MFA Boost Diesel FA Trophy Rd 1
Gozo Stadium
SK Victoria W : 1 (N. Abot 87’)
L. Camilleri, I. Xuereb (C. Sciortino), A.G. Attard, D.U. Monday, J. Buhagiar, P. Dordevic, A.A. Ige, B. Bulatovic, A. Adesina, S. Harland (N. Vella), N. Abot.
Xewkija T : 4 (R. Buttigieg 16’, 51’; G. Hili 45’, T.M. Dos Santos 82’)
F. Vella, M. Xerri (C. Sciberras), M. Bamba, M. Hrubsa, J. Azzopardi, G. Hili (O. Xuereb), J.M. Vella, M. Stojanovic, R. Buttigieg (J.G. Vella), C. Antunes, T.M. Dos Santos.
Xewkija Tigers registered a convincing win over SK Victoria Wanderers in a match from the first round of the MFA FA Trophy. This was Xewkija’s second qualification in this edition of the competition as they defeated Marsaskala in their match of the Preliminary Round. In this match Xewkija confirmed their impressive start of the new season where they also won the GFA Super Cup. Xewkija held command of play for most of the ninety minutes and managed to pave the way to the victory with two goals scored during the first period. The Wanderers, who were semi finalists in the last edition of the FA Trophy, found it extremely difficult to share play with the Gozitan champions. The Wanderers also failed to take advantage of their best moment of play midway through the first half so that they never managed to remain in contention for the qualification.
Xewkija as expected took command of play from the early stages and during the opening minutes they could have opened the score but Rodney6 Buttigieg’s attempt from a good position missed the target. The Wanderers had their first attempt at goal on 8 minutes but Adesina Ige had a good strike that was turned to a corner by goalie Franklin Vella. Xewkija were again dangerous on 10 minutes through a free kick by Claudio Antunes that ended just high. Xewkija opened the score on 16 minutes through Rodney Buttigieg who tuned the ball inside the net form close distance following a low cross by Thiago Melo Dos Santos. The Wanderers replied on 20 minutes when Ajibade Adesina failed to conclude form close distance following an inviting cross by Nicolas Abot and one minute later Victoria’s Bojan Bulatovic failed to hit the ball from an ideal position following a cross by Sam Harland. The Wanderers kept insisting and on 25 minutes Sam Harland had a good attempt, after receiving from Nicolas Abot, that was well saved by goalie Franklin Vella. Two minutes later Xewkija’s Claudio Antunes had a good shot that was saved to a corner by Victoria’s goalie Leonard Camilleri and on 29 minutes Xewkija were again dangerous through three consecutive shots by Claudio Antunes, Thiago Melo Dos Santos and Milos Stojanovic that were all blocked by Victoria’s defense. Xewkija continued to dictate matters during the final stages of the first half. On 41 minutes an attempt by Thiago Melo Dos Santos hit the post and the same Dos Santos had another shot two minutes later that missed the target. Xewkija doubled the score on 45 minutes through a tap-in by Gennaro Hili following a low cross inside the area by Claudio Antunes.
After the resumption Xewkija continued to dominate of their opponents and 49 minutes a goal by Thiago Melo Dos Santos following a cross by Milos Stojanovic was disallowed for an offside infringement. The Tigers however increased their lead on 51 minutes through another tap-in, this time by Rodney Buttigieg following a low cross by Claudio Antunes. The Wanderers could have reduced the score near the hour mark. On 58 minutes the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Joseph Azzopardi on Victoria’s Ajibade Ige. Xewkija’s defender was sent off but Nicolas Abot had his shot from the spot kick saved by goalie Franklin Vella. Minutes later Xewkija went again close to scoring but a shot on the run by Claudio Antunes ended just high. On 72 minutes the Wanderers lost another good opportunity to score a consolation goal when Bojan Bulatovic failed to take advantage of some hesitation by Xewkija’s keeper and from the resultant clearance Sam Harland’s shot hit the crossbar and from the rebound Nicolas Abot concluded wide. On 82 minutes Xewkija scored their fourth goal through a close ranged header by Thiago Melo Dos Santos following a cross from the left flank by substitute Omar Xuereb. Less than a minute later Xewkija’s goalie Franklin Vella denied the Citizens form scoring a goal when he neutralized a shot by Ajibade Adesina following a cross by Ajibade Ige. The Wanderers however managed to score the consolation goal on 87 minutes through a low drive by Nicolas Abot following a solo effort.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
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