GFA Gozo Football League Division II
MATCH DETAILS
6 October 2018 – Kercem Ajax Stadium
Qala S FC: 2 (J. Buttigieg 35’, B.G. Mfuluane 71’)
Buttigieg, S. Sillato, C. Gafa, F. Mumford, R. Grima, E. Cordina, D. Bellotti (J. Mifsud), B.G. Mfuluane, J. Buttigieg, C. Portelli (M. Buttigieg), O. Farrugia (F. Attard).
Zebbug R FC: 1 (M. Peres Vega 90+3’)
Saliba, M. Ciangura, M. Formosa (C. Farrugia), G. Portelli, L. Meilaq (A. Buttigieg), A. Zammit, L. Farrugia, M. Peres Vega, R. Meilak, E. Xuereb, J. Grech (C. Vella).
MATCH REPORT
Qala Saints earned their first points in the campaign with a deserved win over Zebbug Rovers. Qala and Zebbug need a positive result from this encounter to increase the possibility to move away from the lower positions on the table. Qala however were more motivated and more organized so that they managed to keep danger away from their areas and were much more dangerous in their play. Qala’s win matured with a goal scored in each half but the win could have been with a larger score if it was not for a series of good saves by Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba.
Zebbug could have opened the score in the third minute of play but a close ranged shot by Marcos Peres Vega was well blocked by Qala’s keeper Franco Buttigieg. Two minutes later Qala replied with a strike by Francisco Mumford that was saved to a corner by Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba. Qala gained confidence as time passed by created some pressure on Zebbug’s rearguard. On 13 minutes Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba was again called to make a good intervention to neutralised a low shot by Oliver Farrugia and the same keeper was well placed on 25 minutes to save a shot by Dylan Bellotti. Four minutes later Qala’s Botshelo Gibson Mfuluane was stopped by the base of the post but Qala took the deserved lead on 35 minutes when an attempt by Botshelo Ginson Mfuluane from a free kick hit the crossbar and from the rebound Joseph Buttigieg headed in goal from close distance.
After the break Zebbug tried to produce a reaction but Qala were well deployed and kept their area clear from danger. Qala continued to be more dangerous in their play. On 54 minutes Qala’s Oliver Farrugia had a lob when Zebbug’s goalie left his goal unattended that ended just wide and on the hour mark a shot by Botshelo Gibson Mfuluane was well blocked by Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba. Qala doubled the score with a goal that arrived on 71 minutes through a shot by Botshelo Gibson Mfuluane that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper. Zebbug could have reduced the deficit on 77 minutes but a strike by Ryan Meilak was saved to a corner by goalie Franco Buttigieg. However, Qala created other good scoring opportunities where they could have increased their lead. On 82 minutes Qala’s Botshelo Gibson Mfuluane entered Zebbug’s area but goalie Baskal Saliba managed to block the danger and the same goalkeeper left his position in time two minutes later to block another effort by Qala’s striker Mfuluane who was alone in the area. Zebbug managed to score their consolation goal in the third minute of stoppage time through a low shot towards the far post by Marcos Peres Vega but there was no time left to save the result.
Referee: George Portelli
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