Ghajnsielem obtain second consecutive win

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – MD 8 Gozo Stadium

Xaghra United FC: 1
Ghajnsielem FC : 3

32’ (0-1) Igor Nedeljkovic
63’ (1-1) Joseph George Vella
68’ (1-2) Igor Nedeljkovic
69’ (1-3) Igor Nedeljkovic

Xaghra U:

Xuereb, J.K Farrugia (K. Hili), K. Martins Ribeiro, S. Galea, J.G. Vella, J. Buttigieg, R.O. Dos Santos, M. Mamo, S.F. Bajada, R. De Souza Ferreira (L.A. Gonzalo), L.A. De Melo Lima.

Ghajnsielem:

Vella, J. Tabone, P. Nunez Del Castillo, A. Agyeman, K. Farrugia, Al. Xuereb (K. Mifsud), An. Xuereb, S. Azzopardi (C. Dingli), M. Bezzina, S. Martinez Turizo (D. Bogdanovic), I. Nedeljkovic.

SUMMARY

Għajnsielem had an excellent start in the second round of the championship as they earned the full points at stake form a 3-1 win over Xaghra United.  With the points obtained Ghajnsielem consolidated their fourth spot on the table and they also retained the possibility to improve their position on the standings.  In this match Xaghra seemed determined to obtain a positive result in an attempt move away from the relegation zone. However, Ghajnsielem were well organised at their defence and for most of the time they kept their area clear from danger.  The Blacks were also more dangerous through counter breaks and at the end the win for Ghajnsielem was deserved. The protagonist in this win for Ghajnsielem was once again their striker Igor Nedeljkovic who scored the three goals and he is now leading the top scorer table of the championship with ten goals.

TIMELINE

Xaghra came out aggressive and saw more of the ball throughout the first part of the encounter.  However, Ghajnsielem came out of the defence as time passed by and started to operate dangerous counter breaks so that they were more dangerous than their opponents.

12’ Xaghra created a good scoring opportunity through a strike from outside the area by Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos, following a prolonged action, whidh was well blocked by goalie Franklin Vella.

17’ Ghajnsielem replied through a shot from outside the area by Kevin Farrugia that ended wide.

24’ In another occasion Ghajnsielem’s Alberto Xuereb ended high.

26’ Ghajnsielem produced another good action but a shot by Igor Nedeljkovic was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.

32’ (0-1) Ghajnsielem opened the score when Igor Nedeljkovic received the ball on the right flank, entered Xaghra’s area and placed in goal ith a low drive towards the far post.

Xaghra’s reaction was sterile.

41’ Ghajnsielem could have doubled the score when Alberto Xuereb passed to Igor Nedeljkovic inside Xahghra’s area but the latter had his shot on the run that ended away from goal.

43’ Ghajnsielem lost another good scoring opportunity when Sebastien Martinez Turizo passed through Xaghra’s defence with a personal action but the striker hit badly when he arrived in an ideal position and the effort was easily saved by Xaghra’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb.

HT (0-1)

After the break Xaghra increased their efforts in an attempt to recover the deficit and for some time they also managed to convert their play into good scoring opportunities.

2’ Ghajnsielem’s keeper was called to make a good save to turn the ball to a corner following a shot on the run by Xaghra’s Joshua Buttigieg.

4’ Ghajnsielem produced a dangerous action when Kevin Farrugia released Sebastien Martinez Turizo inside Xaghra’s territory but the latter had his shot blocked by the defence.

13’ Xaghra could have scored the equaliser when Joseph Georeg Vella delivered the ball inside the small area directly from a free kick but the close ranged header by Joshua Buttigieg was saved on the line with an excellent intervention by Ghajnsielem’s keeper Franklin Vella and the defence cleared the danger from the rebound.

18’ (1-1) Xaghra’s efforts were rewarded as they levelled the score when a cross by substitute Kenny Hili from the right flank arrive to an unmarked Joseph George Vella who controlled the ball easily and netted frpom close distance.

22’ (penalty) Ghajnsielem had an immediate reaction and were awarded a penalty for a foul by Xaghra’s goalkeeper Lorjean Xuereb on Igor Nedeljkovic who entered the area following a counter break.

23’ (1-2) penalty – Ghajnsielem regained the lead through the penalty kick converted by the same Igor Nedeljkovic.

24’ (1-3) Ghajnsielem practically put their minds at rest from the win by extending their lead to two goal midway through the second period.  Ghajnsielem’s Sebastien Martinez Turizo released Igor Nedeljkovic who ran towards Xaghra’s area without any challenge from the opponents and placed in goal with a low shot as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to clear the danger.

Ghajnsielem continued to create danger through counter breaks as Xaghra left their territory exposed in an attempt to recover the deficit.

33’ Ghajnsielem’s Alberto Xuereb passed to Igor Nedeljkovic from the midfield, the latter entered the area from the left flank but his low drive aimed towards the far post ended just wide.

45+1’ Igor Nedeljkovic could have scored his fourth personal goal when he arrived at the edge of the area, turned around the goalkeeper but his low shot, with an open goal at his mercy, ended wide.

45+2’ Ghajnsielem lost another good opportunity to add another goal when player-coach Daniel Bogdanovic, who came in as a substitute during the second period, exchanged the ball with Igor Nedeljkovic inside Xaghra’s area and the ball arrived to substitute Kurt Mifsud who had his close ranged shot blocked by Xaghra’s rear guard.

FT (1-3)

Referee: Shaun Calleja