Nadur save the result with two late goals

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Nadur Y : 3 (S. Miloskovic 25’, D. Dos Santos 84’, S. Cassar 86’)

M. Muscat (G. Bugeja), M. Hyzler (C. Abela), C. Hili (P.P. Camilleri), S. Miloskovic, Sh. Attard, B. Said, S. Cassar, Sa. Attard, D. Dos Santos, R. Da Silva, N. Stojanovic.

Gharb R : 3 (J. Portelli 24’, M. Barbosa 27’, A. Shkjan 45+3’)

D. Spiteri, A. Sultana, P. Dorovic, J. Azzopardi, M. Zerafa, J.P. Grima, M. Bezzina, B. Polo Longarela, J. Portelli (R. Zammit), M. Barbosa, A. Shkjan (D. Bellotti).

Nadur Youngsters and Gharb Rangers shared the spoils in a draw of six goals following an entertaining encounter where Gharb confirmed their excellent moment of form while Nadur showed lack of motivation at this stage of the championship where they cannot express the performances that they showed during the period that they were challengers for the title.  In this match Gharb dominated over their more quoted opponents during the first period and seemed heading towards a win but Nadur had an impressive reaction during the final stages of the encounter and saved the result with two goals that were scored in the space of two minutes.

Gharb seemed more motivated than their opponents form the very beginning and in the fifth minute of play a shot by Marcelo Barbosa was saved by Nadur’s keeper Matthew Muscat.  One minute later an effort by Gharb’s Michael Bezzina ended high and Nadur replied onn 11 minutes through a header by Brandon Said that was neutralised by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  On 18 minutes a lob by Gharb’s Marcelo Barbosa was cleared off the fatal line by Nadur’s defender Saviour Attard and less than a minute later a shot by Ardit Shkjan ended high.  Gharb opened the score on 22 minutes when an attempt form an angled position by Borja Polo Longarela was cleared off the line by Saviour Attard and from the resultant action the same Polo Longarela unmarked Josef Portelli who fired in goal from an ideal position.  Minutes later Gharb’s Marcelo Barbosa produced a good move from the left flank but his low cross passed in front of Nadur’s goal without finding any Gharb striker to connect.  Nadur managed to level the score on 25 minutes when Brandon Said passed to Stanimir Miloskovic inside Gharb’s area and the latter converted in goal from close distance. Gharb were not demoralised and regained command of play. On 27 minutes Gharb took the lead for the second time in the match when Michael Bezzina released Marcelo Barbosa inside Nadur’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low drive.  Nadur replied on 35 minutes with a shot from long distance by Charles Hili that was saved to a corner by Gharb’s goalie Daniel Spiteri.  In the third minute of stoppage time before half time Gharb increased their lead when a free kick by Michael Bezzina hit the crossbar and from the rebound Ardit Shkjan pushed the ball into an open goal.

Nadur tried to produce their reaction from the early stages of the second period and on 52 minutes a free kick by Stanimikr Miloskovic was saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri.  On 61 minutes the same goalkeeper blocked a free kick by Dewide Dos Santos and form the rebound the defence cleared the danger following a shot by Shaun Attard.  One minute later Gharb could have increased their lead but a shot by substitute Dylan Bellotti after receiving form Marcelo Barbosa missed the target.  On 67 minutes the same Bellotti entered Nadur’s area but was stopped from concluding towards goal with an effective intervention by central defender Ronaldo Da Silva.  Nadur increased their efforts and on 76 minutes they were unlucky when a header by Dewide Dos Santos following a free kick by Ronaldo Da Silva was stopped by the post.  Nadur however reduced the deficit on 84 minutes when Gharb’s defence failed to clear a cross from the right flank by Nemanja Stojanovic and Dewide Dos Santos guided the ball in goal from close distance.  Nadur clinched the equaliser on 86 minutes when Gharb’s defence cleared badly a free kick by Dewide Dos Santos and the ball arrived to Stefan Cassar who concluded in goal with a first timer form the edge of the area.  The two sides tried hard to obtain the victory in the remaining minutes but Gharb went closest to scoring in an action that arrived in the sixth minute of stoppage time through a header by Borja Polo Longarela following a free kick by Mrcelo Barbosa that was well saved by substitute goalkeeper Gaetano Bugeja.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri