24 January 2021
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 6 Gozo Stadium
Ghajnsielem FC : 2
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 1
5’ (1-0) Johnny Camilleri
21’ (red card) Joseph Mario Vella (VH)
56’ (1-1) Henrique De Souza Maciel
65’ (2-1) Sam Frank Bajada
67’ (red card) Henrique De Souza Maciel (VH)
Ghajnsielem FC:
A. Parnis, K. Borg (A. Xuereb), Al. Xuereb, S.F. Bajada, K. Mercieca, K. Farrugia, J. Arboleda Valencia, J.G. Vella, K. Grima (M. Bezzina), I. Nedeljkovic, J. Camilleri.
Victoria H:
M. Grima, L. Grima, J.M. Vella, C. Mercieca, J. Pace (J. Tabone), A. Azzopardi, R. Ost Dos Santos, S. Bajada (J. Parnis), H. De Souza Maciel, D. Farrugia, S. Attard.
In the most important match of the weekend from the top flight Ghajnsielem obtained a 2-1 win over Victoria Hotspurs and with the points obtained they took command of the table. This was a clash between two contenders for the title and therefore the two teams were aiming to obtain the three points at stake. The match turned out to be well contested and despite the fact that the Hotspurs played the last part of the match with two players less on the field the outcome remained uncertain until the final stages.
The Blacks paved the way to the win with a goal scored during the early stages of the encounter and managed to retain composure when they conceded the equaliser so that they had the ability to regain the lead and administered play for the rest of the match. With this win Ghajnsielem not only confirmed their ambitions to be among the top teams but also showed that they have the potential to be serious challengers for the main honour. On the other hand, this result was a setback for the Hotspurs as they conceded the first defeat after three consecutive wins and also because the missed the opportunity to move over the same Ghajnsielem on the table.
Timeline
Play during the first period was quite interesting and the match lived up to the expectations with dangerous actions at the two ends of the field.
3’ The Hotspurs had the first serious attempt at goal when Ghajnsielem’s clearance from the edge of the area arrived to Henrique Maciel who had a shot from long distance that was blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis.
4’ Ghajnsielem replied through a shot by Jhon Arboleda Valencia that was blocked by the defence and from the resultant clearance the ball fell to Igor Nedeljkovic who also had a good shot that was stopped by Victoria’s rear guard. However, Ghajnsielem won a free kick just outside the area from the short clearance by the defence and Jhon Arboleda’s attempt was turned to a corner by the goalkeeper.
5’ (1-0) From the same corner action, taken by Alberto Xuereb, Johnny Camilleri headed towards goal and the ball ended in the net despite the attempt by Victoria’s keeper to clear the danger.
21’ (red card) Victoria Hotspurs ended with ten players when Victoria’s Joseph Mario Vella was shown a red card for a tackle on Ghajnsielem’s Joseph George Vella in the midfield.
24’ Ghajnsielem protested for a penalty when a free kick by Igor Nedeljkovic was deflected by the wall.
26’ Victoria Hotspurs could have levelled the score when Ghajnsielem’s goalie Adrian Parnis had a clearance from a long ranged free kick by Shaun Bajada that hit a defender and as the ball seemed heading towards Victoria’s Daniel Farrugia, Ghajnsielem’s Kenneth Mercieca recovered in time and cleared the ball to a corner.
The Hotspurs gained confidence and kept some pressure on Ghajnsielem’s defence for some minutes despite the player less on the field.
32’ Henrique Maciel produced a personal action at the edge of Ghajnsielem’s area and a deflection by the defence placed the ball in the path of an unmarked Christian Mercieca but the latter saw his shot form a good position that ended wide.
36’ The Hotspurs created another good scoring opportunity when Shaun Attard released Christian Mericeca inside Ghajnsielem’s area but his low drive aimed towards the far post ended wide.
44’ Ghajnsielem could have doubled the score when Johnny Camilleri entered Victoria’s territory after receiving form Joseph George Vella but Victoria’s goalie had good timing and managed to block the danger as soon as Ghajnsielem’s striker entered the area.
45’ The Blacks lost another good scoring opportunity but Johnny Camilleri’s attempt following a through pass by Kevin Farrugia missed the target.
HT (1-0)
For the second period Ghajnsielem took more command of the midfield but the Hotspurs were well protected at their defence and operated mainly with counter breaks.
11’ (1-1) Victoria Hotspurs levelled the score when Shaun Bajada released Christian Mercieca on the left flank and the latter delivered a cross that arrived to an unmarked Henrique Maciel who fired in goal from close distance.
Play became more exciting during the following minutes as the two sides went all out to take the lead.
20’ (2-1) Ghajnsielem managed to score the goal that decided the issue when a free kick by Jhon Arboleda Valencia got s deflection to a corner and from the corner kick by Alberto Xuereb Sam Frank Bajada headed towards goal.
22’ (red card) Victoria Hotspurs were reduce to nine players when Henrique Maciel was shown a red card following offensive remarks towards the assistant referee.
Ghajnsielem seemed in a position to control play with authority but during the dying moments the Hotspurs increased their efforts and could have saved the result on two separate occasions.
42’ The Hotspurs had their best opportunity to score the equaliser but a header by substitute James Tabone following a free kick by Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos ended high.
45+2’ The last scoring opportunity for Victoria arrived from a free kick just outside Ghajnsielem’s area but the attempt by Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos was blocked by the defence.
FT (GHJ 2 – VH 1)
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
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