Gharb obtain first win in the championship

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Ghajnsielem FC : 1 (E.F. Da Silva Santos 44’)

M. Vella, R. Grima (I. Belhaj), D. Mercieca, J.J. Sandobal Guarin, K. Mercieca, A. Xuereb, A. Oularbi, S.F. Bajada, S. Bajada, G. Tusche (I. Belhaj), E.F. Ds Silva Santos.

Gharb R : 2 (B. Polo Longarela 18’, C. Attard 74’)

D. Spiteri, A. Sultana, D. Stojanovic, J.P. Grima, J. Portelli (L. Meilak), C. Attard, M. Bezzina (J. Farrugia), P. Dorovic, E. Tawiah (M. Grech), B. Polo Longrela.

Gharb Rangers obtained a deserved 2-1 win over Ghajnsielem in the first match of the second round of the championship and with the points obtained they moved away from the bottom of the table and opened the relegation tussle wide open for four teams.  This was also Gharb’s first win in the top category of Gozitan football in the history of the club and the celebrations by the players and supporters at the end of the match were more than justified.  Gharb were more determined during the first half but suffered Ghajnsielem’s reaction after the break.  Gharb however, defended well and managed to clinch the victory with a goal that arrived midway through the second half.

Gharb saw more of the ball during the opening stages of the encounter and were also dangerous in the sixth minute when a good header by Borja Polo Longarela was well saved by goalie Matthew Vella but the referee stopped the action for an offside infringement.  The Blacks replied two minutes later through a free kick by Ali Oularbi that was neutralised by goalie Daniel Spiteri and on 11 minutes Gharb’s goalie Daniel Spiteri partially saved a shot by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos and form the rebound Alberto Xuereb had his strike stopped by the post.  Gharb opened the score on 18 minutes through a header by Borja Polo Longarela following a corner kick by Michael Bezzina.  On 25 minutes Gharb went again close to scoring through a low shot by Christian Attard that was saved by goalie Matthew Vellla and less than a minute later Ghajnsielem were dangerous through a strike by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos that was saved to a corner by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  Ghajnsielem increased their efforts near the end of the first half and on 40 minutes a goal by Jhon Jairo Sandobal Guarin was disallowed for an offside infringement.  The Blacks levelled the score on 44 minutes when Robert Grima entered Gharb’s territory form the right flank and form his cross Kenneth Mercieca prolonged inside the area and Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos pushed the ball across the fatal line.

Ghajnsielem maintained their momentum after the break and produced some pressure on Gharb’s defence for most of the second period. On 52 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos controlled inside Gharb’s area following a cross by Gerald Tusche but the Brazilian striker fired over the crossbar from an ideal position. Three minutes later Gharb replied through a personal action by Michael Bezzina but goalie Matthew Vella left his position in time to deny the striker form scoring.  On 57 minutes Ghajnsielem protested for a penalty when Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos ended on the floor in the area following a challenge with an opponent but the referee showed a yellow card to the striker for simulation.  Ghajnsielem continued to find it difficult to create good scoring opportunities while Gharb operated some dangerous breaks.  On 64 minutes Ghajnsielem’s keeper Matthew Vella was called to make a good save following a low shot by Christian Attard.  Gharb scored the goal that ended up deciding the encounter on 74 minutes when Michael Bezzina unmarked Christian Attard inside Ghajnsielem’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low shot.  Ghajnsielem produced their reaction during the final stages of the match and lost some good opportunities where they could have saved the result.  On 83 minutes a shot form an angled position by Ali Oularbi was tuned to a corner with difficulty by goalie Daniel Spiteri and on 89 minutes a header by Ghajnsielem’s substitute Ishmael Belhaj from a corner kick by Alberto Xuereb was stopped by the crossbar nd one minute later a header by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos, when the goalkeeper left the goal unattended, was cleared from the goalmouth by Gharb’s defenders Darko Stojanovic and substitute Matthew Grech.  From the resultant corner action a header by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos was neutralised by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  Ghajnsielem’s last scoring opportunity arrived in the fourth minute of stoppage time through a header by Shaun Bajada that ended away from goal.

Referee: Darko Stankovic