Hotspurs Obtain Win with a Goal Scored in Each Half

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I Gozo Stadium

Victoria H : 2 (J. Camilleri 9’, E. Da Silva 58’)

A. Parnis, J. Pace, J. Bajada, K. Farrugia, D. Sowatey, F. Apap, C. Mercieca (A. Debrincat), E. Lattes, E. Da Silva, C. Camilleri (L. Grima), J. Camilleri (H. Maciel).

Oratory Y : 0

R. Sammut, M. Azzopardi (Ju. Attard), D. Azzopardi (K. Grima), J. Polo Longarela, K. Farrugia, J. Buttigieg, B. Perello Palou (A. Bezzina), C. Mercieca, L. Mba Mustasi, M. Buttigieg, R. Ebube Okpokwu.

Victoria Hotspurs, who are being considered as main challengers to reigning champions Xewkija Tigers for the title, earned their first win in the championship in their opening match against neighbours Oratory Youths.  The Hotspurs took an early lead and maintained control of play for long stretches.  They managed to neutralize Oratory’s reaction but they found it difficult to convert their superiority into good scoring opportunities so that they found it difficult to make sure of the result during the first period.  The Hotspurs were much more offensive in their play after the break and were in the driving seat after scoring the second goal minutes before the hour mark.  Oratory tried hard to obtain a positive result from this first match of the championship but they compromised their efforts when they conceded an early goal and became demoralized as time passed by so that they never managed to recover the deficit.

The Hotspurs opened the score in their first serious attempt on Oratory’s goal on nine minutes through a low shot by John Camilleri that surprised goalie Richard Sammut.  On 14 minutes Oratory’s keeper was almost surprised following a shot by Emiliano Lattes but he deflected the ball to a corner.  One minute later Victoria’s Elton Da Silva had a free kick that was saved to a corner by goalie Richard Sammut and on 25 minutes the same Brazilian striker had a goal disallowed for an offside position.  The Hotspurs were again dangerous on 33 minutes through a strike by Emiliano Lattes that was block by goalie Richard Sammut and on 39 minutes Oratory could have leveled the score but Bartomeu Perello Palou had a shot on the run following an inviting low pass by Ralph Ebube Okpokwu that ended over the crossbar.  Two minutes later Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis was called to make a good save following an effort by Charles Mercieca and in the first minute of stoppage time before half time Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut saved a free kick from an angled position by Chris Camilleri so that the score remained unchanged at half time.

After the break the Hotspurs took full command of play.  On 50 minutes Oratory’s central defender Manuel Buttigieg saved a certain goal when he cleared off the line a shot by Elton Da Silva following a short clearance by keeper Richard Sammut.  The same goalkeeper was well placed three minutes later to block a strike by Christian Mercieca but on 58 minutes the Hotspurs doubled the score through a low shot from outside the area by Elton Da Silva that surprised the goalkeeper.  Oratory’s reaction was sterile and on 69 minutes goalie Richard Sammut had good timing to leave his position to block an attempt by substitute Henrique Maciel who was alone in the area.  Three minutes later Victoria’s Jonathan Bajada had a good shot form a good position that missed the target and on 80 minutes Oratory had their best opportunity to re-open the issue but a strike by Joshua Buttigieg was well saved by goalie Adrian Parnis.  Less than a minute later Victoria could have sealed the victory with a third goal but a shot from outside the area by Elton Da Silva that ended high.

Referee: Mario Apap