GFA Division I KO Q/final
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Ghajnsielem FC : 1 (A. Oularbi 69’)
J. Grech, J.J. Sandobal Guarin, D. Mercieca, K. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, S. Bajada, S.F. Bajada (A. Tramboo), G. Tuscha, A. Oularbi, E.F. Da Silva Santos, K. Grima (I. Belhadj).
Xewkija T : 1 (J.G. Vella 84’)
F. Vella, J. Azzopardi (M. Xerri), M. Bamba, M. Hrubsa (M. Gauci), J. Cefai, G. Hili, J.M. Vella, M. Stojanovic, R. Buttigieg, C. Antunes Pavlidis (J.G. Vella), T. Vella,
After extra time. Ghajnsielem win 5-3 on penalties.
In the first match from the quarter finals of the GFA Division I Knock Out Competition, Ghajnsielem earned qualification to the semi-finals with a win over holders Xewkija Tigers after a penalty shoot-out. The match between the two teams, who have been main contenders for the honours during the last seasons, lived up to the expectations as the two sides struggled to win the encounter. Ghajnsielem were the better side on the field for more than an hour of play, but as soon as they opened the score they suffered Xewkija’s reaction. The latter not only managed to recover a one-goal deficit during the final stages of regular time but on two other separate occasions had efforts that were stopped by the woodwork. Ghajnsielem however were rewarded for their performance on the day as they also managed to recover some confidence after their recent disappointing results obtained in the championship.
Xewkija tried to take command of play from the early stages and in the sixth minute of play they were dangerous through an initiative by Rodney Buttigieg who entered the area but lost the opportunity to conclude as Ghajnsielem’s defence recovered in time and cleared the danger. As time passed by Ghajnsielem seemed more motivated and became more dangerous than their opponents. On 20 minutes a shot on the run by Gerald Tuscha ended high and five minutes later Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos passed by Martin Hrubsa inside Xewjkija’s area but the striker saw his low shot ending wide. On 26 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Brazilian striker entered the area and ended on the floor following a challenge with Joseph Cefai but he was cautioned with a yellow card for simulation. Xewkjija suffered a setback minutes later as Martin Hrubsa had to leave the field due to an injury. On 32 minutes Xewkija had an attempt from a free kick by Claudio Antunes that ended wide and two minutes later Ghajnsielem had a shot from outside the area by Sam Frank Bajada that missed the target.
For the second period Xewkija were forced to a second substitution as Claudio Antunes was also injured, but in the second minute of play they were dangerous through a shot by Rodney Buttigieg from a good position that was blocked to a corner by Ghajnsielem’s defender Jhon Jairo Sandobal Guarin. Less than a minute later Ghajnsielem replied through a shot by Kurt Grima that ended wide and on 51 minutes the Blacks once again threatened Xewkija’s rear guard but the strike by Gerald Tuscha missed the target. On 54 minutes Xewkija’s defender Joseph Azzopardi saved his goal when he cleared off the fatal line an effort by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos and one minute later Xewkija’s keeper Franklin Vella was well placed to turn to a corner another effort by Da Silva Santos. Ghajnsielem’s Brazilian striker had another attempt on 65 minutes that ended just wide and one minute later Kurt Grima had a shot from an ideal position that ended away from Xewkija’s goal. Ghajnsielem’s efforts were rewarded on 69 minutes as they managed to open the score through a strike from long distance by Ali Oularbi that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper. Xewkija had an immediate reaction and on 77 minutes they were unlucky when a shot from outside the area by Joseph Mario Vella was stopped by the crossbar. On 84 minutes Xewkija were awarded a penalty for handling by defender Dylan Mericeca and Xewkija’s substitute Joseph George Vella converted from the spot kick to make it 1-1. Xewkija could have turned the result in their favour before the end of regular time but on 89 minutes Joseph George Vellla incredibly headed badly form close distance following a cross by Rodney Buttigieg so that the ball ended wide, the score remained unchanged and the match had to go into extra time.
Xewkija were again unlucky in the fifth minute of play of the first period of extra time when a shot by Gennaro Hili shaved the crossbar and ended high while Ghajnsielem replied with an attempt on the stroke of the first half of extra time by Ali Oularbi that ended wide. On 111 minutes Ghajnsielem’s goalie Joseph Grech left his position in time to block and effort by Joseph Mario Vella who entered the area with a solo action and three minutes later Xewkija’s keeper Franklin Vella made an important intervention to save a shot by Gerald Tuscha with the aid of the crossbar. The last scoring opportunity during extra time arrived to Ghajnsielem on 119 minutes but Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos had his attempt after receiving from Ali Oularbi that ended wide.
In the penalty shoot-out Ghajnsielem scored their five penalty kicks through Kenneth Mercieca, Jhon Jairo Sandobal Guarin, Gerald Tuscha, Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos and Ali Oularbi; while Xewkija scored their first three shots from the spot kick by Joseph George Vella, Milos Stojanovic and Moussa Bamba while Rodney Buttigieg’s shot from the 11 metre spot hit the crossbar and ended high.
Referee: Etienne Mangion
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