Kercem Ajax earn a point and retain their status

MATCH DETAILS

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I

Gozo Stadium – 26 April 2019

Gharb R FC : 1 (O. Xuereb 51’)

Vella, A. Sultana, J.P. Grima (M. Gauci), J. Portelli, J.E. Batista Da Conceicao (P. Nunez Del Castillo), O. Xuereb, N. Stojanovic, R. Zammit, A. Micallef, M. Grech (C. Attard), J. Xuereb.

Kercem A FC : 1 (M. Perisic 39’)

Dizdarevic, A. Azzopardi, P. Debono, C. Caruana, A. Debrincat, T. Vella, M. Hrubsa, N. Mercieca, J.P. Mizzi, D. Sakic, M. Perisic.

MATCH REPORT

Kercem Ajax and Gharb Rangers shared the spoils in a draw of two goals in the last match of the championship for the two sides.  Kercem needed a point form the match to defend their lead over the same Gharb, while the latter need at least a point to avoid the bottom place on the table and could have reached the same Kercem on the table with a win.  The match, which was played just after Munxar’s win over SK Victoria Wanderers, was therefore characterised by the risk that each side could find itself involved in a decider for either the relegation of for the play off. At the end the two sides tried to protect the safest result that enabled Kercem to end the championship out of the red zone while Gharb earned temporarily their status and will be defending it in a play-off against the runner up of the second division league.

Gharb came out more aggressive in their plate and on the fifth minute they were dangerous through a shot by Nemanja Stojanovic that ended wide.  On 11 minutes Gharb’s Junior Elisio Batista Da Conceicao arrived on the ball before goalie Vladimir Dizdarevic but his lob aimed towards an open goal ended on the roof of the net.  The same Brazilian striker and a shot on 15 minutes that missed the target and two minutes later Kercem’s goalie was well placed to neutralise a header by Batista Da Conceicao from a corner kick by Omar Xuereb.  On 18 minutes Gharb’s keeper Joseph Vella was called to save a good strike by Kercem’s Nathaniel Mercieca following a pass by Andrea Debrincat and on 31 minutes Gharb had an attempt through Reuben Zammit that ended high.  Kecem’s Nathaniel Mercieca once again threatened Gharb’s rear guard with a shot form long distance on 38 minutes but the ball got a deflection form the defence, hit the crossbar and ended high so that form the resultant corner action a header by Daniel Sakic was cleared form the goalmouth by Gharb’s Nemanja Stojanovic.  Kercem opened th score one minute later through a shot from long distance by Milos Perisic that found Gharb’s keeper unprepared and the ball ended into an open goal.

After the break Gharb tried to produce a reaction but on 50 minutes Kercem could have doubled the score through a shot from an ideal position by Thomas Vella that ended wide.  Gharb levelled the score on minute later when Junior Elisio Batista Da Conceicao passed to Omar Xuereb inside Kercem’s area and the latter concluded in goal with a low drive.  On 57 minuts Kercem could have regained the lead but a close ranged attempt by Andre Azzopardi following a corner action was stopped on the line by Gharb’s defender Anthony Sultana and cleared with the aid of goalie Joseph Vella among protests that the ball could have crossed the fatal line.  The same Azzopardi had a cross-shot on 65 minutes that ended on the roof of the net and on 70 minute a shot from outside the area by Kercem’s Thomas Vella was neutralised by Gharb’s keeper. As time passed by the two sides reduced their momentum as they both made sure to keep the danger away from their respective area and the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Emanuel Grech