Qala turn a defeat into a win with a late goal

11 January 2020

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II MD 10 Kercem Ajax Stadium

Qala Saints FC : 2
Zebbug Rovers FC : 1

34’ (0-1) penalty Tiago Barbosa
37’ (1-1) Felipe Augusto De Oliviera
89’ (2-1) Felipe Augusto De Oliviera

Qala S:

Xuereb, P. Muscat, M. Zerafa (C. Caruana), M. Buttigieg, S. Farrugia, J. Portelli, M. Portelli, F. Azzopardi, R. Meilak, F.A. De Oliviera.

Zebbug R:

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

In the last match of the second round of the campaign Qala Saints scored a late goal against Zebbug Rovers and with the points obtained they opened a comfortable gap ahead of the same Zebbug who are at the second place form the bottom of the table.  The match was well contested and the two sides were aiming to obtain a win in an attempt to improve their position on the table. Qala were probably rewarded for a better physical condition as the Maroons seemed in a better shape during the final stages and also managed to score the decisive goal so that they concluded the first half of the campaign on a positive note.

TIMELINE

Play during the opening stages took place in the midfield with very few serious scoring opportunities.

16’ Qala’s Felipe Augusto De Oliveira entered Zebbug’s territory with a personal action but the goalkeeper left his position in time and managed to take the ball at the edge of the area to deny the Brazilian striker from concluding towards an open goal.

19’ Zebbug replied through a shot from outside the area by Steve Sultana that was neutralised by Qala’s keeper Omar Xuereb.

32’ Qala were again dangerous but a shot by Arthur Farrugia got a deflection by Zebbug’s defence and the goalkeeper saved without any difficulty.

33’ (penalty) Zebbug were awarded a penalty for a foul by Qala’s Stefan Farrugia on Frank Attard.

34’ (0-1) Zebbug’s Tiago Barbosa converted from the spot kick and put his side in the lead.

37’ (1-1) Qala had an immediate reaction and levelled the score when Zebbug’s defence failed to clear the ball from the area following a low cross by Arthur Farrugia and Felipe Augusto De Oliviera took the opportunity and netted from close distance.

HT (1-1)

Zebbug seemed more aggressive during the opening minutes of the second half but as time passed by Qala recovered and became more dangerous in their offensive manoeuvres.

3’ A good shot by Zebbug’s Oliver Farrugia from close distance following a cross by Tiago Barbosa ended wide.

9’ Qala replied through a strike by Felipe Augusto De Oliviera following a personal action that was saved to a corner by goalie Baskal Saliba.

10’ Qala were again dangerous but a shot by substitute Christoph Caruana from an angled position was blocked to a corner by the defence.

21’ Zebbug could have regained the lead when Tiago Barbosa passed through Qala’s defence but had his attempt at goal saved to a corner by goalie Omar Xuereb.

25’ In another good action by Qala, Felipe Augusto De Oliviera saw his shot well saved by Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba.

30’ The same goalkeeper was again called to make a good save to turn to a corner a shot by Qala’s Frank Azzopardi.

34’ Zebbug had another good opportunity to score but a curling shot form an angled position by Lucas Farrugia was saved to a corner with difficulty by Qala’s keeper Omar Xuereb-

43’ Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba was well placed to save to a corenr a good shot by Qala’s Martin Buttigieg.

44’ (2-1) Qala turned the result in their favour when Frank Azzopardi delivered a cross inside Zebbug’s area and Felipe Augusto De Oliviera headed past goalie Baskal Saliba from close distance.

FT (2-1)

Referee: Mario Apap