Kercem end season with a win over Xewkija

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium

Xewkija T : 1 (M. Stojanovic 45’)

M. Grima, M. Xerri, J. Azzopardi, D. Bogdanovic, M. Hrubsa, G. Hili (T. Grech), S. Bajada (M. Gauci), M. Stojanovic, J.M. Vella, T. Vella, H.T. Barbosa Honorato (O. Xuereb).

Kercem A : 2 (A. Mizzi 68’, D.C. Flores 82’)

B. Vrndic, D. Cassar (O. Spiteri, M. Tabone, A. Zammit, N. Mercieca, J. Grech (G. Attard), M. Perisic, M. Mifsud, E. Vella, A. Mizzi, D. Chavez Flores (C. Grima).

Kercem Ajax scored two goals in the second half in their match against Xewkija Tigers to turn a defeat into a win and therefore ended the season on a positive note.  The match between Xewkija and Kercem did not have any importance on the final placing of the two sides on the table.  Xewkija, who were the champions of the last season, ended a very disappointing run in the championship as they dropped out at an early stage from the challenge for the title, with another defeat against a team who placed at a lower position on the table.  Kercem, who had a very difficult start in the championship, had an excellent recovery and for most of the time they were always at a safe place outside the relegation zone.  Thus, the victory over Xewkija in their last match of the season complimented a satisfactory season.

In this match Xewkija had a better start and held territorial supremacy but they found it difficult to convert their play into good scoring opportunities so that they did not manage to build a strong lead.  Kercem were well organised at their defence and also operated some dangerous action so that as time passed by they shared more play and earned the win with two goals scored after the break.  Kercem also produced the first serious dangerous action that arrived on 15 minutes when an attempt by Daniel Chavez Flores following a cross by Elton Vella was blocked to a corner by defender Martin Hrubsa.  Xewkija replied on 20 minutes through a header by Martin Hrubsa following a corner kick by Gennaro Hili that ended just wide.  On 34 minutes Xewkija’s Gennaro Hili had a low drive addressed to the far post following a cross by Thomas Vella that ended just wide.  Three minutes later Xewkija’s Shaun Bajda hit badly from a good position so that the ball ended away from goal and on 40 minutes Kercem’s Branko Vrndic was well placed to partially save a shot by Thomas Vella and the defence continued to clear the danger.  Xewkija opened the score on 45 minutes when Halleson Thiago Barbosa Honorato defended the ball inside Kercem’s area and from his pass Milos Stojanovic fired in goal with a shot on the run.  Kercem replied in the third minute of stoppage time before half time with a free kick by Daniel Chavez Flores that was saved to a corner by goalie Mark Grima.

After the resumption Xewkija tried to maintain the momentum and on 47 minutes a shot by Milos Stojanovic fork a good position ended away from Kercem’s goal.  One minute later the same Stojanovic passed to Halleson Thiago Barbosa Honorato who had a shot that got a deflection and ended in a corner.  Kercem replied on 58 minutes through a cross shot by Elton Vella ended on the roof of the net and in another action by Xewkija that arrived on 64 minutes an effort by Milos Stojanovic missed the target.  Kercem levelled the score on 68 minutes when Daniel Chavez Flores passed to Andrew Mizzi inside Xewkija’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low shot despite the pressure of a direct opponent.  Play became more balanced but on 82 minutes Kercem scored the goal that decided the issue through a direct free kick by Daniel Chavez Flores that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.  Xewkija tried to produce a reaction in the remaining minutes in an attempt o save the result but on 88 minutes a shot by Thomas Vella ended high and in the first minute of stoppage time the same Vella headed wide from a good position following a cross by Daniel Bogdanovic so that the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Massimo Axisa