Munxar turn a defeat into a large win

GFA Gozo Football League Division I

MATCH DETAILS

21 September 2018 – Gozo Stadium

Munxar F FC: 4 (D.U. Monday o.g. 47’, B. Polo Longarela 49’, L. Garcia Panesso 74’pen., J.J. Sandobal Guarin 90+1’)

J.P. Cassar, K. Borg, P. Parnis (C. Bugeja), J. Grima (M. Debrincat), O. Curmi, L. Garcia Panesso, M.M. Uzor, J.J. Sandobal Guarin, G. Muscat, S. Muscat (B. Meilak), B. Polo Longarela.

SK Victoria W: 1 (P. Dordevic 31’)

M.T. Towns, A.G. Attard, J.W. Meilak (R. Grech), A.J. Obaje, P. Dordevic, S. Harland, M. Bamba, N. Vella, A. Touarha (G. Cardona), D.U. Monday, A. Adesina.

MATCH REPORT

Munxar Falcons came from behind in their match against SK Victoria Wanderers and scored four goals during the second period to register their second consecutive win from the first two matches of the championship.  Thus was a match that where the two sides were aiming for the victory as both Munxar and Victoria are expected to be among the teams who could fight against the lower places on the table. Munxar’s win was well deserved as they held territorial supremacy during the first period and produced a determined reaction after the break.  The Falcons confirmed their positive performance expressed in their first match as they managed to create several scoring opportunities throughout the encounter. The Falcons were also very efficient in the midfield as they denied Victoria from possession and effected continuous support to their strikers. The Wanderers disappointed in this match as they suffered Munxar’s play throughout the match.  The Citizens also ended the encounter on a negative note as they had two players sent off during crucial stages of the match. With this result Munxar not only held a place with the top teams but above also opened a comfortable gap on other teams who may be involved in the tussle against the red zone.

Munxar seemed more adventurous in their approach and during the opening stages they created serious danger inside Victoria’s area on more than one than one occasion.  In the second minute of play Munxar’s Oliver Curmi headed high a free kick by Samwel Muscat and on 6minutes the Wanderers replied through an effort from close distance by Augustine James Obaje that ws blocked by goalie John Paul Cassar and from the rebound Ajibade Adesina failed to conclude so that the defense cleared the danger with some difficulty.  Munxar increased their efforts as time passed by. On 12 minutes a free kick by Jhon Jairo Sandobal Guarin was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie Matthew Towns one minute later a shot by Joseph Grima from an ideal position missed the target. Three minutes later a free kick by Borja Polo Longarela ended just wide and on 18 minutes Munxar’s Gabriel Muscat headed badly from close distance following a free kick by Joseph Grima.  Munxar went again close to scoring on 21 minutes through a shot by Leiner Garcia Panesso following a personal action that ended just wide. The Wanderers opened the score against the run pf play on 31 minutes when Munxar’s defense failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a corner action and Predrag Dordevic took the ball and concluded with a low shot with the ball hitting the net despite the attempts of the defense to clear the danger.  Munxar replied on 37 minutes when Leiner Garcia Panesso released Samwel Muscat inside Victoria’s area but the latter lobbed over the crossbar although Victoria’s goal was unattended.  One minute later Munxar’s keeper was well placed and neutralized without difficulty a low shot from outside the area by Aaron Touarha.

Munxar had an excellent start and turned the result in their favour with two quick goals.  On 47 minutes Munxar leveled the score when Victoria’s central defender David Udoh Monday lobbed with a header into his own goal following pressure from Munxar’s striker Matthias Michael Uzor.  One minute later the Wanderers were reduced to ten players when Moussa Bamba was sent off for a second bookable offence following a foul on Samwel Muscat and from the resultant free kick Borja Polo Longarela surprised the defense with a fine shot with the ball hitting the post before ending in goal.  Munxar almost added another goal on 53 minutes but a strike by Leiner Garcia Panesso following a personal action was turned to a corner with difficulty.  The Wanderers replied on 66 minutes through a direct free kick by Predrag Dordevic ended just over the crossbar. Munxar were again dangerous on 71 minutes but Matthias Michael Uzor’s shot following a short clearance by the defense missed the target.  One minute later Munxar were awarded a penalty for a foul by Ajbade Adesina on Matthias Michael Uzor who was heading towards goal and Lener Garcia Panesso increased the lead for his side with the shot form the spot kick.  The same Garcia Panesso went again close to scoring one minute later but his lob from an ideal position missed the target.  On 78 minutes the Wanderers were reduced to nine players when David Udoh Monday was sent off for a foul on Samwel Muscat. Victoria’s best opportunity to reduce the deficit arrived on 88 minutes but a shot cross by Augustine James Obaje following a personal action passed in front of goal and the defense cleared the danger.  Munxar marked their impressive win with the fourth goal that arrived in the first minute of stoppage time through a direct free kick by Jhon Jairo Sandobal Guarin that was out of the reach of Victoria’s keeper.

Referee: Hristos Pslikarov

Photos: Paul Scicluna