Victoria Hotspurs drop the first points in the championship

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Victoria H : 3 (F. Apap 19’, E. Da Silva 36’pen., 43’)

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

Ghajnsielem : 3 (E.F. Da Silva Santos 45+2’, 63’pen., 71’)

M. Vella, J.J. Sandobal Guarin, D. Mercieca, K. Mercieca, A. Tramboo (R. Grima), S. Bajada (An. Xuereb), S.F. Bajada, G. Tuscha, D. Hili (Al. Xuereb), E.F. D Silva Santos, O.D. Guerrero Alvarado.

In the last match from match day 7 of the BOV Gozo Football League First Division, which was also the last match of the first round of the championship,  current leader Victoria Hotspurs were held to a draw of six goals by Ghajnsielem.  The Hotspurs were aiming to end the first round on maximum points and seemed heading to achieve their target by the end of the first hour of play, but the Citizens suffered Ghajnsielem’s reaction during the final stages, lost their composure and conceded goals which compromised their efforts expressed during the first period.  With this result the Hotspurs failed to defend their comfortable lead over their rivals for the title, while it rewarded Ghajnsielem for their efforts, although the latter remain closer to the red zone than to safer waters.

The Hotspurs tried to take commands of play from the very begining and in the second minute of play a header by Ferdinando Apap following a corner kick by Chris Camilleri ended wide.  Ghajnsielem reply arrived through a break on 14 minutes but Victoria’s Ferdinando Apap had an excellent recovery to clear the ball to a corner before Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos could conclude towards goal.  The Hotspurs opened the score on 19 minutes through a fine header by Ferdinando Apap following a free kick by Chris Camilleri.  The Blacks replied through a break on 21 minutes but goalie Adrian Parnis went out of his area to clear the ball away before Ghajnsielem’s Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos could reach the ball.  However, the Hotspurs continued to express the better play and on 34 minutes a shot by Emiliano lattes ended just over Ghajnsielem’s goal.  Two minutes later the Hotspurs were awarded a penalty for a foul by Gerald Tuscha on Elton Da Silva and the same Brazilian striker converted form the spot kick.  On 43 minutes the Hotspurs added another goal when Henrique Maciel operated a personal action within Ghajnsielem’s area and from his cross Elton Da Silva fired in goal with a shot on the run.  Ghajnsielem managed to reduce the deficit with a goal that arrived in the second minute of play of stoppage time before half time through a deflection by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos following a free kick by Shaun Bajada.

After the break the Hotspurs regained territorial supremacy but they did not create any scoring opportunities.  The Blacks found it difficult to create danger but on 63 minutes they were awarded penalty for handling by Daniel Sowatey following a cross by Guerrero Alvarado and Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos reopened the issue with his second shot from the spot kick, as the penalty kick has to be taken twice.  The match now became more exciting as Ghajnsielem increased their efforts in an attempt to level the score while the Hotspurs seemed shocked.  Ghajnsielem scored the equaliser on 71 minutes when Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos guided the ball towards goal following a free kick by Shaun Bajada.  Until the end of the match the two sides tried hard to score the winning goal.  On 84 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos had an attempt directly from a free kick that was saved by goalie Adrian Parnis and one minute later the Hotspurs were reduced to ten players when Elton Da Silva was sent off for retaliation.  On 87 minutes Victoria’s keeper was again called to make a good intervention following a free kick form long distance by Shaun Bajada and Victoria’s best opportunity to regain the lead arrived in the third minute of stoppage time but Ferdinando Apap’s curling shot ended wide.

Referee: Darryl Agius