Kercem obtain convincing win

GFA Division I KO Q/final
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Kercem A : 4 (A. Mizzi 4’, P. Kyumyurdzhiev 9’pen., O. Rolovic 54’, 89’)

J.P. Cassar, J. Grech, (N. Mercieca), P. Kyumyurdzhiev, M. Tabone, M. Mifsud, A. Mizzi, J.P. Mizzi, A. Komljenovic (D. Cassar), E. Vella, A. Haska, O. Rolovic.

Nadur Y : 1 (S. Attard 78’pen.)

M. Muscat, S.H. Muller, G. Muscat (C. Debono), D. Farrugia, C. Hili, J. Grima, S. Attard, B. Said, S. Cassar (M. Zerafa), D. Dos Santos (S. Attard), M. Nenadovic.

Kercem Ajax defeated Nadur Youngsters in the second match form the quarter finals stage of the Knock Out competition and will now face Ghajnsielem in the first semi-final match which will be contested at a later stage this season. Kercem’s win over Nadur was well deserved as they were in the driving seat throughout the encounter.  The victory for Kercem matured with two goals scored in each half.  With this result, Kercem retained the possibility to be contenders for this hounour which they have won in two editions from the last four seasons.  On the other hand Nadur disappointed in this match.  They practically compromised the qualification by conceding two goals during the opening stages and never managed to re-open the issue.  Nadur also ended the match with a player less on the field as Daniel Farrugia was sent off for a second bookable office and as a result the defender will be missing from Nadur’s next match from the championship.

Kercem had an excellent start and surprised their opponents with two goals.  On 4 minutes Kercem’s Aleksandar Komljenovic unmarked Aklen Haska on the right flank and the latter crossed from the goal line so that Andrew Mizzi concluded in goal with a low shot.  Nadur continued to suffer Kercem’s paly and on 9 minutes the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Stefan Cassar on Andrew Mizzi and Petar Kyumyurdzhiev, who was also playing his last match with Kercem after a spell of six consecutive seasons, converted from the spot kick to make it 2-0.  Nadur tried hard to re-open the issue but their efforts were very often sterile.  The first serious attempt by Nadur towards Kercem’s goal arrived on 26 minutes through a shot by Shaun Attard that was neutralised by goalie John Paul Cassar.  Kercem were again dangerous on 37 minutes but Ognjen Rolovic’s spectacular header following a cross by Andrew Mizzi ended just wide.  Nadur increased their efforts during the final stages of the first half and on 40 minutes a shot by Charles Hili following a personal action ended high.  One minute later Brandon Said had a good attempt towards Kercem’s goal but the ball ended not far away from the target and in the following action Kercem replied through a curling shot by Elton Vella that ended just over the crossbar.  On 43 minutes Nadur’s Shaun Attard had a shot following a personal action that was blocked by the defence to a corner.  In the first minute of stoppage time before half time Kercem operated a dangerous action through a personal initiative by Ognjen Rolovic but Nadur’s defender Saviour Attard recovered his position and cleared the danger into another corner.

In the sixth minute of play of the second period Kercem were again dangerous but Alen Haska’s first timer after receiving from Elton Vella, missed the target and two minutes later Nadur had a good attempt by Shaun Attard that was partially saved by goalie John Paul Cassar and from the rebound Joseph Grima’s effort ended away from Kercem’s goal.  Kercem increased their lead on 54 minutes when Ognjen Rolovic received a through pass from Alen Haska, turned around the goalkeeper inside the area and placed the ball into an open goal.  Nadur replied one minute later through an effort by Stefan Cassar following a personal action but goalie John Paul Cassar saved the danger to a corner.  Minutes later Nadur’s Milos Nenadovic had an effort that ended wide and on 59 minutes Kercem’s Alen Haska had a shot that was neutralised by goalie Matthew Muscat.  Kercem threatened Nadur’s rear guard again on 62 minutes when Ognjen Rolovic entered the area with a personal action but his shot towards goal, when the goalkeeper was out of his position, missed the target.  Two minutes later Kercem’s goalie John Paul Cassar was called to make another good intervention to block an effort by Stefan Cassar and on 67 minutes Nadur were reduced to ten players when Daniel Farrugia was sent off following a second bookable offence.  From the resultant free kick Kercem almost increased their lead but a shot by Ognjen Rolovic was stopped by the crossbar.  On 69 minutes Nadur could have created more danger but Milos Nenadovic’s shot was well saved by goalie John Paul Cassar.  Nadur scored their consolation goal on 78 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Andrew Mizzi on Milos Nenadovic and Shaun Attard netted with his shot from the spot kick.  On 84 minute Nadur’s central defender Sandro Muller denied Kercem from a certain goal when he cleared off the fatal line a fine header by Ognjen Rolovic from close distance.  Kercem however sealed the victory by scoring the fourth goal on 89 minutes through Ognjen Rolovic following a personal action.

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Referee: Sandro Spiteri