Xewkija Make Sure of Victory over Oratory with Late Goals

GFA BOV GFL Division I                                                                             Gozo Stadium

Xewkija T       :           3          (D. Sakic 9’, R. Buttigieg 78’, 87’)

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

Oratory Y       :           0

1. Camilleri, K. Borg, J. Polo Longarela, M. Gauci, B. Polo Longarela, K. Farrugia, B. Perello Palou, D. Azzopardi (A. Azzopardi), E. Felipe Da Silva Santos, P. Said (J. Bonnici), M. Buttigieg.

Xewkija Tigers retained their four point lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Oratory Youths.  Xewkija’s win was hard-earned as they had to wait to the final stages of the encounter to make sure of the victory.  Xewkija, who had Dene Shields and Manwel Xerri missing due to a suspension, had a good start but failed to open a comfortable lead at an early stage of the encounter so that they suffered Oratory’s reaction during the second period and at one stage they were risking to compromise the victory.  Xewkija however managed to take immediate advantage when Oratory ended up with a player less on the field and scored two late goals through Rodney Buttigieg.

In the fifth minute of play Xewkija went very close to scoring but Martin Hrubsa failed to connect from close distance following a corner kick by Shaun Bajada.  The Tigers managed to open the score on 9 minutes through a close ranged header by Daniel Sakic following a cross by Shaun Bajada from a short corner action.  Xewkija continued to hold command of play but they did not manage to produce scoring opportunities.  Xewkija were again dangerous on 23 minutes through a shot by Gennaro Hili that ended wide and two minutes later Thiago Melo Dos Santos had a shot from a good position that missed the target.  Oratory started to share more play with their opponents during the last part of the first period but the closest that they went to scoring was on 35 minutes through a shot by Paul said following a personal action that ended just over the crossbar.  Two minutes later Xewkija’s Shaun Bajada released Rodney Buttigieg inside Oratory’s area but the latter had his shot blocked with some difficulty by goalie Leonard Camilleri and the defence cleared the danger.  On 39 minutes Xewkija’s Thiago Melo Dos Santos passed inside the area to Gennaro Hili but the latter had his shot on the run that ended inches wide.  One minute alter Xewkija’s Rodney Buttigieg had a goal following a free kick by Shaun Bajada that was disallowed for an offside infringement so that the score remained unchanged until half time.

Oratory were in a better shape after the break and started to produce more danger within Xewkija’s territory.  On 50 minutes Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos headed weak from a corner kick by Bartomeu Perello Palou so that goalie Steve Sultana saved the danger.  Two minutes later Xewkija could have doubled the score when Shaun Attard received the ball from Rodney Buttigieg and came face to face with Oratory’s keeper but the latter managed to block the danger and from the rebound Thiago Melo Dos Santos’s attempt was stopped for an offside infringement.  On 54 minutes a shot by Thiago Melo Dos Santos following some hesitation by Oratory’s defence ended high and one minute later Oratory lost a good scoring opportunity when Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos came face to face with Xewkija’s keeper but his lob towards an open goal ended wide.  The same Brazilian striker had another good attempt on 66 minutes that ended away from Xewkija’s goal and on 69 minutes a free kick by Oratory’s Bartomeu Perello Palou ended just over the crossbar.  The same Perello Palou missed the target from another free kick on 74 minutes and three minutes later the Youths were reduced to ten players when Daniel Azzopardi was sent off following a second caution for handling.  From the resultant free kick taken by Shaun Bajada, Thiago Melo Dos Santos headed inside the area and the ball arrived to Rodney Buttigieg who placed the ball into an open goal among the protests by Oratory’s defenders alleging an offside position of Xewkija’s scorer.  Oratory’s best opportunity to re-open the issue arrived on 84 minutes through a lob by Bartomeu Perello Palou that was cleared off the goalmouth by Daniel Sakic.  Xewkija scored their third goal on 87 minutes when Joseph Mario Vella released Rodney Buttigieg following a counter break and the latter lobbed into an open goal.  In the first minute of stoppage time Xewkija could have added another goal but Gennaro Hili’s shot following a pass by Thiago Melo Dos Santos was blocked by Oratory’s defence.

Referee: Clayton Pisani