Sannat make sure of win with first half goals

MATCH DETAILS

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II Kercem Ajax Stadium 30 March 2019

Sannat L FC : 4 (E.R. Okpokwu 30’, 41’, 56’; M. Portelli 37’pen)

M. Farrugia, M. Portelli (C. Gauci), N. Micallef, J. Buttigieg, J. Zammit, E.R. Okpokwu, C. Mifsud, E. Gauci (S. Azzopardi), M. Mifsud, D. Bellotti (A. Azzopardi), F.J. Xuereb.

Oratory Y FC : 0

R. Sammut, G. Attard (K. Grima), M. Zammit, J. Attard, L.C. Carvalho Da Silva, P. Rapa, A. Zammit (O. Mercieca), N. Attard (J.M. Portelli), S. Azzopardi, O. Saliba, S. Curmi.

Sannat Lions scored three goals during the first half in their match against oratory Youths and made sure to earn the full points at stake form this encounter and to remain co-leaders on the table. Sannat were determined to obtain a win form this particular as they needed to keep the top position on the table and to remain serious challengers for the promotion. Sannat’s Ebube Ralph Okpokwu once again was a main protagonist for his side as he registered a hat-trick and consolidated his position as the top scorer of the category.

The Lions could have opened the score just after fifty seconds of play but a close ranged shot by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu was well blocked by goalie Richard Sammut. On 5 minutes the same striker passed through Oratory’s defence with a personal action but once again goalie Richard Sammut was well placed and saved to a corner. One minute later a shot by Sannat’s Joseph Zammit was neutralised by Oratory’s keeper and on 13 minutes the same Zammit concluded high from a good position after receiving from Ebube Ralph Okpokwu. Sannat kept insisting ad on 18 minutes the ball arrived to Charlton Mifsud following an overhead kick by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu but the former saw his header from close distance that ended wide. Oratory replied on 21 minutes through a direct free kick by Matthew Zammit that was neutralised in two attempts by goalie Markus Farrugia and three minutes later Sannat’s Matthew Portelli threw the ball inside the area from a free kick but Ebube Ralph Okpokwu’s header was saved to a corner with some difficulty by goalie Richard Sammut. Sannat opened the score on the half hour mark when Fabian Xuereb prolonged inside Oratory’s area and Ebube Ralph Okpokwu controlled the ball and managed to conclude in goal despite the pressure of a direct opponent. Oratory could have levelled the score two minutes later but Carvalho Da Silva concluded wide from an ideal position. On 37 minutes Sannat were awarded a penalty for a foul by George Attard on Joseph Zammit and Matthew Portelli doubled the score with his shot from the spot kick. On 421 minutes Sannat scored their third goal through Ebube Ralph Okpokwu who controlled the ball after receiving a ball from long distance from Mario Mifsud and managed to hot the target despite being forced to conclude form a tight angle.

Oratory continued to suffer Sannat’s play after the break and on 56 minutes Sannat scored their fourth goal through Ebube Ralph Okpokwu following a personal action that started from the midfield. On the hour mark Sannat’s Joseph Zammit could have added another goal after receiving from Ebube Ralph Okpokwu but his attempt ended wide. The same Zammit went again close to scoring on 73 minutes when his shot was partially saved by goalie Richard Sammut, the ball seemed heading towards an open goal but ended up hitting the post and Oratory’s defence cleared the danger. On 76 minutes Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut was again called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner a shot by Ebube Ralph Okpokwu who was alone inside Oratory’s area. Sannat’s last opportunity to score a fifth gaol, arrived on 80 minutes when Joseph Zammit received from Ebube Ralph Okpokwu but the shot was partially saved by goalie Richard Sammut and Oratory’s defender Oliver Saliba recovered in time and cleared the ball of the goal line to deny Sannat from a certain goal.

Referee: Ryan Caruana