Nadur Win Direct Clash and Regain the Second Place on the Table

GFA BOV GFL Division I                                                                             Gozo Stadium

Nadur Y          :           3          (S. Attard 28’, M. Stojanovic 43’, C. Antunes 83’)

1. Muscat, J. Buttigieg (M. Zerafa), D. Stojanovic, D. Farrugia, Sa. Attard, D. Dos Santos, Sh. Attard (J. Grima), M. Stojanovic, R. Da Silva, C. Antunes (C. Azzopardi).

Ghajnsielem  :           1          (J. Camilleri 81’)

1. Buttigieg, D. Hili (K. Hili), K. Mercieca, F. Apap, S. Cassar (Al. Xuereb), C. Camilleri, E.P. Lattes, E.D. Bilboa Zarate, J. Camilleri, R. Telles Pimenta, J.J. Sandoval Guarin.

Nadur Youngsters recovered from two consecutive defeats and earned three deserved points from a 3-1 win over direct challengers for the title Ghajnsielem.  This was the last match of the second round for the two sides and both teams were aiming to obtain the victory in an attempt to keep in touch with the hot favourites for the title Xewkija Tigers.  With this result Nadur moved over the same Ghajnsielem on the table and re-opened their chances to be the main challengers to the current leaders, while Ghajnsielem may have compromised the possibility to defend the title won last season.

Nadur seemed more motivated from the early stages of the encounter.  They were well organised at the defence and operated with effective breaks.  Ghajnsielem on the other hand seemed surprised with Nadur’s deployment and failed to produce their usual play in attack.  On the other hand their defensive department was very often in difficulty to neutralise Nadur’s offensive play.  Overall the match was well contested during the first part but as soon as Nadur scored their first goal the Blacks failed to produce a reaction and Nadur held control of the result until the end of the encounter.

Nadur created the first dangerous attempt at Ghajnsielem’s goal in the third minute of play through a corner kick by Dewide Dos Santos that almost surprised goalie Luke Buttigieg but the extreme defender managed to save to another corner action.  Minutes later the Youngsters protested for a penalty for an intervention by the defence on Claudio Antunes and on 13 minutes Ghajnsielem replied through a strike by Emiliano lattes that was saved by goalie Matthew Muscat.  Three minutes later Ghajnsielem’s Renan Telles Pimenta was also saved by Nadur’s goalie Matthew Muscat and on 19 minutes Nadur’s Brandon Said had an attempt that was saved with difficulty to a corner by Ghajnsielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg.  On 25 minutes a header by Nadur’s Ronaldo Da Silva from a free kick by Dewide Dos Santos ended high but three minutes later the Youngsters opened the score.  Milos Stojanovic defended a ball inside the area and from his low pass form the touch line Shaun Attard concluded in goal with a low shot.  Ghajnsielem replied on 31 minutes through an attempt by John Camilleri from a free kick by Edison Bilboa Zarate that was deflected to a corner by the defence.  Ghajnsielem however seemed shocked and they started to find it extremely difficult to convert their paly into scoring opportunities.  On the other hand Nadur gained confidence and were more dangerous in their play than their opponents.  On two separate occasions Nadur’s Claudio Antunes and Shaun Attard failed to conclude towards goal from a good position.  On 37 minutes Nadur’s goalie was called to make a good intervention following an effort by Renan Telles Pimenta and two minutes later Nadur’s Shaun Attard operated a personal initiative but his low drive towards the far post ended wide.  Nadur however, doubled the score on 43 minutes when Dewide Dos Santos entered Ghajnsielem’s area from the right flank, his attempt from a closed angle hit the base of the post and from the rebound Milos Stojanovic fired in goal from close distance.

For the second period Ghajnsielem continued to be ineffective in their reaction while Nadur took advantage of more space within Ghajnsielem’s territory.  On 49 minutes Shaun Attard released Milos Stojanovic at the edge of the area but the latter had his low shot that ended wide.  In another counter break two minutes later it was Milos Stoajnovic who unmarked Shaun Attard but the latter’s shot missed the target.  Ghajnsielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg made a good save on 58 minutes to turn to a corner an effort by Claudio Antunes following a pass by Dewide Dos Santos.  Ghajnsielem’s best opportunities to reduce the deficit arrived through attempts by Emiliano Lattes from long distance.  In one occasion ion 72 minutes Lattes had his shot that was saved in two attempts by goalie Matthew Muscat and in another occasion five minutes later, the same midfielder saw his effort ending away from Nadur’s goal.  On 80 minutes Ghajnsielem’s goalie kept his side in contention with an excellent intervention to block a close ranged attempt by Claudio Antunes.  Ghajnsielem actually re-opened the issue one minute later when Nadur’s keeper and defender Daniel Farrugia hesitated to clear the ball and John Camilleri took advantage and turned the ball into an open goal.  However, Ghajnsielem’s hopes of saving the result were short lived as Nadur regained the two-goal lead on 83 minutes through an excellent shot from the edge of the area by Claudio Antunes that as out of the reach of the goalkeeper and ended in goal.  Ghajnsielem seemed demoralised and their only opportunity to reduce the score arrived on 85 minutes through a shot by Jhon Jairo Sandoval Guarin that was deflected by the defence to a corner.

Referee: Jude Utulu