Second consecutive win for the Hotspurs

GFA Gozo Football League Division I

MATCH DETAILS

20 September 2018 – Gozo Stadium

Victoria H FC : 6 (F. Apap 4’, E.A. Da Silva 43’, 45+1’, 86’; H. De Souza Maciel 56’, E.P. Lattes 71’)

Parnis, F. Apap, J.M. Vella (M. Bezzina), C. Mercieca, J. Pace (L. Grima), A. Mizzi (A. Debrincat), J. Bajada, H. De Souza Maciel, D. Sowatey, E.A. Da Silva, E.P. Lattes.

Kercem A FC : 1 (A. Komljenovic 76’)

Muscat, A. Azzopardi, M. Hrubsa, J. Buttigieg (C. Caruana), E. Vella, A. Komljenovic, J. Grech (P. Debono), J.P. Mizzi (D. Cassar), N. Mercieca, D. Sakic, F.A. De Oliviera.

MATCH REPORT

Victoria Hotspurs as expected earned the full points at stake from their match against Kercem Ajax and maintained the perfect start in the championship with two wins form two matches.  Victoria Hotspurs turned out to be too strong for their opponents despite the fact that the reigning champions had a number of changes in their starting line up from their previous match.  In this encounter against Kercem the Hotspurs scored and early goal that practically demoralized their opponents so that the Citizens held territorial supremacy with the least possible effort.  In this match Victoria’s striker Elton Da Silva scored a second personal hat trick in the two matches played so far in the championship.

The Hotspurs could not have had a better start as they opened the score in the fourth minute through a header form close distance by Ferdinando Apap following a cross by Emiliano Lattes.  In the following minutes the Hotspurs maintained play inside Kercem’s territory and on 21 minutes they went very close to double the score but an overhead kick by Andrew Mizzi ended wide.  Kercem had their best opportunity to level the score one minute later but Felipe Augisto De Oliviera failed to connect to an inviting low cross form the right flank by Aleksandar Komljenovic.  The Hotspurs replied on 37 minutes through a low shot by Christian Mercieca that was saved in two attempts and with the aid of a defender by goalie Charlon Muscat. Kercem were again dangerous on 40 minutes but a shot from outside the area by Aleksandar Komljenovic following a short clearance by Victoria’s defense ended wide.  The Hotspurs however doubled the score on 43 minutes when Elton Alexandre Da Silva took the ball from the goalkeeper and placed in goal with a low shot.  Kercem protested for a foul on the goalkeeper and alleging handling by Da Silva but the goal was validated.  In the first minute of added time before the break the Hotspurs added another goal through a direct free kick by Elton Axandre Da Silva that surprised Kercem’s goalie.

The Hotspurs continued to dominate after the break and on 46 minutes they were dangerous through a low shot by Elton Da Silva following a personal action that ended on the side of the net.  Kercem replied on 48 minutes through low shot by Joshua Buttigieg that was blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis and the same goalkeeper was called to make a difficult intervention on 56 minutes to block a direct free kick by Jean Paul Mizzi.  In the following action the Hotspurs operated a counter break through Henrique De Souza Maciel who entered the area from the left flank and placed in goal with a low drive. Two minutes after the hour mark the Hotspurs went again close to scoring but a header by substitute Andrea Debrincat following a cross by Christian Mercieca ended wide.  On 71 minutes the Hotspurs scored their fifth goal when Emiliano Patricio Lattes produced a personal action from the midfield, entered the area and concluded in goal with a fine shot.  Kercem scored their consolation goal on 76 minutes through Aleksandar Komljenovic who avoided the offside position, entered the area and netted with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his place in an attempt to block the danger.   In the following minutes Kercem had attempts by Felipe Augusto De Oliveira and Andre Azzopardi that ended wide and Kercem’s goalie Charlon Muscat was called to make a good intervention on 85 minutes to block a close ranged shot by Elton Da Silva.  Victoria Hotspurs however scored their sixth goal one minute later through Elton Alexandre Da Silva following another personal action from the right flank.

Referee: Emanuel Grech