Kercem Ajax win the first match of the championship

31 October 2020

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 1 Gozo Stadium

SK Victoria Wanderers : 2
Kercem Ajax FC : 3

15’ (0-1) Samuel Saldanha
34’ (1-1) Emerson Zammit
52’ (1-2) Samuel Saldanha
62’ (2-2) Kersten Grima
70’ (2-3) Joshua Buttigieg

SK Victoria Wanderers:

G. Ratto, K. Grima, E. Bugeja, A.J. Obaje, N. Camilleri, S. Harland (J,W. Meilak), E. Zammit, N. Vella, D.U. Monday, G. Cardona (N. Grech), A. Adesina.

Kercem A:

G. Bugeja, D. Cassar, M. Potezica, G. Muscat, J. Theuma, A. Xiberras, P. Muscat (J. Buttigieg), S. Saldanha, N. Mercieca, A. Zammit, J.P. Mizzi.

In the opening match from the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division for the season 2020/2021, Kercem Ajax obtained the full points at stake from a win over SK Victoria Wanderers with the odd goal from five.  Kercem Ajax saw more of the ball throughout the match but the Wanderers managed to remain in contention and on two occasions they managed to recover the deficit.  However, Kercem’s efforts were rewarded as they took the lead for the third time during the match and defended the score until the final whistle.  The win for Kercem translates in three very important points as this match was considered as a clash between two sides who are aiming to keep away from the red zone and hope for a safe position on the table.

Timeline

Kercem Ajax were more aggressive from the very beginning and managed to produce pressure on Vitoria’s defence.

9’ Kercem’s Samuel Saldanha received an inviting ball inside Victoria’s area but the goalkeeper left his position in time and blocked the danger before the Brazilian striker could conclude from close distance.

10’ Victoria’s keeper Giacomo Ratto was again called to make a difficult intervention to save a fine header by Samuel Saldanha following a corner kick by Jean Paul Mizzi.

11’ SK Victoria Wanderers replied with a curling shot by Gabriel Cardona after receiving from Augustine Obaje but Kercem’s keeper was well placed and turned the ball to a corner.

15’ (0-1)  Kercem opened the score when Samuel Saldanha took the ball following a mishap and hesitation by Victoria’s defence, entered the area, turned around the goalkeeper and placed easily into an open goal.

16’ Kercem could have added another goal but a header by Samuel Saldanha following a cross by Nathaniel Mercieca was neutralised in style by goalie Giacomo Ratto.

Kercem continued to dictate matters.

32’ In another good action by Kercem a cross form the right flank by Jean Paul Mizzi was prolonged inside Victoria’s area by Samuel Saldanha but Nathaniel Mercieca saw his low shot from a good position that ended on the side of the net.

34’ (1-1) SK Victoria Wanderers operated an effective counter break and levelled the score as Augustine James Obaje entered Kercem’s area from the left flank, had his shot partially saved by goalie Gaetano Bugeja and Emerson Zammit took the rebound and fired in goal from close distance.

39’ The Wanderers could have created more danger but an attempt from a free kick by Eman Bugeja ended away from goal.

HT (1-1)

Kercem regained territorial supremacy from the early stages of the second period.

1’ Kercem’s Nathaniel Mercieca delivered an inviting cross inside Victoria’s area but defender Kersten Grima deflected in time and denied the tap-in to Samuel Saldanha.  From the resultant corner kick by Nathaniel Mercieca a header by substitute Joshua Buttigieg was neutralised by goalie Gacomo Ratto.

7’ (1-2) Kercem regained the lead when striker Samuel Saldanha arrived on the ball before Victoria’s keeper from a corner action and the striker pushed the ball in goal from close distance.

10’ Victoria’s keeper Giacomo Ratto was again at the right place to save a close ranged header by Joshua Buttigieg following a cross by Samuel Saldanha.

17’ (2-2) The Wanderers clinched their second equaliser as Kercem’s defence failed to clear the ball from a corner kick by Emerson Zammit and the ball arrived to an unmarked Kersten Grima who placed in goal with a low shot.

25’ (2-3)  Kercem however went in the lead for the third time when Joshua Buttigieg received the ball inside Victoria’s area, had his first attempt that was blocked by the defence and from the rebound the same striker placed in goal with a low shot.

31’ Kercem could have sealed the win when Nathaniel Mercieca insisted with a personal action from the left flank and from his cross Samuel Saldanha incredibly concluded over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.

36‘ Victoria Wanderers had their best opportunity to save the result but a curling shot by Emerson Zammit after receiving form Augustine Obaje missed the target.

39’ Kercem went again close to scoring but a low shot from outside the area by Adrian Xiberras ended wide.

FT (2-3)

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic