Hotspurs Stun the Leaders

GFA BOV GFL Division I                                                                 Gozo Stadium

Victoria H       :           3          (M. Camilleri 26’, 72’; H. Maciel 68’)

1. Parnis, M. Bamba, J. Tabone, K. Farugia, J. Pace, O.I. Guodabia, D. Sytnik, H. Maciel, M. Camilleri (F. Camilleri), J. Bajada, C. Mercieca (J.P. Grima).

Xewkija T       :           2          (T. Melo Dos Santos 22’, 42’pen.)

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

Victoria Hotspurs regained their fifth place on the table with three points obtained from a victory over the leaders Xewkija Tigers with the odd goal from five.  The match between the Hotspurs and Xewkija turned out into a well contested encounter where the two sides were aiming for the full points at stake.  Xewkija, who were without Shaun Bajada due to suspension, were aiming to consolidate their four point lead over their challengers for the title while the Hotspurs needed the points to move away from the second place from the bottom.  This was Xewkija’s third defeat in the championship but they only managed to earn four points from their last three matches of the championship so that they saw their six point lead reduced to just one point aver the second place on the table and two points over the third place.  The title issue has become wide open with this result as the three mian challengers still have to play the direct clashes.

Play during the first period was quite balanced with good scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field.  In the third minute of play Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis was well placed to save a header by Dene Shields following a cross from the left flank by Joseph Cefai.  The Hotspurs replied with a good action inside Xewkija’s area in the ninth minute by Henrique Maciel but goalie Steve Sultana was well paced and saved the danger with a good intervention.  On 15 minutes Victoria’s keeper was called to make a difficult save following a low shot on the run by Thiago Melo Dos Santos and two minutes later Victoria’s Denis Sytnik had a low shot from the edge of the area that was neutralized by Xewkija’s goalie Steve Sultana.  On 21 minutes the same goalkeeper was well placed to save a low shot by Henrique Maciel and one minute later Xewkija opened the score when Victoria’s defense failed to clear the ball from their territory and Thiago Melo Dos Santos took the ball and fired in goal from the edge of the area.  The Hotspurs had an immediate reaction and on 25 minutes they were dangerous through Christian Mercieca who entered the area and crossed from the left side but Henrique Maciel failed to connect.  Victoria leveled the score one minute later when Henrique Maciel passed a ball inside the small area and Mark Camilleri took the ball and netted form close distance.  The match continued to be very interesting but on 42 minutes Xewkija regained the lead when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Kevin Farrugia on Thiago Melo Dos Santos and the same Brazilian striker converted from the spot kick.  The Hotspurs could have leveled the score in the first minute of stoppage but Xewkija’s keeper Steve Sultana made the best save of the afternoon to turn to a corner a strike from outside the area by Jonathan Bajada.

After the break the Hotspurs tried to keep their pressure in an attempt to recover the deficit for the second time.  On 51 minutes a free kick by Henrique Maciel was neutralized by Xewkija’s keeper Steve Sultana but on 57 minutes the same goalkeeper left his goal unattended and missed the ball in his attempt to block an initiative by Victoria’s Mark Camilleri but the action was eventually stopped for an offside infringement.  Xewkija replied on 62 minutes through a shot by Dene Shields after receiving from Claudio Frances that was saved by goalie Adrian Parnis but the Hotspurs were dangerous again in the following action when Henrique Maciel came face to face with Xewkija’s keeper but the latter blocked the danger.  The Hotspurs however continued to dictate matters and went again close to scoring on 66 minutes when Osa Icecream Guobadia headed in the area following a corner action but Denis Sytnik’s header from close distance ended high.  The Hotspurs scored the second equalizer on 68 minutes following an excellent personal action by Henrique Maciel who entered Xewkija’s area by passing through a number of players and after exchanging the ball with Christian Mercieca, the Brazilian striker concluded in goal with a low shot towards the far post.  Victoria Hotspurs also managed to turn the result in their favour on 72 minutes when Xewkija’s central defender Martin Hrubsa lost the balance just outside the area and Mark Camilleri took the ball, turned around the goalkeeper and placed easily into an open goal.  Xewkija went all out to recover the score during the final minutes but they were erratic in their finishing and Victoria’s keeper was always present for the normal administration inside his area.  The best scoring opportunity for Xewkija arrived on 76 minutes when Claudio Frances created good space following a personal action but his shot ended away from target.  The Hotspurs could have sealed the victory with another goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Osa Icecream Guobadia released substitute John Paul Grima inside the area but goalie Steve Sultana saved the danger to a corner.

Referee: Jude Utulu