Victoria Hotspurs champions for the 12th time

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Victoria H : 4 (A. Debrincat 15’, E. Da Silva 44’, 67’, 83’pen)

A. Parnis, J.Pace (A. Azzopardi), J. Bajada, S.F. Bajada (J. Camilleri), D. Sowatey, F. Apap, C. Mercieca, E. Lattes, E. Da Silva, A. Debrincat (L. Grima), G. Dwomoh Lombas.

Ghajnsielem FC : 1 (M.A. Morgon Filho 72’)

J. Grech, J.G. Vella (D. Atzori), D. Mercieca, L.A. De Melo Lima, K. Mercieca, An. Xuereb, A. Oularbi, D. Hili, K. Grima (C. Dingli), M.A. Morgon Filho, J.J. Sandobal Guarin.

Victoria Hotspurs lived up to the expectations and scored two goals in each half in their match against Ghajnsielem so that with the points obtained they became mathematically champions of the BOV Gozo Football league 2017/2018 although each team of the top flight still has to play four matches until the end of the championship.  The Hotspurs were determined to clinch the tile that they have been chasing since the begining of the season on their first opportunity.  The Hotspurs were among the favourites to win the title this seasons and prevailed over their main rivals not only in the direct clashes form the first two rounds of the championship but also in the matches against teams from the lower part of the table.  Along the way to this success the Hotspurs were consistent so that they only dropped two points from seventeen matches and are still the only undefeated side.  Their rivals on the other hand gave in as soon as they fell back from the Hotspurs by a few points so that in the matches from the third and final round the Hotspurs extended their lead, until this stage, to fifteen points.  This was Victoria’s twelfth title won in the club history and they now become the Gozitan team who won most championships in Gozo.  The success for the Hotspurs was a result of a collective effort that starts from the administration, led by President Dr Anton Tabone with the assistance of team Manager Marvin Buttigieg, the technical staff led by their coach Gotthard Conti with the assistance of Rueben Mercieca, and all the players who formed a competitive side that contributed to take the silverware back to Victoria Hotspurs’ premises after eight years.

The Hotspurs, who needed the win to make sure of becoming champions at the end of this match, took command of play from the early stages and in the tenth minute of play an effort by Andrea Debrincat ended high.  Less than a minute later Victoria’s Jonathan Bajada had a good strike that ended just wide and on 15 minutes the Hotspurs opened the score when Galder Dwomoh Lombas entered Ghajnsielem’s area from the left flank and form his low cross Andrea Debrincat netted with a tap-in.  Two minutes later Victoria were again dangerous when Galder Dwomoh Lombas entered Ghajnsielem’s territory but his low drive towards the far post ended just wide.  On 19 minutes Victoria’s Andrea Debrincat passed inside the area to an unmarked Galder Dwomoh Lombas but the latter saw his attempt stopped by the crossbar and from the rebound Elton Da Silva concluded high.  The Blacks replied on 32 minutes through a shot by Damon Hili that ended high and on 42 minutes Victoria’s Elton Da Silva had a low shot that ended wide.  One minute later Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis was called to make a good save following a strike by Ali Oularbi from outside the area but on 45 minutes the Hotspurs doubled the score when Elton Da Silva took the ball following a through pass by Ferdinando Apap and the former placed in goal with a lob over Ghajnsielem’s keeper.

Ghajnsielem tried to produce a reaction after the break and on 52 minutes Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis was well placed to block an effort by Luis Andre De Melo Lima.  The same goalkeeper was called to make a good save on 55 minutes following a close ranged shot by Marco Antonio Morgon Filho and on 59 minutes the Hotspurs had a goal by Elton Da Silva was disallowed for an offside.  Ghajnsielem were again dangerous on 66 minutes through a shot by Marco Antonio Morgon Filho that ended high and one minute later the Hotspurs added another goal, through a low shot by Elton Da Silva following a counter break by the same striker.  Ghajnsielem replied on 71 minutes with a shot by Luis Andre De Melo Lima that was partially saved by the goalkeeper and the defence cleared the danger with some difficulty.  The Blacks scored their consolation goal on 72 minutes with a low shot from close distance by Marco Antonio Morgon Filho that surprised Victoria’s goalie.  On 76 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Ali Oularbi had a good shot that was turned to a corner by goalie Adrian Parnis and on 80 minutes the Hotspurs went again close to scoring through a shot that was blocked by the defence and form the rebound the same Mercieca had his attempt saved by the goalkeeper Joseph Grech.  On 83 minutes the Hotspurs were awarded a penalty for a foul by Dylan Mercieca on Elton Da Silva and the same striker converted from the spot kick.  On 88 minutes the Blacks could have scored a second goal but a free kick by Ali Oularbi was well saved by goalie Adrian Parnis.  On 89 minutes Victoria’s substitute John Camilleri had a good shot saved by goalie Joseph Grech and in the third minute of stoppage time Ghajnsielem had their last scoring opportunity of the encounter but cross shot by Damon Hili ended over the crossbar.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic