Zebbug Rovers end the first round with a large win

DETAILS

16 November 2019

GFA Gozo Football League Division II – MD 5 Kercem Ajax Stadium

Zebbug Rovers FC: 6
Qala Saints FC: 2

5’ (1-0) Frank Attard
7’ (2-0) Oliver Farrugia
21’ (3-0) Tiago Barbosa
34’ (4-0) Tiago Barbosa
68’ (4-1) Stefan Farrugia
72’ (4-2) Ryan Meilak
83’ (5-2) Tiago Barbosa
88’ (6-2) Frank  Attard

Zebbug R:

Saliba (J.P. Saliba), C. Farrugia, M. Formosa, O. Calleja, L. Farrugia (E. Xuereb), S. Sultana, O. Farrugia, M. Grima (R. Grima), F. Attard, E. Galea, T. Barbosa.

Qala S:

Buttigieg, P. Muscat, M. Zerafa, M. Buttigieg, S. Farrugia, M. Senussi Telessi, J. Portelli, M. Portelli, M. Cefai (C. Caruana), R. Meilak, J.O. Borg (M. Vella).

SUMMARY

In the last match from the first round of the BOV Gozo Football League for the second division Zebbug Rovers registered a convincing 6-2 win over Qala Saints and with the points obtained the Rovers moved over the same Qala on the table.  This was the second win from five matches in the campaign for Zebbug and with this result they re-opened their chances to gain a respectable place on the table. Before this match the two sides had motivation to aim for the win as they were both coming from consecutive defeats.  Qala had a promising start in the campaign but with this result they compromised their status and are now forced to struggle to avoid the lower positions on the table. Zebbug paved the way to this handsome win with four goals scored during the first half and although Qala had a good reaction after the break the Rovers regained supremacy and made sure of the three points by scoring two other goals during the final stages.  The main protagonist of this match was Zebbug’s striker Tiago Barbosa who scored a hat-trick and took sole leadership as top-scorer of the category.

TIMELINE

Zebbug had an excellent start as they managed to take a two-goal lead at an early stage of the encounter.

5’ (1-0) Zebbug opened the score when Tiago Barbosa unmarked Frank Attard inside Qala’s area and the latter placed in goal with a shot form an angled position.

7’ (2-0) Zebbug doubled the score when Qala’s goalie Franco Buttigieg partially saved a free kick by’ Tiago Barbosa and from the rebound Oliver Farrugia concluded in goal.

16’ Qala replied through a free kick by Mohammed Senussi Telessi that missed the target.

21’ (3-0) Zebbug added another goal through a fine shot from outside the area by Tiago Barbosa that surprised goalie Franco Buttigieg.

23’ Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba was well placed and neutralised without difficulty another free kick by Mohammed Senussi Telessi.

26’ Qala were again dangerous through a shot from outside the area by Martin Buttigieg that ended just wide.

30’ Qala had their best scoring opportunity of the first half but Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba managed to save to a corner another shot from outside the area by Martin Buttigieg.

34’ (4-0) Zebbug scored their fourth goal through another strike from outside the area by Tiago Barbosa that once again ended out of the reach of Qala’s keeper.

HT (4-0)

For the second period Qala came out determined to produce a reaction and at one point they also came close to re-open the issue.

49’ A lob by Qala’s Mohammed Senussi Telessi when Zebbug’s keeper was out of his position ended on the crossbar.

50’ Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba left his position in time to take the ball at the edge of the area before Qala’s Mohammed Senussi Telessi could hit towards goal.

63’ Zebbug operated a dangerous action but a shot by Tiago Barbosa from a good position ended wide.

68’ (4-1) Qala scored their first goal through a shot by Stefan Farrugia that surprised Zebbug’s goalie who failed to hold the ball.

72’ (4-2) The Maroons grew in confidence as they scored a second goal when a cross-shot by Ryan Meilak got a deflection by the defence and the ball ended in goal.

73’ Qala could have reduced the deficit to just one goal when Joseph Owen Borg took the ball from Zebbug’s keeper but from his inviting pass Ryan Meilak concluded high from an ideal position.

76’ Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba made the best save of the afternoon when he turned to a corner with the aid of the crossbar a free kick form long distance by Qala’s substitute Christoph Caruana.

83’ (5-2) Qala were punished for the missed chances as Zebbug regained a three-goal lead through Tiago Barbosa who placed in goal with a low shot from an angled position following a personal action and with the ball hitting the post before ending in goal.

88’ (6-2) Zebbug made sure of the win by scoring the sixth goal that arrived through Frank Attard who entered the area form the left flank and netted with a low drive.

FT (6-2)

Referee: Andrew James Sammut