Ghajnsielem fight back to win first match in style

8 November 2020

GFA BOV GFL Division I – Match Day 1 Gozo Stadium

Oratory Youths FC: 1
Ghajnsielem FC: 4

25’ (1-0) – penalty – Rafael Rodrigues Ledesma
38’ (1-1) Igor Nedeljkovic
45+2’ (1-2) Kenneth Mercieca
50’ (1-3) Kenneth Mercieca
64’ (1-4) Michael Bezzina

Oratory Y:

R. Sammut, M. Ciangura (C. Borg), K. Chvedukas, K. Farrugia (M. Zammit), D. Atzori (S. Curmi), R. Rodrigues Ledesma, D. Azzopardi, E. Gauci, S. Azzopardi, J. Attard, D. Galea.

Ghajnsielem FC:

A. Parnis, K. Borg, Al. Xuereb (C. Dingli), K. Mercieca, M. Bezzina, An. Xuereb, J.G. Vella, K. Grima (N. Mifsud), S. Martinez Turizo, N. Belhadj (S.F. Bajada), I. Nedeljkovic.

Ghajnsielem obtained the three points at stake from their first match of the championship against newly promoted side and confirmed their potential to be among the top teams in the top flight this season.  Ghajnsielem however seemed overconfident for most of the first half as Oratory were in good shape and also managed to take the lead with a goal that arrived form a penalty midway through the first half.  Ghajnsielem recovered during the final stages of the first and managed to turn the result in their favour with goals scored before the break.  For the second period the Blacks lived up to their expectations and dominated play for long stretches so that they made sure of the win by scoring two more goals.

Timeline

Ghajnsielem tries to take command of play from the first minutes of play but as time passed by Oratory grew in confidence and started to share play in the midfield.

18’ Ghajnsielem could have opened the score when Igor Nedeljkovic entered Oratory’s area from the left flank but his low inviting cross passed across Oratory’s goal and the other strikers missed the opportunity to connect.

25’ (1-0) – penalty – Oratory took the lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Kenneth Mercieca on Karolis Chvedukas and Rafael Rodrigues Ledesma converted from the spot kick.

Ghajnsielem seemed shock and their immediate reaction was sterile and easily neutralised by Oratory’s rear guard.

38’ (1-1) Ghajnsielem however managed to level the score hen Sebastien Martinez Turizo released Igor Nedeljkovic who enterd the area and concluded in goal with a low shot.

45+2’ (1-2)  Ghajnsielem turned the result in their favour when Sebastien Martinez Turizo delivered the ball inside Oratory’s area and Kenneth Mercieca surprised the defence with a fine shot.

HT (1-2)

Ghajnsielem continued to dictate matters from the early stages of the second period.

 3’ Ghajnsielem’s Kurt Grima had a low shot from a good position that ended wide.

5’ (1-3) Ghajnsielem added another goal when Alberto Xuereb passed to Sebastien Turizo from a corner action and the latter delivered a low cross inside Oratory’s area where Kenneth Mercieca surprised the defence and concluded in goal from close distance.

8’ Oratory operated a good action but Rafael Rodrigues Ledesma failed to conclude following a cross by substitute Chris Borg so that Ghajnsielem’s rear guard recovered and cleared the danger from the area.

10’ The Blacks were again dangerous through a cross by Naim Belhadj and the ball arrived to Joseph George Vella who saw his low cross aimed towards Oratory’s goal that was well blocked by goalie Richard Sammut.

14’ Oratory could have scored a second goal but an effort by Karolis Chvedukas addressed towards goal with the goalkeeper beaten was cleared of the fatal line by Kenneth Mercieca.

19’ (1-4) Ghajnsielem scored their fourth goal when Oratory’s defence cleared badly the ball from the area following a corner action and hesitated to clear the ball from the edge of the area so that Michael Bezzina took advantage of the situation and fired in goal with a low shot.

21’ Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut was well placed to neutralise a header by Igor Nedeljkovic following an inviting cross by Joseph George Vella.

33’ Ghajnsielem’s Igor Nedeljkovic entered Oratory’s territory with a personal action but his shot ended wide.

37’ Oratory had their last opportunity to reduce the score when Karolis Chvedukas took the ball from Ghajnsielem’s defence and from his cross the ball arrived to substitute Sintayehu Curmi who was unmarked in the area, turned around the goalkeeper but concluded over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.

FT (OY 1 – GHJ 4)

Referee: Emanuel Grech