Victoria Hotspurs consolidate their third place with a fine win

by | Mar 1, 2020 | 19/20, Match Report, News

20 February 2020
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – MD 13 Gozo Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 5
Xaghra United FC : 1

8’ (1-0) Emiliano Patricio Lattes
15’ (penalty missed – saved) Luis Andre De Melo Lima (XU)
18’ (2-0) Elton Aleksandre Da Silva
25’ (red card) Adrian Parnis (VH)
28’ (2-1) penalty Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos
63’ (3-1) o.g. Savio Galea
68’ (4-1) Emiliano Patricio Lattes
77’ (red card) Savio Galea (XU)
88’ (5-1) Francesco Marra

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

Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, J. Bajada, K. Martins Ribeiro, L. Sultana, D. Bajada, S. Galea, N. Biculjevic, R.O. Dos Santos (R. De Souza Ferreira), J.K. Farrugia, E. Xiberras (J.G. Vella), L.A. De Melo Lima.

Victoria Hotspurs registered a 5-1 win over Xaghra United in the penultimate match of the second round for the two sides and with the points obtained the Citizens took full advantage of the defeat conceded by Ghajnsielem so that they extended their lead over the dame Ghajnsielem on the table to four points. The match was well contested for most of the time as both Victoria and Xaghra needed the points for different reasons. At the end, Xaghra left the field of play without a point and ended Match-Day 13 sharing the bottom of the table with Gharb Rangers.

Timeline:
Victoria Hotspurs were in better shape during the opening minutes but Xaghra were not demoralised and threatened Victoria’s rearguard with sporadic breaks.
8’ (1-0) Victoria Hotspurs opened the score when Christian Mercieca passed to an unmarked Emiliano Lattes inside Xaghra’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low shot.
9’ Xaghra replied through a shot from outside the area by Luis Andre De Melo Lima that was saved in two attempts by goalie Adrian Parnis.
16’ (penalty – missed) Xaghra had a possibility to level the score when the referee awarded a penalty, when the assistant referee noted handling by Victoria’s defender Lawrence Grima, but the shot from the spot kick by Luis Andre De Melo Lima was well saved by goalie Adrian Parnis.
18’ (2-0) Xaghra were punished for the missed opportunity as Victoria doubled the score when Henrique Maciel entered Xaghra’s territory with a counter break and passed to Elton Da Silva who concluded in goal with a low shot.
25’ (2-1) (penalty-red card) Xaghra were awarded a second penalty for a foul by goalie Adrian Parnis on Luis Andre De Melo Lima. The same goalkeeper was sent off for stopping a goal-scoring opportunity and when substitute goalkeeper Daniel Galea took his place instead of striker Christian Mercieca, on 28 minutes, Xaghra’s Rodrigo Ost Dos Dos Santos reduced the deficit with his shot from the spot kick.
42’ Victoria Hotspurs went close to increase their lead when Henrique Maciel exchanged the ball outside Xaghra’s area with Elton Da Silva but his low drive towards the far post was stopped by the woodwork.
43’ Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb was well placed and saved an effort by Emiliano Lattes.
45+1’ The same goalkeeper was again called to make a good intervention as he blocked a strike by Elton Da Silva and from the rebound Henrique Maciel guided the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement.
HT (2-1)

Xaghra’s reaction during the second period was sterile so that the Hotspurs continued to be the better side on the field of play.
12’ Victoria Hotspurs could have created more danger but Brazilian striker Henrique Maciel missed the ball from close distance following a free kick by Emiliano Lattes.
15’ Xaghra replied through a first timer by substitute Raffael De Souza Ferreira following a corner action, which ended away from Victoria’s goal.
16’ The Hotspurs once again produced a potential scoring opportunity but a shot by Henrique Maciel from an angled position ended wide.
18’ (3-1) Victoria Hotspurs increased their lead when Elton Da Silva’s shot was partially saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and Xaghra’s defender Savio Galea hit badly in an attempt to clear the danger so that he ended up committing an own goal.
20’ Xaghra’s goalie was called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner a shot from an angled position by Elton Da Silva.
23’ (4-1) Victoria Hotspurs added another goal when Henrique Maciel unmarked Emiliano Lattes and the latter fired in goal with a low shot.
32’ (red card) Xaghra also ended with 10 players on the field of play when Savio Galea was sent off for a second bookable offence fort a foul on Victoria’s substitute Francesco Marra
40’ Xaghra could have scored a second goal when Nebojsa Biculjevic entered Victoria’s area but the defence failed to clear the danger and the ball arrived to an unmarked Johan Bajada who had his attempt at goal that was cleared off the fatal line by defender Keith Borg. From the rebound Xaghra’s striker Luis Andre De Melo Lima had his close-ranged attempt that was blocked by the defence and at the end the shot by Luke Sultana fired in the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside.
43’ (5-1) Victoria Hotspurs sealed the win with a fifth goal that arrived through Francesco Marra who entered Xaghra’s territory with a personal action and placed in goal with a low shot as he goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.
FT (VH 5 – XU 1)

Referee: Glen Tonna

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