Handsome win for Xewkija

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Xewkija T : 5 (T.M. Dos Santos 5’, 37’; J.G. Vella 26’pen., C. Antunes 31’, R. Buttigieg 55’)

F. Vella, J. Azzopardi, M. Xerri (O. Xuereb), M. Hrubsa, J. Cefai (M. Gauci), J.M. Vella, M. Stojanovic, J.G. Vella (T. Vella), R. Buttigieg, C. Antunes Pavlidis, T. Melo Dos Santos.

Oratory Y : 0

R. Sammut, M. Azzopardi, J. Polo Longarela (S. Azzopardi), K. Farrugia, J. Buttigieg, B. Perello Palou, C. Mercieca (Jo. Attard), A. Bezzina (K. Grima), L. Mba Mutasi, M. Buttigieg, Ju. Attard.

Xewkija Tigers retained their position close to the leaders with three points obtained from a large win over Oratory Youths.  Xewkija therefore registered their second consecutive win after their setback suffered in the match against Victoria Hotspurs and regained the confidence that they expressed during the first stages of the new season.  Xewkija’s win matured with four goal scored during the first period where the protagonist of the match was Thiago Melo Dos Santos, who not only scored his first goals in the championship but was also instrumental in the build-up of the actions that led to the other goals.  Oratory found it extremely difficult to be competitive and suffered Xewkija’s superiority throughout the encounter.  The Youths had their best moment of play midway through the first half but otherwise they could have conceded a defeat with a larger margin if it was not for some important interventions by their goalkeeper and overconfidence expressed by Xewkija’s strikers.

In the fourth minute of play Xewkija were dangerous through a curling shot by Claudio Antunes that ended just high and one minute later the Tigers opened the score through a fine shot from an angled position by Thiago Melo Dos Santos.  Xewkija continued to express more offensive play but Oratory replied with sporadic breaks and on 21 minutes the Youths went very close to level the score but a first timer by Joshua Buttigieg, after exchanging the ball with Bartomeu Perello Palou, was turned to a corner with difficulty by goalie Franklin Vella.  One minute later Xewkija were awarded a penalty for a foul by goalie Richard Sammut on Thiago Melo Dos Santos and Joseph George Vella doubled the score with his shot from the spot kick.  On 31 minutes Xewkija added another goal which arrived through a tap-in by Claudio Antunes following a low cross by Thiago Melo Dos Santos.  Minutes the latter had a good strike after receiving from Claudio Antunes that was well saved by goalie Richard Sammut and on 37 minutes Xewkija scored their fourth goal when Joseph George Vella hit badly inside the area but the ball arrived to an unmarked Thiago Melo Dos Santos who placed easily in goal from close distance.  On 40 minutes Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut was again called to make a difficult save following an attempt by Rodney Buttigieg.

Xewkija scored their fifth goal on 55 minutes through Rodney Buttigieg who entered Oratory’s area with a personal action and deposited in goal with a low shot towards the far post.  On 63 minutes Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut was at the right place to block to a corner a close ranged attempt by Xewkija’s substitute Thomas Vella and on 80 minutes Xewkija’s Claudio Antunes incredibly concluded wide a low cross by the other substitute Omar Xuereb.  Xewkija’s Thiago Melo Dos Santos could have registered a hat-trick on 82 minutes but his first attempt with a lob following a personal action was blocked by the defence and from the rebound his attempt was partially saved by goalie Richard Sammut and the defence cleared the danger form the area with some difficulty.  Xewkija’s last opportunity to score the sixth goal arrived on 88 minutes but a low shot by Thomas Vella following a cross by Thiago Melo Dos Santos was topped by the post. 

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri