           1          (C. Antunes 9’)

1. Muscat, D. Farrugia, C. Hili, M. Stojanovic, D. Stojanovic, Sa. Attard (B. Said), Sh. Attard J. Buttigieg, R. Da Silva, C. Antunes, D. Dos Santos.

Contenders for the title Nadur Youngsters suffered a setback in their ambition as they were surprised by Victoria Hotspurs in the penultimate match of the second round for the two sides.  With this defeat Nadur may find themselves with a six point gap from Xewkija Tigers at the end of match-day thirteen and therefore it would become much more difficult for them to re-join the top of the table.

Nadur, who were led from the bench by Paul Camilleri as a coach, seemed determined to make up for the disappointing defeat conceded in their previous match.  Nadur started the match with their typical starting line-up and held command of play for most of the ninety minutes.  However, the Hotspurs were well organised at their defence and were also dangerous in their breaks within Nadur’s territory.  As a result Nadur became frustrated as time passed by and not only failed to convert their territorial supremacy into goals but also ended up committing a defensive mistake four minutes form the end of regular time that compromised the possibility to earn at least a point from this difficult match.

For this match Nadur were in their typical formation, and were aiming to return to winning ways.  On the other hand the Hotspurs had strikers Joseph Vella and Henrique Maciel back in the starting line-up after a one-match suspension.  Nadur held command of play during the opening stages and took the lead on 9 minutes through Claudio Antunes who placed easily into an open goal following a low cross by Shaun Attard.  Two minutes later the Youngsters could have doubled the score but Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis was well placed to save a good effort by Claudio Antunes.  The Hotspurs created their first serious attempt at goal on 13 minutes but Henrique Maciel’s shot ended wide.  Two minutes later Nadur had a good shot by Milos Stojanovic that was stopped by the crossbar and on 19 minutes Victoria’s keeper was again called to make a good intervention to block a shot by Shaun Attard.  The Hotspurs started to share more play as time passed by and on 26 minutes Denis Sytnik’s header from a cross by Christian Mercieca ended high.  The Hotspurs levelled the score on 28 minutes through a low shot by Henrique Maciel that ended out of the reach of goalie Matthew Muscat.  Nadur tried to regain command of play and on 31 minutes they went close to scoring but Shaun Attard’s attempt after receiving from Dewide Dos Santos ended just high.  On 40 minutes Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis partially saved an attempt by Dewide Dos Santos and from the rebound Shaun Attard’s strike was blocked by central defender James Tabone.  The Hotspurs could have turned the result in their favour on 44 minutes but Denis Sytnik concluded badly from a good position following a good initiative by Henrique Maciel.  Seconds before half time Nadur were again dangerous through a free kick by Claudio Antunes that was again saved by goalie Adrian Parnis.

After the resumption Nadur increased their efforts in an attempt to regain the lead but the Hotspurs were well organised at their defence and also threatened their opponents with counter breaks.  On 52 minutes Shaun Attard had a good shot that was saved by goalie Adrian Parnis and one minute later Victoria’s Henrique Maciel had a curling shot after receiving from Christian Mercieca that ended wide.  Nadur went very close to scoring on 68 minutes when a header by Darko Stojanovic from a corner action was deflected by defender John Paul Grima and the ball was stopped by the post and goalie Adrian Parnis cleared the danger from the goalmouth.  Less than a minute later Nadur once again failed to capitalise from a corner action that created some hesitation at Victoria’s rear guard but Claudio Antunes hit badly from a good position and the goalkeeper saved the danger.  Nadur went again very close to scoring on 82 minutes when an effort by Claudio Antunes with the goalkeeper out of his position ended just wide.  One minute later Victoria’s James Tabone had a header form a free kick by Christian Mercieca that ended on the side of the net and on 84 minutes Nadur’s Shaun Attard had a shot from outside the area that ended high.  The Hotspurs score the goal that decided the issue on 86 minutes when Nadur’s defence and the goalkeeper showed some hesitation to clear the ball from their territory and finally Victoria’s substitute Mark Camilleri took the ball and lobbed into an open goal from long distance.  Nadur were demoralised and also ended with a player less on the field on 88 minutes when Charles Hili was sent off for a foul on Henrique Maciel.

Referee: Darko Stankovic