GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Zebbug R : 4 (C. Borg 21’, 72’; B. Perello Palou 32’, 41’)
B. Saliba, G. Portelli, F. Cini, J. Debrincat (J. Muscat), C. Vella, M. Ciangura, B. Perello Palou, P. Camilleri, C. Farrugia, M. Mamo.
Xaghra U : 2 (C. Hili 53’, 75’)
F. Azzopardi, M. Galea, M. Janjus, S. Bonello, J. Xiberras, C. Hili, J. Bajada, S. Galea, G. Farrugia, A. Xiberras, J. Muscat.
Zebbug Rovers returned to winning ways after a long series of negative results with a 4-2 win over Xaghra United. The two sides were aiming to obtain a win form this match as Zebbug needed the first points from the third round of the campaign while Xaghra are struggling to gain points to increase their lead over the team at the bottom of the table. The match turned out into an interesting encounter where the two sides tried hard to achieve their objective. Zebbug seemed heading towards an easy win by the end of the first half as they were enjoying a three-goal lead but after the break Xaghra had a determined reaction and kept insisting in an attempt to save the result as they did in the match against the same Zebbug of the second round of the campaign. The six goals arrived from three players who scored a brace each.
Xaghra could have opened the sore after just twenty two seconds of play but a low drive by Milorad Janjus was stopped by the post. As time passed by Zebbug started to take more command of play and were often dangerous in the attempts at goal. On 5 minutes Zebbug’s Chris Borg failed to conclude form an ideal position following a free kick by Bartomeo Perello Palou so that goalie Frankie Azzopardi saved without difficulty. The same goalkeeper was called to make a difficult intervention on 14 minutes to save to a corner a shot by Chris Borg after receiving from Josef Debrincat. Two minutes later Zebbug’s Bartomeo Perello Palou entered Xaghra’s territory but his attempt toward an open goal was deflected to a corner with an intervention by defender Savio Galea. Zebbug opened the score on 21 minutes through a shot by Chris Borg was released by Bartomeo Perello Palou. The Rovers went again close to scoring on the half hour mark through an attempt by Josef Debrincat following a personal action that was well saved in two attempts by goalie Frankie Azzopardi. On 32 minutes Zebbug doubled the score through a fine lob by Bartomeo Perello Palou when the goalkeeper was out of his position. Less than a minute later Xaghra could have reduced the deficit but a low shot by Milorad Janjus was well saved to a corner by goalie Baskal Saliba. Zebbug scored their third goal on 41 minutes with another goal by Bartomeo Perello Palou following a personal action.
After the break Xaghra tried to produce a reaction and on 53 minutes they were also dangerous through a shot by Milorad Janjus that was saved to a corner by goalie Baskal Saliba. Xaghra reduced the score one minute later when Gabriel Farrugia crossed from the right flank following a short corner kick and the ball arrived to an unmarked Clayton Hili who concluded in goal form close distance. On 58 minutes Zebbug could have regained the three-goal lead but Marlon Mamo’s attempt following a personal action was well saved by goalie Frankie Azzopardi. Xaghra replied on 63 minutes with an effort by Milorad Janjus that was neutralised by goalie Baskal Saliba. The same keeper was called again to make a good save on 66 minutes to stop a low shot by Adrian Xiberras. Zebbug scored the fourth goal on 72 minutes with a shot on the run by Chris Borg to conclude a personal action from the right flank by Josef Debrincat. However, three minutes later Xaghra reduced the score with a first timer by Clayton Hili following a cross from the right flank that ended in goal despite the attempt by the goalkeeper to hold the danger. In the remaining minutes the two sides kept insisting to score another goal for different reasons. Xaghra could have re-opened their chances to save the result on 81 minutes but a header by Milorad Janjus following a corner kick by Gabriel Farrugia ended wide. Zebbug could have sealed the victory on the stroke of regular time but a goal by Marlon Mamo following a cross by Christian Vella was disallowed for an offside.
Referee: Martin Borg
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