St Lawrence Spurs earn a deserved win with two late goals

DETAILS

4 February 2020
GFA Gozo Football League Division II – MD 13 Kercem Ajax Stadium

St Lawrence Spurs FC : 5
Qala Saints FC : 3

32’ (1-0) Matthias Michael Uzor
38’ (2-0) Charlon Farrugia
52’ (2-1) Stefan Farrugia
57’ (3-1) Charlon Farrugia
63’ (3-2) Jeremy Portelli
78’ (3-3) Martin Buttigieg
87’ (4-3) Karl Formosa
90+3’ (5-3) penalty Louis Buttigieg

St Lawrence S:

A. Brignoli, G. Portelli, A. Xiberras (C. Mifsud), C. Grima, J. Theuma, M. Michael Uzor, J. Grima, C. Azzopardi, C. Farrugia, K. Formosa (S. Sultana), L. Buttigieg.

Qala S:

O. Xuereb, P. Muscat, M. Zerafa, M. Buttigieg, S. Farrugia, M. Vella, J. Portelli, M. Portelli, M. Cefai (D. Portelli), R. Meilak, F.A. De Oliviera.

SUMMARY

St Lawrence Spurs registered a 5-3 win over Qala Saints and consolidated their third spot on the table. The match turned out to be quite interesting where the outcome was only determined with two goals scored during the final stages of the encounter. The Spurs had a two-goal lead during two separate stages of the encounter but Qala produced an effective reaction and on the two occasions managed to recover the deficit. However, the Maroons failed to defend a positive result and conceded St Lawrence’s play during the final stages of the encounter and compromised the possibility to earn at least a one from this match.

TIMELINE

St Lawrence had an aggressive start bit as time passed by Qala recovered and shared play with their opponents.
3’ St Lawrence created their first serious attempt towards goal but a strike by Jason theuma form outside the area ended high.
6’ In another occasion by the Spurs, Matthias Michael Uzor received the ball inside Qala’s area but had his close ranged shot that was blocked top a corner from the goalmouth by defender Jeremy Portelli.
7’ Qala replied through a shot from outside the area by Felipe Augusto De Oliviera that as neutralised by goalie Angelo Brignoli.
15’ Qala lost a good scoring opportunity when Mikail Vella passed inside the area to Felipe Augusto De Oiviera but the latter hit badly form close distance and the goalkeeper saved the danger.
21’ The match continued to produce interesting moments and the Spurs created danger on another occasion through Adrian Xiberras who released Matthias Michael Uzor within Qala’s territory and the latter entered the area but has his low shot aimed toward the far post that ended wide.
23’ St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli was again well placed to save an effort from outside the area by Qala’s Martin Buttigieg.
32’ (1-0) St Lawrence opened the score when Karl Formosa passed to Michael Mattias Uzor and the latter netted from close distance.
38’ (2-0) St Lawrence gained confidence and doubled the score through a low shot from an angled position by Charlon Farrugia following another good initiative by Karl Formosa.
40’ Qala’s reply arrioved through an effort by Stefan Farrugia from a corner action that was saved with difficulty to another corner by goalie Angelo Brignoli.
43’ St Lawrence’s Matthias Michael Uzor once again went close to scoring when he entered the area but his low drive aimed to the far post missed the target.
HT (2-0)

The match continued to be well contested after the break.
7’ (2-1) Qala reduced the deficit when Felipe Augusto De Oliviera passed to Stefan Farrugia who concluded in goal with a low shot.
12’ (3-1) St Lawrence however regained a two-goal lead when Jason Theuma passed inside Qala’s area to Charlon Farrugia who took the ball before the goalkeeper and placed easily into an open goal.
17’ Qala operated a dangerous counter break through Stefan Farrugia who released Felipe Augusto De Oliviera who had his close ranged attempt turned to a corner by St Lawrence’s goalie Angelo Brignoli.
18’ (3-2) Qala capitalised from the resultant corner action taken by Matthew Portelli as the defence failed to clear form the area and Jeremy Portelli took the opportunity and reduced the score by placing the ball in the net with a low shot.
22’ St Lawrence could have scored another goal but a header by Matthias Michael Uzor following a cross by Karl Formosa ended high.
33’ (3-3) Qala scored the equaliser when Felipe Augusto De Oliviera entered St Lawrence’s area with a personal action and from his pass from the left hand side of the area Martin Buttigieg netted with a low shot.
41’ St Lawrence were unlucky when a shot by Karl Formosa was stopped by the crossbar.
42’ (4-3) St Lawrence however managed to regain the lead through Karl Formosa received the ball inside the area, avoided his direct opponent and fired in goal from an unmarked position.
45+3’ (5-3) penalty – St Lawrence sealed the win when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Ryan Meilak on substitute Charlton Mifsud and Louis Buttigieg converted from the spot ,kick.
FT (5-3)

Referee: Joseph Scerri