Qala inflict first defeat to the leaders

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II

MATCH DETAILS

Kercem Ajax Stadium – 16 November 2018

Sannat L FC : 2 (E.R. Okpokwu 11’, J. Zammit 32’)

Mercieca, S. Mizzi (K. Bonnici), M. Portelli, N. Micallef, F. Camilleri, J. Buttigieg, J. Zammit, E. Ralph Okpokwu, E. Gauci, C. Tabone, F.J. Xuereb.

Qala S FC : 3 (F. Zeqiri 4’, 52’; O. Farrugia 42’)

Xuereb, S. Sillato, C. Gafa, F. Mumford, O. Farrugia, M. Buttigieg (J. Mifsud), M.P. Mumford, E. Cordina, D. Bellotti (F. Attard), F. Zeqiri, J. Buttigieg.

MATCH REPORT

Qala Saints obtained a 3-2 win over contenders for promotion Sannat Lions and with the points obtained the Maroons re-opened the promotion issue to five teams.  This was Qala’s third consecutive win in the campaign but it was also Sannat’s first defeat. This match showed the good level of competition in the lower category of Gozitan football since there is no team who may be considered as hot favourite to win the promotion.  The match was well contested where victory could have gone either way and where a draw could have been a just result. However, Qala made good use of their experienced players and managed to resists to Sannat’s particularly during the last part of the encounter when the Maroons had a player less on the field.  The main protagonist in Qala’s win was undoubtedly debutant Fatios Zeqiri who score two of the three goals for his side and produced the action to the other goal.

Qala had an excellent start and opened the score in the fourth minute of play through a strike from long distance by Fatos Zeqiri that ended out of the reach of Sannat’s keeper.  Sannat had a good reaction and on 11 minutes they leveled the score when Charlon Tabone unmarked Ebube Ralph Okpokwu inside Qala’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low drive.  Sannat were again dangerous on 22 minutes but a header by Joseph Zammit following a cross by Shaun Mizzi ended just high.  Play continued to be quite balanced and four minutes later Qala’s Fatos Zeqiri had an attempt directly form a free kick that ended just over the crossbar.  Less than two minutes later Qala were again dangerous through a header by Dylan Bellotti that ended high and on 32 minutes Sannat turned the result in their favour when Ebube Ralph Okpokwu passed to Joseph Zammit inside Qala’s area and the young striker concluded in goal with a low shot towards the far post.  Qala were not demoralized and on 42 minutes they leveled the score when Fatos Zeqiri had a low cross that arrived to Oliver Farrugia and the latter placed in goal with a low shot.

Qala came out more determined for the second period and on 52 minutes they regained the lead when Sannat’s rearguard failed to clear a cross from the right flank by Michael Mumford and Fatos Zeqiri took advantage to control the ball and netted with a low shot form close distance.  One minute later Qala were reduced to ten players when Oliver Farrugia was sent off for a second bookable offence.  Sannat’s reaction was sterile and on 74 minutes Qala were again dangerous through an effort by Michael Mumford that ended just wide.  On 77 minutes Sannat could have leveled the score but a shot by Charlon Tabone form a good position ended high. Three minutes later Sannat were unlucky when a good shot by Joseph Zammit was stopped by the crossbar.  Sannat increased their efforts during the final stages of the encounter in an attempt to save the result and on 85 minutes a strike by Sannat’s substitute Kenneth Bonnici was well saved by goalie Omar Xuereb. In the first minute of stoppage time Qala could have made sure of the win with another goal but a strike by Fatos Zeqiri following a personal action was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Courtney Mercieca.  Sannat went very close to save the result in the fifth minute of stoppage time when an attempt from close distance by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu was cleared fof the line and the goalkeeper cleared to a corner and form the same corner action a header by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu was stopped by the crossbar so that the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Mario Apap