Ghajnsielem stun the champions

DETAILS

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
MD 7 Gozo Stadium – 22 December 2019

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 0
Ghajnsielem FC : 3

44’ (0-1) Igor Nedeljkovic

56’ (0-2) Igor Nedeljkovic

67’ (0-3) Nemanja Stojanovic

Victoria H:

Parnis, L. Grima, E.M. Sidqy, C. Mercieca, J. Pace, A. Mizzi, J. Bajada (D. Bellotti), S.Bajada, E.P. Lattes, S. Biancardi, C. Abela (M.A. Simao Chialkiadakis).

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Ghajnsielem:

Vella, J. Tabone, P. Nunez Del Castillo, A. Agyeman, K. Farrugia (D. Hili), Al. Xuereb, An. Xuereb (K. Grima), N. Stojanovic, M. Bezzina, N.I. Behadj (S. Azzopardi), I. Nedeljkovic.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic

SUMMARY

Ghajnsielem returned to winning ways in the match against reigning champions Victoria Hotspurs and with the points obtained they consolidated their fourth spot on the table and opened the possibility to improve their position in the remaining matches of the championship.  This was the last match of the first round of the championship where the Hotspurs needed a win in an attempt to remain in contention for the title together with Nadur Youngsters and Xewkija Tigers, while Ghajnsielem were aiming for a positive result in an attempt to make up for the disappointing defeat conceded in their previous match.

The match turned out to be very interesting during the first half as the Hotspurs enjoyed some territorial supremacy while Ghajnsielem were well deployed at their defence and also operated some counter breaks.  The Hotspurs, who were without their regular strikers Elton Da Silva and Henrique Maciel missing due to suspension and an injury, failed to capitalise form the best scoring opportunities so that they conceded a goal just before half time and struggled to recover for the rest of the encounter.  Ghajnsielem held command of play after the break and made sure o the deserved win by scoring on two other occasions. With this result the Hotspurs might have compromised their chances to defned the title that nthey won during the last two seasons.

TIMELINE

The Hotspurs seemed more aggressive during the opening stages of the match but they failed to convert their pay into goals so that they ended up conceding a goal just before the break.

17’ Emiliano Lattes released Christian Mercieca inside Ghajnsielem’s area but the latter saw his low shot aimed towards the far post that ended wide.

19’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous but a shot by Emiliano Lattes was partially saved by Ghajnsielem’s goalie Franklin Vella and central defender Pablo Nunez Del Castillo cleared the danger form the area. 

21’ Ghajnsielem replied with an effort by Michael Bezzina from a good position that missed the target.

27’ A free kick by Victoria’s Shaun Bajada ended high.

28’ Ghajnsielem’s goalie Franklin Vella blocked a strike form outside the area by Jason Pace and the defence cleared the ball from the area.

30’ The Hotspurs kept insisting and went again close to scoring through a lob by Christian Mercieca that ended just over Ghajnsielem’s goal.

44’ (0-1)  Ghajnsielem opened the score following a well prepared action that ended with a cross by Michael Bezzina form the left hand side, Naim Ibrahim Belhadj headed inside the area and Igor Nedeljkovic fired in goal with a shot on the run. 

HT (0-1)

For the second period Ghajnsielem were more confident.  The Blacks controlled play and also managed to score two goals so that they denied the Hotspurs from the possibility to reopen the issue.

6’ Victoria Hotspurs could have capitalised better when Andrew Mizzi won the ball from Ghajnsielem’s defence but he hesitate to conclude as Christian Mercieca was in the path of the ball and at the end Mizzi’s shot was weak and easily saved by goalie Franklin Vella.

8’ In another action by the Hotspurs a hot by Emiliano Lattes ended wide. 

11’ (0-2)  Igor Nedeljkovic received an inviting ball on the left hand side of Victoria’s area and surprised Victoria’s defence and the goalkeeper with an excellent strike towards the upper corner of the far post

16’ The Hotspurs replied through an attempt from the edge of the area by substitute Marcos Antonio Simao Chialkiadakis that was neutralised easily by goalie Franklin Vella.

22’ (0-3) Ghajnsieem practically made sure of the win form this encounter when they score the third goal through a shot from outside the area by Nemanja Stojanovic following a prolonged action at the edge of Victoria’s area where the Hotspurs failed to clear the danger definitely from their defensive zone.

43’ Ghajnsielem could have sealed the win with another goal but a low shot by Alberto Xuereb was well saved by Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis.

FT (0-3)