31 January 2021
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 7 Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 1
Ghajnsielem FC : 5
4’ (0-1) Kenneth Mercieca
21’ (0-2) Johnny Camilleri
27’ (1-2) Rodney Buttigieg
45’ (1-3) penalty Igor Nedeljkovic
69’ (1-4) Johnny Camilleri
87’ (1-5) penalty Igor Nedeljkovic
Xewkija T:
F. Vella (K. Attard), J. Vella, N. Micallef, M. Mercieca (T. Grech), J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg, T. Vella (A. Borg), J. Cefai Bonnici (M. Dingli), J. Xuereb, M. Hrubsa, E.P. Lattes.
Ghajnsielem FC:
A. Parnis, Al. Xuereb, S.F. Bajada (De. Bogdanovic), K. Mercieca, K. Farrugia, An. Xuereb (N.I. Belhadj), J. Arboleda Valencia, J.G. Vella (S. Azzopardi), K. Grima (M. Bezzina), I. Nedeljkovic, J. Camilleri (N. Mifsud).
The leaders of the BOV Gozo Football league of the first division Ghajnsielem extended their excellent start in the championship with a handsome 5-1 win over Xewkija Tigers. This match was practically a direct clash for the top spot as Xewkija were on maximum points before this encounter while Ghajnsielem had just one point more than the Tigers with the latter having a game in hand.
However, in this match Ghajnsielem held supremacy and Xewkija found it very difficult to remain in contention for a positive result and ended up conceding a heavy defeat. The Blacks were more aggressive during then opening stages, scored two early goals and regained composure as soon as they conceded Xewkija’s goal so that they regained the two-goal lead before the end of the first half. Ghajnsielem continued to be in control of play after the break and made sure of the win by scoring on two other occasions. Ghajnsielem’s strikers Johnny Camilleri and Igor Nedeljkovic were the main protagonists of the encounter as they both scored two goals each.
Timeline
Ghajnsielem came out determined to take command of play from the early stages of the encounter.
4’ (0-1) Ghajnsielem won two consecutive corner actions following some pressure on Xewkijas’s defence and from the second corner action Alberto Xuereb took the short corner with Joseph George Vella and the latter delivered a cross towards the goalmouth and skipper Kenneth Mercieca headed in goal.
13’ Ghajnsielem could have capitalised better when a cross by Joseph George Vella surprised Xewkija’s defence but Alberto Xuereb failed to conclude from close distance and form the resultant melee defender Josmar Vella cleared the danger from the area.
18’ Xewkija threatened Ghajnsielem’s defence when a clearance from the area following a corner action arrived to Thomas Vella who had a strike from long distance that got a deflection and ended in the hands of goalie Adrian Parnis among protests from Xewkija alleging that the deflection by the defender was handled.
21’ (0-2) The Blacks doubled the score when Jhon Arboleda Valencia won the ball within Xewkija’s territory and released Igor Nedeljkovic. The latter entered the area was ended on the floor following a challenge by a defender but the referee allowed the advantage and the ball arrived to an unmarked Johnny Camilleri who netted easily form close distance.
27’ (1-2) Xewkija reduced the deficit when Ghajnsielem’s defender Kenneth Mercieca headed badly from his area, the ball got a deflection on Rodney Buttigieg and the ball arrived to an unmarked Joel Xuereb. The latter took advantage of the situation and passed to Rodney Buttigieg who concluded in goal with a low shot.
29’ In another good action by Xewkija Rodney Buttigieg crossed form the right flank and got a deflection by Ghajnsielem’s defence so that Thomas Vella took the opportunity but his low shot ended wide.
31’ The Blacks were unlucky when a header by Johnny Camilleri following a cross by Joseph George Vella was stopped by the crossbar and from the rebound the ball ended in the hand Xewkija’s keeper as the strikers failed to capitalise from the situation.
Play was quite balanced for some moments but near the end of the first half Ghajnsielem regained supremacy.
42’ Ghajnsielem’s Igor Nedeljkovic got a deflection by the defence and the ball ended to a corner.
44’ (1-3) (penalty) Ghajnsielem were awarded a penalty when Igor Nedeljkovic entered the area after receiving from Joseph George Vella but the former was floored in the area by the goalkeeper. The same Igor Nedeljkovic fired in goal with his shot form the spot kick.
HT (1-3)
Ghajnsielem were in the driving seat for the second period while Xewkija continued to find it very difficult to create danger.
3’ A shot by Ghajnsielem’s Jhon Arboleda Valencia from an angled position was well saved by goalie Franklin Vella.
6’ In another action by Ghajnsielem a shot by Igor Nedeljkovic, after receiving from Alberto Xuereb, ended wide.
8’ Xewkija replied through a shot by Martin Hrubsa following a corner action that was blocked to a corner by the defence into another corner.
20’ Xewkija had another opportunity to re-open the issue when a cross from the left flank by Joel Xuereb arrived to debutant Emiliano Lattes who had his first timer blocked by defender Kenneth Mercieca and goalie Adrian Parnis took the ball to avoid further danger. In the following action Ghajnsielem operated a counter break where Igor Nedeljkovic passed round Xrewkija’s keeper outside the area but the striker prolonged the ball and lost the opportunity to address the ball towards an open goal.
21’ Xewkija’s keeper Franklin Vella managed to save partially a cross shot by Igor Nedeljkovic and the defence cleared the ball from the area.
24’ (1-4) Ghajnsielem scored the fourth goal when Johnny Camilleri controlled well a cross from the left flank by Alberto Xuereb and the former concluded in goal with a fine shot.
28’ Xewkija’s keeper was well placed to save a shot by substitute Michael Bezzina.
41’ (1-5) penalty – Ghajnsielem were awarded a penalty for a foul by Josmar Vella on Jhon Arboleda Valencia and Igor Nedeljkovic sealed the issue by scoring the fifth goal with the shot from the spot kick.
FT (XT 1 – GHJ 5)
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
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