Wanderers Defeat Xaghra with Second Half Goals

GFA BOV GFL Division I
Gozo Stadium

SK Victoria W : 5 (S. Harland 7’, P. Dordevic 53’pen., I. Grkajac 59’, 64’; D. Mercieca 75’)

M. Towns, I. Xuereb, A.G. Mercieca, M. Azzopardi, P. Dordevic, F. Giarrizzo (N. Vella), S. Harland (J. Meilak), J. Attard, I. Grkajac, A. Tourarha (C. Sciortino).

Xaghra U : 2 (D. Sowatey 21’, 27’)

D. Galea (C. Galea), J. Buhagiar, D. Sowatey, Si. Sultana, M. Portelli (L. Xerri), M. Bezzina, V.J. Saliba, O. Pogukay (P.J. Mifsud), J. Xerri, D. Bajada, Jo. Bajada.

In the last match of the championship between the two sides which ended at the bottom places on the table SK Victoria Wanderers earned the full points at stake by turning the result in their favour with four goals scored after the break.  The match turned out into an interesting encounter during the first half as Xaghra, who were already mathematically relegated, seemed determined to end the championship with a victory.  However, the Wanderers had a good reaction after the break and dominated the second part of the match so that they ended up obtaining the third win over Xaghra from the three matches between the two sides of the championship.

The Wanderers had a better start and opened the score in the seventh minute of play through Sam Harland who turned around his direct opponents at the edge of the area and placed in goal with a low shot.  As time passed by Xaghra recovered from the difficult start and on 21 minutes they levelled the score through a header by Daniel Sowatey following a corner action.  Victoria were shocked and Xaghra took advantage of the good moment.  The Blues also turned the result in their favour with a second goal that arrived on 27 minutes through another fine header by Daniel Sowatey following a free kick by Michael Bezzina.  Until half time Victoria’s reaction was sterile while Xaghra continued to be well deployed and kept the danger away from their area.

During the opening minutes of the second period the Wanderers took command of play and levelled the score on 53 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Oleg Pogukay on Johann Attard, and Predrag Dordevic converted from the spot kick.  Xaghra continued to suffer Victoria’s play and the Wanderers regained the lead on 59 minutes through a close ranged header by Igor Grkajac following a cross by Sam Harland.  On 64 minutes Victoria increased their lead through a low shot by Igor Grkajac from outside the area following a short clearance by Xaghra’s defence.  On 68 minutes Xaghra could have reduced the deficit but a strike by Johann Bajada was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Matthew Towns.  The Wanderers sealed the victory with a fifth goal that arrived on 75 minutes through a shot by Dylan Mercieca from the edge of the area that ended out of the reach of Xaghra’s goalie.

Referee: Keith Montebello