Kercem register their first win in the championship

MATCH DETAILS

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I

Gozo Stadium – 27 January 2019

SK Victoria W : 1 (P. Dordevic 70’pen)

M.T. Towns, A.G. Attard (E. Bugeja), A.J. Obaje, P. Dordevic, S. Harland, A. Attard, M. Bamba, N. Vella (J. Buhagiar), R. Grech, D.U. Monday, A. Adesina (E. Zammit).

Kercem A FC : 3 (M. Hrubsa 31’, F.A. De Oliviera 36’, 49’pen)

Dizdarevic, D. Cassar, A. Azzopardi, A. Debrincat, T. Vella (P. Debono), M. Hrubsa, N. Mercieca, O. Spiteri, J.P. Mizzi (C. Caruana), M. Perisic, F.A. De Oliviera.

MATCH REPORT

In the direct clash from the relegation zone of Match-Day 10 of the BOV Gozo Football League Division I, bottom placed Kercem Ajax registered a 3-1 win over SK Victoria Wanderers so that they re-opened their chances to retain their Division I status for another season.  This was also Kercem’s first win in the championship which arrived after a series of positive performances where they obtained four draws including positive results against top teams in the category. In this match Kercem suffered Victoria’s play during the opening stages but managed to open a two-goal lead with goals scored just after the half hour mark.  Kercem added another goal in the opening minutes of the second half and administered the lead until the end of the encounter. On the other hand the Wanderers tried hard to defend their lead over their rivals against the relegation but they were failed to capitalise from their best scoring opportunities and ended up struggling throughout the match in an attempt to re-open the issue.  In this match Kercem gave the debut to goalkeeper Vladimir Dizdarevic and strikers Thomas Vella and Andrea Debrincat.

The Wanderers took command of play from the early stages and in the sixth minute a header by Predrag Dordevic from a free kick by Ryan Grech was neutralised by goalie Vladimir Dizdarevic.  One minute later Kercem replied through a header by Felipe Augusto De Oliviera from a cross by Nathaniel Mercieca that was saved by goalie Matthew Towns. On 8 minutes Kercem’s debutant goalkeeper Vladimir Dizdarovic made a difficult save to deny the Wanderers from scoring when he turned to a corner a strike by Predrag Dordevic after receiving from Ryan Grech.  Two minutes later the same Dizdarovic was called to make a good save following a header by Predrag Dordevic from a corner action. Kercem replied on 20 minutes through a shot by Milos Perisic that was deflected to a corner by Victoria’s defence. From the same corner action a shot by Thomas Vella was cleared form the goalmouth by Predrag Dordevic. The Wanderers were again dangerous on 23 minutes when Aud-gustine James Obaje entered Kercem’s area but concluded badly when he arrived at an angled position.  Five minutes later a shot by Victoria’s Sam Harland missed the target and on the half hour mark Kercem’s Felipe Augusto De Oliveira headed towards goal a corner kick by Milos Perisic but Predrag Dordevic headed to another corner away from the goal line and also denied Martin Hrubsa from hitting towards goal. From the same corner action that arrived on 31 minutes Victoria’s defence failed to clear the kick by Nathaniel Mercieca and Martin Hrubsa fired in goal from close distance.  The Wanderers were shocked and less than a minute alter goalie Matthew Towns saved with difficulty to a corner an attempt by Andrea Debrincat.  Kercem scored their second goal on 36 minutes when Felipe Augusto De Oliviera noted Victoria’s keeper out of his position when he was still beyond the line of the midfield and lobbed into an open goal.  The Wanderers could have reduced the score on 39 minutes when Moussa Bamba hit badly from a free kick by Sam Harland and the ball arrived to an unmarked Ajibade Adesina who incredibly lifted over the crossbar from close distance.

In the first minute of play of the second period Victoria’s Ajibade Adesina went again close to reduce the deficit but his low drive aimed towards the far post ended wide.  On 49 minutes Kercem were awarded a penalty for a foul by Nicholas Vella on Martin Hrubsa and Felipe Augusto De Oliviera converted from the spot kick to make it 3-0.  On 56 minutes Victoria’s Aud-gustine James Obaje entered Kercem’s area with a personal action but he prolonged the ball when he entered the area and missed the opportunity to conclude toward goal.  Three minutes later the Wanderers were again dangerous through a shot by Anthony George Attard that ended wide and on 68 minutes Aud-gustine James Obaje once again entered Kercme’s area with a personal action but his low shot was blocked by the defence.  The Wanderers scored their consolation goal on 70 minutes form a penalty, awarded for handling by Martin Hrubsa, and converted by Predrag Dordevic.  On 77 minutes Kercem could have added another goal but Thomas Vella hesitated to conclude after receiving form Nathaniel Mercieca so that the defence cleared the danger and the best opportunity for the Wanderers to score a second goal arrived on 46 minutes but Predrag Dordevic concluded incredibly wide form a good position and the ball ended away from Kercem’s goal.

Referee: Etienne Mangion