Xewkija Tigers End the Second round with a Six-point Lead

GFA BOV GFL Division I                                                                             Gozo Stadium

Xewkija T       :           1          (T.M. Dos Santos 28’)

1. Sultana, R. Buttigieg, P. Buttigieg, M. Hrubsa, J. Azzopardi, J.M. Vella (E. Vella), S. Bajada, G. Hili (M. Xerri), D. Shields, C. Frances, T. Melo Dos Santos (J. Cefai).

Victoria H       :           0

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

Xewkija Tigers earned their seventh win from seven matches of the second round in their match against Victoria Hotspurs and with this victory they also took advantage of the results of the other matches so that they will start the third and final round of the championship with a comfortable six-point lead of the closest challengers.  Xewkija’s win over Victoria Hotspurs was hard-earned as the Hotspurs seemed determined to obtain a positive result and kept insisting to level the score until the final whistle.  Xewkija had Dene Shields and Joseph Mario Vella who returned in the starting line-up after suspension but the current leaders of the table did not manage to express the superiority in their play as they did in the previous matches.  Victoria’s rear guard managed to keep Xewkija’s striker under control for most of the encounter although the goal that decided the issue arrived from a defensive mishap.

Play was balanced from the early stages as the Hotspurs surprised their opponents with offensive play mainly through initiatives by Henrique Maciel and Christian Mercieca.  The Hotspurs created the first serious scoring opportunity of the encounter.  On 13 minutes Xewkija’s defence failed to clear the ball from the area following a free kick by Moussa Bamba’s attempt from close distance was well saved by goalie Steve Sultana.  Xewkija replied on 27 minutes through a close ranged attempt by dene Shields that was blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis.  Xewkija scored the goal that decided the encounter one minute later through Thiago Melo Dos Santos who produced pressure on Victoria’s goalie and pushed the ball in goal from close distance.  Xewkija tried to increase their momentum but on two separate occasions attempts by dene Shields ended away from goal.  Victoria recovered from the shock near the end of the first half and on 43 minutes they went close to level the score but a strike by Henrique Maciel following a pass in the area by Joseph Vella ended high.

After the resumption the Hotspurs seemed determined to recover the deficit and on 7 minutes an attempt by Moussa Bamba following a corner kick by Henrique Maciel missed the target.  Xewkija replied on 57 minutes through a cross shot by Claudio Frances that was saved to a corner by goalie Adrian Parnis and one minute later Victoria’s Christian Mercieca entered Xewkija’s area with a personal action but his shot from a good position ended high.  The Hotspurs lost their best scoring opportunity of the match on 65 minutes when Christian Mercieca entered the area from the left flank but from his inviting cross Denis SDytnik incredibly fired over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.  Xewkija could have made sure of the victory with the second goal on 75 minutes but a low drive by Claudio Frances following a counter break by Thiago Melo Dos Santos ended wide.  In the first minute of stoppage time Victoria went again very close to scoring when Henrique Maciel entered the area but his attempt was well blocked by goalie Steve Sultana.  One minute later the Hotspurs also protested for a penalty alleging handling by a defender inside the area who blocked a shot by Henrique Maciel.

Referee: Darryl Agius