Sannat ease past Xaghra and reach the KO final

GFA Division II KO s/final
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Sannat L : 7 (F. Kosova 5’, F. Xuereb 26’, J. Zammit 40’, M. Portelli 45’, A. Camilleri 70’, 76’; I. Mampalao 90’)

A. Brignoli, F. Xuereb, F. Camilleri, D. Borg, S. Sultana, J. Bonnici, M. Portelli (S. Curmi), O. Farrugia (A. Camilleri), M. Muscat, F. Kosova (I. Mampalao), J. Zammit.

Xaghra U : 0

F. Azzopardi (J. Muscat), S. Sultana, J. Formosa (L. Attard), D. Bajada (M. Grima), S. Galea, J. Bajada, A. Xiberras, S. Bonello, G. Farrugia, E. Xiberras, F. Cauchi..

Sannat Lions qualified for the final of the second most important honour for the second division in Gozo with a handsome win over Xaghra United in the first semi-final match of the competition.  Sannat dominated over their opponents and paved the way to the victory with four goals scored during the first half.  Xaghra found it extremely difficult to recover from a goal conceded during the opening minutes of the encounter and ended up chasing their opponents for most of the time of the match.  Xaghra were also demoralised for most of the second period as Sannat continued to dictate play even during a period when they were playing with a player less on the field.

Sannat took command of play form the early stages and opened the score in the fifth minute through a lob by Franci Kosova who took advantage of a short clearance by the goalkeeper.  Xaghra tried to produce a reaction and two minutes later a free kick by Gabriel Farrugia was neutralised by goalie Angelo Brignoli.  In another occasion a shot from outside the area by Xaghra’s Steve Sultana was saved to a corner with some difficulty by the same goalkeeper.  Sannat however continued to express superiority over their opponents and on 26 minutes they doubled the score when Fabian Xuereb entered Xaghra’s area after receiving form Franci Kosova and the former netted with a low shot.  Four minutes later Sannat could have added another goal when Xaghra’s rearguard failed to clear the ball from the area following a cross by Fabian Xuereb and fro the resultant melee Oliver Farrugia’s attempt was cleared to a corner from the goal mouth by Steve Sultana and fromt he same corner kick by Matthew Portelli Sannat’s Joseph Bonnici had his attempt blocked by the defence with the goalkeeper beaten.  On 38 minutes Xaghra had a good attempt by Gabriel Farrugia that was saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli and on 40 minutes Sannat increased their lead through Joseph Zammit who entered the area with a personal action and placed in goal with a low shot.  On 45 minutes Sannat scored their fourth goal when Matthew Portelli surprised Xaghra’s keeper with a strike from outside the area.

After the break Xaghra tried to be more adventurous in their play but the closest that they went to scoring was on 62 minutes through a shot by Johann Bajada that was easily saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.  On 64 minutes Sannat were reduced to ten players when Daniel Borg was sent off for a foul in the midfield on an opponent.  Sannat however continued to maintain control of play and on 79 minutes they scored their fifth goal through a close ranged shot by substitute Antoine Camilleri following a free kick from long distance by Simon Sultana that was headed inside the area by Joseph Zammit.  The same Antoine Camilleri made it 6-0 on 76 minutes with a lob form an angled position and on 85 minutes a strike by sannat’s Frankie Camilleri was stopped by the post.  Xaghra could have scored a consolation goal on 89 minutes but a shot by substitute Luke Attard. Sannat sealed their victory by scoring the seventh goal on 90 minutes when Antoine Camilleri entered the area and unmarked substitute Isaac Mampalao who placed easily into an open goal from close distance.

Referee: Gordon Camilleri