Victoria Hotspurs make sure of qualification with second half goals

MFA The FA Trophy Rd I

MATCH DETAILS

Gozo Stadium – 9 September 2018

Victoria H FC: 4          (A. Mizzi 4’, 55’; C. Camilleri 64’, H. De Souza Maciel 80’)

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

Attard FC: 1          (N. Spiteri 35’)

Attard (O. Farrugia), O. Tabone, L. Alla, J. Delia, A.P. Sammut, N. Spiteri, E. Azzopardi, M. Cassar (C. Delia), L. Cuscheri, J. Gauci, B. Alla.

MATCH REPORT

Victoria Hotspurs left it late to put their minds at rest from the qualification to the next round of the competition in their match against Attard despite the fact that they held command of play throughout the encounter.  The Hotspurs scored an early goal but seemed overconfident for most of the first half so that they conceded an opportunity to their less quoted opponents to take the break with a positive result.  The Hotspurs however increased their pressure from the early stages of the second period and earned the victory by scoring three goals.

The Gozitan champions had an excellent start and opened the score in the fourth minute of play through a close ranged shot by Andrew Mizzi following a cross by Chris Camilleri.  On 14 minutes the Hotspurs could have doubled the score but an effort by Stanimir Miloskovic was well saved by goalie Luke Attard.  The Hotspurs were again dangerous on 23 minutes but the same goalkeeper was well placed to neutralize a shot by Elton Da Silva.  On the half hour mark goalie Luke Attard was again called to make a good intervention following an attempt by Elton \da Silva and on 35 ,minutes Attard leveled the score through a fine strike by Nigel Spiteri from the edge of the area that ended out of the reach of Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis.  In the first minute of stoppage time before half time the Hotspurs could have regained the lead but Andrew Mizzi failed to connect to an inviting low cross by Elton Da Silva and the defense cleared the danger.

After the break the hosts regained full command of play and on 51 minutes a good shot by Elton Da Silva ended just wide.  The Hotspurs regained the lead on 55 minutes through a low drive by Andre Mizzi that surprised Attard’s goalie.  On 64 minutes Victoria Hotspurs practically made sure of the qualification when they score the third goal through a strike from long distance by Christopher Camilleri.  The same Camilleri had another attempt on 77 minutes from a good position that ended wide and three minutes later Victoria scored their fourth goal through substitute Henrique De Souza Maciel who took the ball from Attard’s defense and placed easily into an open goal after avoiding the goalkeeper.  On 90 minutes Attard’s goalie Luke Attard denied Victoria’s Elton Da Silva from adding another goal so that the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic