Nadur Make Sure of Win over Kercem with Second Half Goals

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Nadur Y : 4 (D. Krstic 19’, 82’; Sh. Attard 54’, D. Dos Santos 62’)

M. Muscat, S.H. Muller, G. Muscat, D. Farrugia, C. Hili, D. Krstic, Sh. Attard (C. Debono), B. Said (M. Hyzler), S. Cassar (J. Grima), D. Dos Santos, M. Markovic.

Kercem A : 0

J.P. Cassar, J. Grech (N. Mercieca), P. Kyumyurdzhiev, M. Tabone, O. Spiteri, O. Rolovic, A. Komljenovic, M. Mifsud (D. Cassar), A. Haska, A. Mizzi, M. Mamo.

Nadur Youngsters recovered from the disappointing elimination in the first round of the MFA FA Trophy and earned three points from their opening match of the championship against Kercem Ajax.  Nadur, who are also expected to be among the main challenger for the title, produced effective play throughout the ninety minutes.  During the first half they produced more scoring opportunities and also managed to control Kercem’s reaction.  Nadur dominated over their opponents during he second period and the victory could have been with a larger margin.  Kercem, on the other hand were expected to produce a tougher challenge to their opponents but they were sterile in attack so that their offensive efforts rarely ended up with serious danger on Nadur’s goal.

The two sides shared play during the first stages of the encounter but as time passed by Nadur’s play produced more dangerous action.  In the second minute of play Nadur’s Stefan Cassar had an attempt that ended just over the crossbar and Kercem replied through a free kick by Ognjen Rolovic on 12 minutes that ended high.  On 18 minutes Nadur’s Marko Markovic incredibly concluded badly from close distance following an inviting pass by Shaun Attard but one minute later Nadur opened the score through a tap-in by Darko Krstic following a low cross by Shaun Attard.  Nadur were again dangerous five minutes later but Brandon Said’s attempt ended inches wide.  Kercem could have leveled the score on 30 minutes but a strike by Mario Mifsid was stopped by the crossbar.  Six minutes before half time Nadur went again close to scoring when Dewide Dos Santos entered Kercem’s territory with a solo action but his final shot ended away from goal.

Nadur came out more aggressive for the second period and they could have added another goal with the action from the kick-off when Darko Krstic entered Kercem’s area with a personal action but his shot when he was face to face with the goalkeeper ended high.  On 49 minutes the same striker unmarked Charles Hili inside Kercem’s area but the goalkeeper had good timing to leave his position and blocked the danger.  Kercem replied on 52 minutes through a shot from long distance by Alen Haska that ended away from Nadur’s goal and on 54 minutes Nadur doubled the score through as shot on the run from close distance by Shaun Attard following a fine move by Darko Krstic on the right flank.  Three minutes later a free kick by Dewide Dos Santos ws well saved by Kercem’s goalie John Paul Cassar and from the resultant melee Brandon Said’s shot was deflected to a corner.  On 61 minutes the same goalkeeper was again called to make a good intervention to save another attempt by Dewide Dos Santos but Nadur managed to score their third goal one minute later through the same Dewide Dos Santos who entered the area and concluded in goal with a lob over the goalkeeper.  N 80 minutes Nadur’s Darko Krstic had a good shot that ended just wide and two minutes later the same Darko Kristic scored the fourth goal for his side when he took the rebound from the goalkeeper following an attempt by substitute Joseph Grima.  On 87 minutes Nadur’s Dewide Dos Santos had a goal disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper on 89 minutes Kercem could have scored a consolation goal but Alen Haska’s shot ended wide.

Referee: Glen Tonna