GFA BOV GFL Division I Gozo Stadium
Kercem A : 5 (G.Franca Amadio 4’, 41’, 70’; P. Taylor 39’, P. Kyumyurdzhiev 68’)
J.P. Cassar, P. Kyumyurdzhiev, M. Tbone, P. Taylor, L. Grima, O. Spiteri, L. Grima, O. Spiteri, C. Debono, J. Buttigieg, A. Mizzi, G. Franca Amadio, T. Grozev.
Xaghra U : 1 (D. Sowatey 27’)
- Azzopardi, O. Pogukay, V.J. Saliba, S. Sultana, D. Sowatey, M. Portelli (Jo. Bajada), J. Xerri (G. Farrugia), M. Bezzina, G. Tushe, A. Laskov (A. Xiberras).
Kercem Ajax obtained three deserved points from their match against bottom placed Xaghra United and are now in a comfortable position to defend their fourth place on the table. Kercem had a good start but seemed overconfident midway through the first period so that Xaghra, who were reduced to ten players at an early stage of the encounter, had a good reaction and levelled the score. However, the Ajax regained full control of play during the final stages of the first half and dominated throughout the second period. Kercem’s young Brazilian striker Gustavo Franca Amadio once again distinguished himself by scoring a hat-trick so that he scored eight goals in four consecutive matches and joined the main scorers in the championship despite the fact that he made his debut in Gozitan football at the end of January.
The Ajax had an excellent start and opened the score in the fourth minute of play when Gustavo Franca Amadio passed to Trayo Grozev who entered the area but had his shot saved to corner by goalie Frankie Azzopardi and from the resultant corner action Gustavo Franca Amadio surprised goalie Azzopardi with a fine lob. For the following minutes Kercem continued to produce the better play and on 14 minutes Trayo Grozev received from Gustavo Franca Amadio and turned around few defenders inside the area but his final strike was blocked by defender Victor John Saliba. One minute later Xaghra were reduced to ten players when Michael Bezzina was sent off for remarks towards the referee. On 16 minutes Kercem’s Gustavo Franca Amadio’s cross arrived to Trayo Grozev but the latter had his shot saved well by goalie Frankie Azzopardi. Xaghra had a good patch of play midway through the first half and on 27 minutes they also managed to level the score through a close ranged header by Daniel Sowatey following a cross by Gerald Tushe. On 38 minutes Xaghra could have turned the result in their favour but Matthew Portelli failed to take advantage of some hesitation by Kercem’s defenders following a cross from long distance. Xaghra were punished one minute later as Kercem regained the lead through a header by Philip Taylor following a cross by Gustavo Franca Amadio. Kercem increased their lead on 41 minutes through a direct free kick by Gustavo Franca Amadio so that the Ajax ended the first half with a good lead and an extra player on the field.
In the first minute of play of the second period Kercem’s Lawrence Grima had a good shot from a good position that missed the target. On 50 minutes Kercem lost another good scoring opportunity when Joshua Buttigieg shot wide from close distance following a cross by Gustavo Franca Amadio and less than a minute later the same Buttigieg had another good attempt that was saved to a corner by goalie Frankie Azzopardi. Xaghra continued to suffer Kercem’s play and on 58 minutes Andrew Mizzi’s header ended just wide from Xaghra’s goal. On the hour mark a lob by Gustavo Franca Amadio with the goalkeeper out of his position ended wide and one minute later Trayo Grozev had a lob with Xaghra’s goal unattended that was stopped by the post. In a rare break by Xaghra on 65 minutes an effort by Gerald Tushe following a personal action that was saved by goalie John Paul Cassar. Xaghra’s goalie was again called to make a good intervention on 67 minutes following a shot by Philip Taylor but one minute later Kercem increased their lead through a shot from outside the area by Petar Kyumyurdzhiev that ended out of the reach of goalie Frankie Azzopardi. Kercem scored their fifth goal on 70 minutes through a lob from an angled position towards the far post by Gustavo Franca Amadio following a personal action. Kercem continued to dictate matters and could have scored more goals before the end of the match. On 84 minutes Trayo Grozev entered Xaghra’s territory but his shot ended wide and four minutes later the same Grozev had another attempt from close distance after receiving from Andrew Mizzi that ended wide. On 89 minutes Gustavo Franca Amadio could have scored his fourth personal goal but his good attempt was saved by goalie Frankie Azzopardi.
Referee: Jude Utulu
0 Comments