The Malta FA Trophy: Rd. 3
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Xewkija T : 4 (R. Buttigieg 62; C. Antunes Pavlidis 81,83; JM Vella 90)
F. Vella, M.Xerri (M.Gauci 86), J.Azzopardi, M.Bamba. M.Hrubsa, JM Vella, G.Hili (JG Vella 87), M.Stojanovic, Thiago Melo (L.Cilia 89), R.Buttigieg, C. Antunes Pavlidis.
Vittoriosa S : 0
D.Galea, JC Galea, C.Suarez Leon, G.Adamo, A.Farrugia, D.Fava, G.Sultana (I.Abela 64), E.Goodman (E. Mbong 76), F.Arriagada, O.Obiefule, A.Leillis (L.Gauci 82).
Xewkija Tigers, the reigning champions of Gozitan football, registered a large win over Vittoriosa Stars, who play in the First Division of the MFA, and earned a deserved place with the last sixteen teams left in the second most important competition of Maltese football. The match was well contested for most of the first half but Xewkija became more dangerous than their opponents as time passed. Xewkija opened the score with a goal that arrived just after the hour mark, resisted to Vittoriosa’s reaction and made sure of the qualification with three goals scored during the final stages of the match.
The two sides tried to take control of play during the early stages of the match. On 5 minutes Xewkija’s Gennaro Hili unmarked Claudio Antunes within Vittoriosa’s territory but the latter had hios shot that ended wide. On 16 minutes Vittoriosa replied through a good action by Armand Lellis, but from his cross Obinna Obiefule handled the ball in an attempt to convert towards goal and the striker was also cautioned by the referee. The visitors went again close to scoring on 20 minutes through a shot by Cristian Suarez Leon that was well saved by goalie Franklin Vella and seven minutes later an effort by Armand Lellis after receiving from Obinna Obiefule missed the target. Xewkija started to take advantage of some space at Vittoriosa’s defence during the final stages of the first half and on three separate occasions. On 35 minutes Xewkija’s Thiago Melo Dos Santos released Rodney Buttigieg inside Vittoriosa’s area but the latter had his shot that ended just wide. One minute later the same Buttigieg produced a personal action and entered the area but his low drive was stopped by the base of the post and from the rebound Thiago Melo Dos Santos failed to conclude into an open goal. Vittoriosa’s goalie Dylan Galea was called to make a good intervention on 38 minutes to neutralise a header by Thiago Meo Dos Santos following a corner kick by Gennaro Hili. Xewkija’s best scoring opportunity of the first half arrived on 40 minutes when Claudio Antunes headed towards an open goal following a free kick form long distance by Martin Hrubsa, as the goalkeeper timed badly his intervention, but the ball ended just wide. Vittoriosa replied through a free kick in the second minute of stoppage time before half time by Francesco Arriagad Mella that ended over Xewkija’s goal.
After the resumption Xewkija imposed their play with authority form the very beginning and after just ten seconds of play a shot by Thiago Melo Dos Santos ended wide. On 49 minutes Vittoriosa failed to take full advantage of some hesitation by Xewkija’s defence to clear the ball from the area following a cross from the left flank as Obinna Obiefule had his first attempt partially blocked by the defence and from the rebound the same striker had his effort cleared off the goalmouth by Martin Hrubsa. Xewkija once again threatened Vittoriosa’s rear guard on 52 minutes through a free kick by Claudio Antunes that ended wide and three minutes later Vittoriosa’s Obinna Obiefule once again took the ball inside Xewkija’s area following some hesitation to clear the ball but the attempt of the striker was blocked by the defence. On 61 minutes Xewkija’s Claudio Antunes had a good attempt that was well saved by goalie Dylan Galea and one minute later the hosts opened the score when Claudio Antunes produced a good action on the right flank and from his cross Rodney Buttigieg fired in goal with a shot on the run. Vittoriosa tried to produce a reaction and on 72 minutes a free kick by Ethan Goodman ended wide. However, Xewkija were in control of play and were also more dangerous particularly through counter breaks. On 76 minutes Claudio Antunes had a low shot following a personal action that was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Dylan Galea, and three minutes later another attempt by the same Antunes missed the target. On 80 minutes Xewkija’s Claudio Antunes and Moussa Bamba headed the ball inside the area following a corner kick by Gennaro Hili but Thiago Melo Dos Santos headed over the crossbar from close distance. Xewkija doubled the score one minute later through a first time by Claudio Antunes after receiving from Thiago Melo Dos Santos. Vittoriosa replied with a shot by substitute Liam Gauci on 82 minutes that ended wide and one minute later Xewkija’s Claudio Antunes increased their lead with another first timer following a cross from the left flank by Milos Stojanovic. Xewkija sealed the victory with the fourth goal that arrived on 90 minutes when Rodney Buttigieg released Joseph Mario Vella inside Vittoriosa’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low shot as he was face to face with the goalkeeper.
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
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