Victoria Hotspurs jump to the third spot

Friday 14 February 2020
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I: MD 12 Gozo Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 5
Gharb Rangers FC : 0

11’ (1-0) Christian Mercieca
41’ (2-0) Henrique Maciel
54’ (3-0) Emiliano Patricio Lattes
62’ (4-0) Christian Mercieca
90+2’ (5-0) Emiliano Patricio Lattes

Victoria H:
A. Parnis, K. Borg, L. Grima, E.M. Sidqy, C. Mercieca (D. Bellotti), J. Pace, J. Bajada, H. Da Souza Maciel (F. Marra), E.A. Da Silva, E.P. Lattes, C. Abela (S.P. Bajada).

Gharb R:
D. Spiteri, A. Sultana, J.P. Grima (R. Zammit), O.G. Fernandes, P. Djorovic, P. Vinicius Ferreira (A. Komljenovic), P.P. Camilleri, J. Grima (J. Xuereb), S. Sillato, S. Muscat, C.A. Babilonia.

Victoria Hotspurs confirmed their good moment of form with a 5-0 win over bottom placed Gharb Rangers. With the points obtained Victoria Hotspurs regained the third spot on the table, although they remain far away from the current leaders and therefore they are not in a position to be considered as potential challengers for the title. The Hotspurs dominated over their opponents throughout the encounter. The protagonists in Victoria’s win were Christian Mercieca and Emiliano Lattes who marked their respective positive performance by scoring two goals each

Timeline:
The Hotspurs took command of play form the early moments of the match.
11’ (1-0) Victoria Hotspurs opened the score when Elton Da Silva passed inside Gharb’s area to Christian Mercieca who fired in goal with a low shot from an unmarked position.
16’ Victoria Hotspurs had an attempt by defender Lawrence Grima following a free kick by Emiliano Lattes that ended wide.
18’ In another good action by the Hotspurs a close ranged shot by Henrique Maciel following a personal action, was well saved by Gharb’s keeper Daniel Spiteri.
20’ Victoria Hotspurs had a goal scored by Henrique Maciel that was disallowed for an offside infringement.
23’ Victoria’s striker Henrique Maciel had another attempt through a header following a cross by Elton Da Silva that ended wide.
28’ Victoria Hotspurs missed a good scoring opportunity when a shot by Elton da Silva ended at Christian Mercieca inside Gharb’s area and the latter passed to Emiliano Lattes who had his shot on the run that ended high.
31’ Gharb’s goalie Daniel Spiteri managed to block with some difficulty a free kick from an angled position by Elton Da Silva.
40’ The same goalkeeper was again called to make a difficult intervention to save in two attempts an effort by Henrique Maciel.
41’ (2-0) Victoria Hotspurs doubled the score through a close ranged header by Henrique Maciel following a cross by Christian Mercieca from a short corner kick taken by Emiliano Lattes.
HT (2-0)

Gharb tried to produce a reaction after the break but the Hotspurs retained composure and kept control of play with authority.
2’ Gharb could have reduced the deficit but a strike by Predrag Djorovic ended wide.
5’ In another action by the Hotspurs a shot from an ideal position by Henrique Maciel missed the target.
9’ (3-0) Victoria Hotspurs scored their third goal through a low shot by Emiliano Lattes after receiving from Jonathan Bajada.
13’ Gharb’s keeper Daniel Spiteri saved to a corner with difficulty a shot by Henrique Maciel.
17’ (4-0) Victoria Hotspurs added another goal that arrived through Christian Mercieca who concluded a personal action with a low shot that was out of the reach of Gharb’s goalkeeper.
26’ Gharb could have reduced the deficit through an effort by Pablo Vinicius Ferreira following a personal action, ended wide.
34’ Gharb’s goalie Daniel Spiteri denied Victoria from scoring another goal when he blocked a close ranged shot by Elton Da Silva as the striker took the ball from a back pass by Gharb’s defence.
38’ Gharb had another opportunity to score a consolation goal but a lob by substitute Aleksandar Komljenovic after receiving from Predrag Djorovic ended high.
40’ Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis was called to make his most difficult intervention to save a low shot by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes following a personal action and the defence recovered and cleared the danger.
41’ Victoria Hotspurs created a dangerous action when substitute Shaun Bajada released Elton Da Silva but the latter had his attempt towards the far post that ended wide.
45+2’ (5-0) The Hotspurs sealed the win with a fifth goal when substitute Francesco Marra passed inside Gharb’s area to Emiliano Lattes who placed in goal from close distance.
FT (VH 5 – GR 0)

Referee: Jason Portelli

Photo: Paul Scicluna