Victoria Hotspurs make it three in a row

5 December 2020

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 3 Gozo Stadium

Oratory Youths FC : 1
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 3

19’ (0-1) Shaun Attard
23’ (0-2) penalty Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos
25’ (0-3) Christian Attard
35’ (1-3) Karolis Chvedukas

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, P. Rapa (G. Vella), K. Chvedukas, K. Farrugia, R. Rodrigues Ledesma, D. Azzopardi, E. Gauci (J. Xerri), S. Azzopardi, S. Curmi (C. Borg), J. Attard, D. Galea.

Victoria H:

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

Victoria Hotspurs registered their third win from the first three matches in the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division from the match against Oratory Youths.  Victoria’s win matured with three goals scored in the space of six minutes midway through the first half, during a patch of play when they capitalised from the experience of their players and as a result they paved the way to put their minds at rest from the three points.  The Hotspurs dominated over their opponents during the first half hour of play but as time passed by they seemed over confident and allowed Oratory to produce a reaction.  In this match the Hotspurs were expected to hold control of play throughout the encounter but they ended up suffering pressure form Oratory’s offensive play during the second period and the defensive department were often in difficulty to clear the ball from the danger area.

Timeline

Victoria Hotspurs took command of play from the first minutes in an attempt to score an early goal.

3’ Oratory, however, created the first attempt at goal but a strike by Rafael Ledesma missed the target.

8’ The Hotspurs could have created more danger when a cross by Christian Mercieca following a short corner action, arrived to Jordi Parnis, but the latter hit badly from close distance and Oratory’s keeper Angelo Brignoli saved the danger.

13’ The same Jordi Parnis once again failed to hit the target following a free kick by Henrique Maciel and the defence blocked the danger from the goal mouth.

14’ Victoria’s Christian Mercieca received the ball inside Oratory’s area, following a through pass by Henrique Maciel that got a deflection by the defence and fired in goal from a good position but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement.

19’ (0-1) The Hotspurs opened the score when Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos released Shaun Attard and the latter controlled well and placed in goal with a fine shot from an angled position wioth the ball hitting the post before ending in the net.

20’ (penalty) The Hotspurs were awarded a penalty for a foul by goalie Angelo Brignoli on Henrique Maciel, who entered the area following a personal action and on 23 minutes, Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos converted from the spot kick.

24’ Oratory could have reduced the deficit but a header by Karolis Chvedukas following a cross by Eric Gauci was stopped by the crossbar.

25’ (0-3) Victoria Hotspurs added another goal that arrived through a tap-in by Christian Attard following a low cross from the left flank by Henrique Maciel.

33’ Victoria Hotspurs could have created more danger but a curling shot by Christian Mercieca from a good position missed the target.

35’ (1-3) Oratory reduced the deficit through a fine header by Karolis Chvedukas following a free kick by Rafael Ledesma.

Victoria Hotspurs regained command of play until the end of the first half.

37’ Victoria’s Henrique Maciel took the ball inside Oratory’s area following a short clearance by the defence but the striker hit badly and the ball ended away from goal.

HT (1-3)

For the second period the Hotspurs tried to administer their lead but Oratory seemed determined to re-open the issue so that the match became much more interesting.

3’ Victoria Hotspurs operated a good counter break where Christian Mercieca entered Oratory’s area but the striker had his low shot that was well saved to a corner by goalie Angeloo Brignoli.  From the same corner action, taken by Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos, a header by Lawrence Grima was well saved by goalie Brignoli.

13’ Oratory replied with a header by Karolis Chvedukas following a cross by Eric Gauci but the ball ended wide.

21’ Oratory could have capitalised form some hesitation by Victoria’s keeper Mark Grima who failed to hold the ball following a cross from the right flank but Karolis Chvedukas missed the opportunity to take the loose ball and the same goalkeeper made up for his previous mistake and recovered the ball in time.

26’ Victoria Hotspurs were again dangerous through a shot by Jordi Parnis from a good position that was well saved by Oratory’s keeper.

28’ The same Jordi Parnis had another good strike that was also neutralised by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

32’ Oratory went again close to re-open the issue but an attempt by Samuel Azzopardi following a corner kick by Rafael Ledesma was blocked on the fatal line by goalie Mark Grima. 

40’ Oratory’s last opportunity to score a second goal arrived through a strike by Rafael Ladesma from outside the area that ended wide.

44’ The Hotspurs went close to score a fourth goal when Henrique Maciel entered Oratory’s territory with a personal action but his attempt was well saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

45+2’ The Hotspurs lost another good scoring opportunity when the ball arrived to Christian Mercieca following a corner action but once again Oratory’s keeper was well placed and saved the danger.

FT (OY 1 – VH 3)

Referee: Slawomir Olucha