Last-goal puts Zebbug on second place

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Zebbug R : 3 (G.B. Mfulwane 62’pen, 90+1’; C. Borg 66’)

B. Saliba, G. Portelli, C. Borg, J. Debrincat (E. Xuereb), O. Calleja, C. Vella, A. Buttigieg (C. Farrugia), M. Ciangura, R. Grech, G.B. Mfulwane, P. Camilleri.

St Lawrence S : 2 (M.S. Telessi 40’, J. Theuma 78’)

L. Buttigieg, L. Buttigieg, K. Hili, J. Theuma, M.S. Telessi, C. Cauchi, C. Azzopardi, J. Grima, D. Micallef, C. Farrugia (S. Mizzi), L. Attard (S. Dimech).

Zebbug Rovers registered their second consecutive win in the second round of the campaign from their match against St Lawrence Spurs.  This was the last match of Match-Day 7 of the league where both Zebbug and St Lawrence needed a victory to take the runner-up position on the table particularly following the result of the clash between Munxar and Sannat.  The match as expected turned out to be well contested where victory could have gone either side.  Both Zebbug and St Lawrence had their good moments throughout the encounter.  St Lawrence, who are now trailing the current leaders by seven points, missed the opportunity to build a comfortable lead during the first half when they managed to express superiority over their opponents.  However, The Rovers were rewarded for their impressive reaction after the break and for their insistence so that they scored the goal that decided the issue in the first minute of stoppage time.  With this result Zebbug remain the main contenders to leaders as they are now occupying the second spot on the table with three points less than Munxar.

St Lawrence dominated the first half of the encounter and for most of the time they kept pressure on Zebbug’s rear guard.  On 11 minutes a shot by Jason Theuma after receiving from Mohammed Senussi Telessi ended just wide form Zebbug’s goal.  One minute later St Lawrence’s Charlon Farrugia also had an attempt that ended just wide and on 14 minutes Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba had a low shot that was neutralised by goalie Baskal Saliba.  The Spurs went again close to scoring on 21 minutes through a shot by Luke Attard that ended just high and on 37 minutes Zebbug replied through a free kick by Gibson Botshelo Mfulwane that was saved in two attempts by goalie Luke Buttigieg.  Less than a minute later the Spurs replied through a first timer by Jason Theuma following a short clearance by Zebbug’s defence that ended wide but on 40 minutes St Lawrence opened the score through a header by Mohammed Senussi Telessi following a cross by Kenny Hili.

Zebbug had a very effective reaction after the break.  On 54 minutes a strike by Christian Vella following a clearance by the defence ended over the crossbar and two minutes later the Rovers protested for a goal when a cross by substitute Elijah Xuereb was deflected by the defence, the ball hit the woodworks and bounced back on the line but the match officials waived play-on.  Zebbug however levelled the score on 62 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Louis Buttigieg on Chris Borg and Gibson Botshelo Mfulwane converted form the spot kick.  Zebbug kept insisting and on 66 minutes they turned the result in their favour when a strike by Elijah Xuereb hit the crossbar and from the rebound Chris Borg fired in goal from close distance.  St Lawrence tried to regain composure and had a good reaction.  On 70 minutes a low shot by Christopher Cauchi was deflected by Jason Theuma but the ball ended away from Zebbug’s goal.  In another occasion on 75 minutes a header by Mohammed Senussi Telessi ended high and two minutes later Zebbug replied through a shot by Gibson Mfulwane that was saved in two attempts by goalie Luke Buttigieg.  St Lawrence levelled the score on 78 minutes through a shot from close distance by Jason Theuma following a cross by Mohammed Senussi Telessi.  The match became much more exciting during the final stages as the two sides went all out to obtain the victory.  The Spurs had their best scoring opportunity on 83 minutes through a free kick from an ideal position but Mohammed Senussi Telessi had his attempt that ended just over the crossbar.  Zebbug clinched the victory with a goal that arrived in the first minute of stoppage time when Elijah Xuereb unmarked Gibson Botshelo Mfulwane following a counter break and the latter entered the area and fired in goal when he was face to face with the goalkeeper.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha