SK Victoria Wanderers win direct clash from the red zone

MATCH DETAILS

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I

Gozo Stadium – 12 March 2019

SK Victoria W : 2 (A.J. Obaje 17’, 33’)

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

Kercem A FC : 0

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

MATCH REPORT

SK Victoria Wanderers obtained three very important points with a 2-0 win over Kercem Ajax and took some lead over the same Kercem in the attempt of the two sides to move away from the relegation zone.  Before this match the two sides were occupying the bottom place on the table together with Munxar Falcons on equal points and therefore this encounter was a direct clash between two of the four teams who are deeply involved in the red zone of the table.  The match was well contested but the Citizens managed to clinch the win with two goals scored during the first part of the match so that they controlled their lead for the rest of the encounter. Kercem struggled to be competitive throughout the match as they conceded Victoria’ play for most of the first half and during the second period they failed to re-open the issue so that their reaction was sterile.

The first serious attempt towards goal arrived from Victoria on 12 minutes through a shot by Audgustine James Obajae following a free kick by Eman Bugeja that ended wide.  The Wanderers opened the score on 17 minutes when Sam Harland released Aud-gustine James Obaje who entered Kercem’s area and placed in goal with a fine shot.  Two minutes later Victoria’s Ryan Grech had a corner kick that was cleared badly by Kercem’s defence and the ball arrived to Predrag Dordevic who headed weak from a good position and goalie Vladimir Dizdarevic saved without difficulty.  Kercem replied on 28 minutes when Andrea Debrincat passed to Felipe Augusto De Oliviera who had a low shot that was neutralised by goalie Matthew Towns. On 32 minutes Kercem’s keeper was called to make a difficult save to block a fine header by Ajibade Adesina following a cross by Anthony George Attard.  One minute later the Wanderers doubled the score when Audgustine James Obaje produced a personal action from the right flank and from his low cross Kercem’s central defender Martin Hrubsa tried to clear the danger from the goalmouth but the ball hit Sam Harland who concluded easily into an open goal.  Victoria’s keeper Matthew Towns was well placed on 40 minutes to neutralise a free kick by Andrea Debrincat and two minutes later Victoria’s Predrag Dordevic had a shot from long distance that ended over the crossbar.  In the second minute of stoppage time before half time, the wanderers protested for a penalty when Anthony George Attard ended on the floor inside the area following a challenge with Christoph Caruana.

Kercem came out for the second period more determined and on 55 minutes a shot by Felipe Augusto de Oliviera following a free kick ended wide.  Two minutes later the same De Oliviera had an attempt from outside the area that was well saved by Victoria’s keeper Matthew Towns and on 61 minutes Victoria’s Predrag Dordevic entered Kercem’s area with a personal action but the defence recovered in time and blocked the danger to deny Victoria’s player from concluding his move.  The Wanderers were again dangerous on 64 minutes through a move and a cross by Ryan Grech but Sam Harland controlled badly when he was inside the area and missed the opportunity to conclude his effort with a shot towards Kercem’s goal so that the defence cleared the danger. Kercem increased their efforts and on 66 minutes Victoria’s keeper saved a good shot by Felipe Augusto De Oliviera and in the following minutes Jean Paul Mizzi had two attempts from long distance on separate occasions but the ball ended away from Victoria’s goal.  Kercem once again failed to capitalise from a potential scoring opportunity on 75 minutes but a shot from an angled position by Anthony Zammit ended wide and four minutes later a header by Jean Paul Mizzi from a cross by Owen Spiteri ended over the crossbar. Kercem’s last serious scoring opportunity of the encounter arrived on the 80th minute through a shot by Thomas Vella that ended away from Victoria’s goal.

Referee: Stefan Pace