Victoria Hotspurs win derby

15 November

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 2 Gozo Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 4
SK Victoria Wanderers : 1

28’ (1-0) penalty Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos
30’ (2-0) Shaun Attard
56’ (penalty missed – saved) Audgustine James Obaje (SKVW)
68’ (3-0) Christian Mercieca
74’ (3-1) Audgustine James Obaje
77’ (4-1) Henrique Maciel

Victoria H:

D. Spiteri, J.M. Vella (C. Abela), C. Mercieca (A. Azzopardi), J. Pace, J. Parnis, R. Ost Dos Santos (J. Azzopardi), S.P. Bajada (C. Attard), H. De Souza Maciel, D. Farrugia, J. Tabone, S. Attard,.

SK Victoria Wanderers:

G. Ratto, A. Refalo, K. Grima, E. Bugeja, A.J. Obaje, N. Camilleri, S. Harland, E. Zammit, N. Vella (N.J. Cini), N. Grech, G. Cardona (E. Faruh).

Victoria Hotspurs extended their good start this season and registered a 4-1 win over SK Victoria Wanderers on Match Day 2 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division.  This was the second consecutive win with a large score for the Hotspurs and confirmed their strong potential to be among the teams who could challenge for the main honour.  In this derby match the Hotspurs scored two goals in each half and they were practically in control of the win at an early stage of the encounter.  On the other hand the Wanderers conceded the second defeat from the first two matches of the championship where they showed that they lack from experience and strength to be more competitive with the top teams in the category.

Timeline

Play during the opening stages took place in the midfield as the Hotspurs tried to take command of play but the Wanderers managed to keep a good shape and also threatened their opponents with some breaks.  As time passed by the Hotspurs increased their momentum.

25’ A shot form a good position by Christian Mercieca of Victoria Hotspurs missed the target.

26’ (28’) (1-0) – penalty – Victoria Hotspurs were awarded penalty for handling by Nicholas Vella following a pass inside the area by Christian Mercieca and Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos opened the score with his shot form the spot kick.

30’ (2-0) Victoria Hotspurs doubled the score when Henrique Maciel entered the area and form his low inviting cross the ball arrived to an unmarked Shaun Attard, after the referee allowed the advantage for a foul on Christian Mercieca, and the former fired in goal from close distance.

32’ SK Victoria Wanderers protested for a penalty alleging handling by defender Daniel Farrugia in an attempt to clear the ball from the area.

36’ The Wanderers had their best scoring opportunity fo the first half but an attempt directly from a free kick ended high.

39’ In another good action by the Hotspurs a strike from outside the area by Shaun Bajada, after receiving from Daniel Farrugia, ended just wide.

45’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous but a shot by Shaun Attard got a deflection by the defence to a corner.

HT (2-0)

The Hotpsurs continued to dictate matters after the break.

6’ Shaun Bajada delivered a good cross inside the Wanderers’ area and Henrique Maciel prolonged to Christian Mercieca but the latter had his first timer blocked to a corner by the defence.  From the resultant corner action a shot by substitute Justin Azzopardi missed the target.

11’ (penalty missed – saved ) The Wanderers could have reduce deficit when Audgustine James Obaje won the ball from the defence and entered the area but his shot was handled by defender Daniel Farrugia and form the rebound \Sam Harland concluded incredibly high and the advantage was not materialised.  However the same Obaje had his shot from the spot kick that was blocked by goalie Daniel Spiteri.

15’ Victoria Hotspurs went again close to scoring but a strike form outside the area by Henrique Maciel was saved to a corner with some difficulty by goalie Giacomo Ratto.

23’ (3-0) The Hotspurs added another goal when Shaun Bajada won the ball near the goal line despite the presence of defender Nicholas Grech and goalie Giacomo Ratto and from his pass Christian Mercieca netted with a curling shot.

29’ (3-1) SK Victoria Wanderers reduced the deficit through Audgustine James Obaje who entered the area from the right flank with a personal action and concluded in goal with a low drive.

32’ (4-1) Victoria Hotspurs regained the three-goal lead when Henrique Maciel entered the Wanderers’ area with a personal action that started form the midfield and placed in goal with a low shot towards the far post.

40’ SK Victoria Wanderers could have scored a second goal when Sam Harland entered the area and came face to face with the goalkeeper but the latter maintained composure and managed to block the attempt of the striker to a corner.

FT (VH 4 – SKVW 1)

Referee: Glen Tonna