The Malta FA Trophy: Q/final Gozo Stadium
SK Victoria W : 2 (M. Attard 28’o.g., P. Dordevic 49’)
- Towns, A. Komljenovic, C. Sciortino, S.F. Bajada, S. Draskovic, P. Dordevic, D. Mercieca, I. Xuereb, F. Giarrizzo (N. Vella 63’), I. Grkajac (J. Refalo 90+5’), M. Raskovic.
Pembroke A : 0
- Calleja Cremona, M. Attard (N. Grech 68’), P. Barbetti, T. Radovnikovic, A. Scozzese, A. Borg, S. Racic, D. Falzon, Z. Levnaic, G. Nagaoka, R.A. Kooh Sohna.
SK Victoria Wanderers registered another surprising qualification in the edition of The Malta FA Trophy this season by booking a deserved place in the semi-finals of the competition with a 2-0 win over Pembroke Athleta in a match played at the Gozo Stadium.
In this match from the quarter finals stage of the competition the Wanderers surprised their opponents from the Premiere League and achieved the unexpected objective through a positive match where they were well organized at their defense and managed to produce more dangerous action than their more quoted opponents. Pembroke tried hard throughout the ninety minutes to take control of play but their efforts were often sterile and their defensive departments was often in difficulty to control the continuous initiatives by Victoria’s Predrag Dordevic and Milanko Raskovic. Victoria’s positive performance was also rewarded with a goal scored in each half that decided the issue.
This surprising qualification makes Victoria’s participation in this edition of the second most important completion in Maltese football historic as the Wanderers become the first ever Gozitan club who managed to reach such a prestigious stage of the competition. The qualification also reminds the Gozitan football enthusiasts of another qualification to the semi-finals of the same competition reached by the selection of players from the Gozitan championship in the late 1970’s. The selection was eventually eliminated at the semi-finals stage by Floriana.
The Wanderers seemed more motivated and started to produce the better scoring opportunities form the early stages of the enclounter. In the fifth minute of play Predrag Dordevic had a shot following a prolonged action inside Pembroke’s area that was blocked by goalie Matthew Calleja Cremona and one minute alter the Wanderers protested for a penalty when a shot by Fernando Giarrizzo was blocked by a defender with an extended arm. On 10 minutes Pembroke’s goalie cleared off the line a direct free kick by Igor Grkajac and in the following minutes Pembroke tried to gain control of play through territorial supremacy but they still found it extremely difficult to create danger towards Victoria’s goal. On 15 minutes the visitors had their first attempt at goal but a shot by Paletemio Barbetti ended away from goal. Victoria Wanderers went again close to scoring on 19 minutes through a header by Milako Raskovic from a corner kick by Fernando Giarizzo that was saved with difficulty by goalie Calleja Cremona. One minute later Pembroke protested for a penalty when Stevan Racic ended on the floor in the area following a contact with Victoria’s central defender. The Wanderers opened the score on 28 minutes when Milanko Raskovic crossed from the goal line and defender Miguel Attard headed in his own goal in an attempt to clear the ball from the goal mouth. Pembroke had an immediate reaction and on 31 minutes Raphael Kooh Sohna entered the area but his strike was cleared to a corner by goalie Matthew Towns. From the resultant corner kick by Darren Falzon, Zoran Racic had his shot blocked by the defense and Adrian Borg concluded high from a good position. Pembroke went again close to level the score on 45 minutes but Matthew Towns cleared the ball from the edge of the area before Darren Falzon could arrive to meet a through pass by Stevan Racic.
The Wanderers had an excellent start to the second period and doubled the score on 49 minutes through a fine header by Predrag Dordevic following a move from the left flank by Milanko Raskovic. Pembroke replied on 55 minutes through a header by Zoran Levniac that ended on top of the net and two minutes later the Wanderers could have added another goal when Milako Raskovic entered Pembroke’s territory following a long ranged through pass by Dylan Mercieca but goalie Calleja Cremona kept his side in contention as he managed to block the close ranged attempt and the defense cleared the danger form the area. Pembroke went closest to re-open the issue with two attempts in separate occasions on the 60th minute of play. In the first occasion a header by Raphael Kooh Sohna was well saved by goalie Matthew Towns and in the other action a shot from close distance by Stevan Racic, following a cross by Kooh Sohna, was blocked to a corner. On 72 minutes Pembroke’s goalie was almost surprised when a shot from long distance by Victoria’s Chris Sciortino bounced in front of goal, but the ball ended just over the crossbar. Two minutes later the visitors failed to capitalize from another promising action but Daren Falzon headed high from a good position following a free kick by Barbetti. The Wanderers could have sealed the victory with the third goal during the dying moments but an attempt by Igor Grkajac that was neutralized by Calleja Cremona and on 89 minutes a low shot by Milanko Raskovic ended wide. Pembroke ended the match on a negative note as they had Andreas Scozzese sent off in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a foul on Igor Grkajac.
Referee: Eman Grech
Asst. Referees: Thomas Debono, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
0 Comments