Oratory Youths held to a draw

15 March 2020
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II – MD 14 Kercem Ajax Stadium

Munxar Falcons FC: 2
Oratory Youths FC: 2

8’ (0-1) Daniele Degennaro
24’ (0-2) Daniele Degennaro
54’ (1-2) Derek Paul Borg
65’ (2-2) penalty Ayesller Carvalho

Munxar F:
Frk. Azzopardi, A. Buttigieg, P. Parnis, J. Grech, P. Debono, L. Attard, L. Meilaq, D.P. Borg, N. Attard, (M. Azzopardi), A. Carvalho, L. Cilia (N. Haber).

Oratory Y:
R. Sammut, M. Ciangura (S. Curmi), J. Azzopardi, E. Buttigieg, K. Farrugia, P. Said (A.T. Bezzina), D. Azzopardi, S. Azzopardi, C. Borg, D. Degennaro, Ju. Attard.

SUMMARY

Challengers for promotion Oratory Youths dropped two very important points from their match against bottom placed Munxar Falcons as they were held to a draw of four goals so that their gap form the leaders has now increased to four points, with just six matches left until the end of the campaign. The Youths seemed heading towards a comfortable win over Munxar as they had a two-goal lead at the end of the first half. However, the Youths were overconfident during the second period and ended up conceding the reaction by their opponents. The Falcons were rewarded for their efforts as they recovered the deficit and went also very close to clinch the full points at stake. With this result Munxar also re-opened the possibility to avoid the bottom place on the tale until the end of the campaign.

TIMELINE

Oratory needed a win form this match to keep their pressure on the leaders and as a result they seemed very aggressive from the early stages of the encounter.
8’ (0-1) Oratory opened the score through a close ranged shot by Daniele Degennaro after receiving from Paul Said.
10’ Munxar replied through a shot from outside the area by Aaron Buttigieg that ended high.
18’ (0-2) Oratory doubled the score when Chris Borg headed inside Munxar’s area a cross by Paul Said and Daniele Degennaro guided the ball into an open goal.
24’ Oratory went again closed to score another goal when Chris Borg passed through the defence inside Munxar’s area but goalie Frankie Azzopardi left his position in time and managed to block the danger.
33’ Munxar could have reduced the score but a strike by Luke Cilia ended just high.
HT (0-2)

Munxar were not demoralised and tried to produce a reaction from the first minutes of paly of the second period.
4’ Oratory however created a good scoring opportunity through a shot by Justin Azzopardi that ended wide.
9’ (1-2) Munxar reduced the score when Luke Cilia entered Otratory’s area form the left flank and form his low cross Derek Paul Borg concluded in goal form close distance.
15’ Oratory could have scored a third goal but a header form close distance by Daniele Degennaro missed the target.
20’ (2-2) penalty – Munxar kept insisting and were also awarded a penalty for a foul by Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut on Luke Cilia and Ayesller Carvalho had his shot from the spot kick that hit the post and ended in goal.
34’ Oratory could have regained the lead but they were unlucky as a free kick by Justin Azzopardi ended on the crossbar and from the rebound the same player saw his attempt that ended high.
36’ Oratory increased their efforts in an attempt to obtain the win but the closest that they went to score the decisive goal arrived through a header by Daniele Degennaro ended just wide.
45+2’ Munxar became more dangerous than their opponents during the dying moments of the encounter and could have score when Ayesller Carvalho operated a counter break and entered Oratory’s area but goalie Richard Sammut made a difficult save and turned the ball to a corner.
45+4’ Munxar’s last opportunity to obtain a win form this match arrived through an initiative by Ayesller Carvalho who released Derek Paul Borg inside Oratory’s area but the latter saw his attempt aimed towards an open goal that was cleared off the line by defender Samuel Azzopardi and the latter avoided a certain goal and saved the result for his side.
FT (2-2)

Referee: Andrew-James Sammut