Victoria Hotspurs extend a good moment of form

6 March 2021

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 10 Gozo Stadium

 

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 3

Sannat Lions FC : 1

27’ (1-0) Shaun Attard

37’ (2-0) Shaun Attard

57’ (2-1) Brandon Said

70’ (3-1) Paulo Santos De Azevedo

Victoria H:

D. Spiteri, L. Grima (D. Bellotti), J.M. Vella (J. Azzopardi), C. Mercieca, A. Azzopardi (S. Bajada), J. Parnis (C. Attard), H. De Souza Maciel, D. Farrugia, J. Tabone (J. Pace), S. Attard, P. Santos De Azevedo.

Sannat L:

L. Xuereb, L.B. Da Silva, J. Zammit (N. Grima), D. Hili (P. Said), D. Borg (A. Azzopardi), C. Vella, M. Mifsud (O. Calleja), J. Buttigieg (H. Muscat), B. Said, F.J. Xuereb, M. Perisic.

Victoria Hotspurs continued to confirm that they are recovering from a difficult period when they lost ground with the top teams and earned three points from a 3-1 win over Sannat Lions.  With this result the Hotspurs had a good start in the second round and they are still in a position that to believe that they may re-join the race for the title.

In this match the Hotspurs saw more of the ball and produced more offensive play so that Sannat only managed to be in contention for a positive result for a few minutes during the opening stages of the second period.  This was also Victoria’s second win over Sannat in the championship as the Citizens won the match between the two sides of the first round 5-1.

Victoria Hotspurs played this match with a black armband as a sign of mourning for the loss of Maria Grech who was the wife of ex-player and ex-coach Vincent Grech, and the mother of ex-player and the current General Secretary of the Gozo Football Association Tony Grech.

Timeline

Sannat surprised their opponents during the opening minutes but the Hotspurs recovered well and took command of play for the rest of the first half.

1’ Sannat could have opened the score when Victoria’s defence failed to clear the ball from their area and arrived to an unmarked Damon Hili but the latter incredibly hit badly form an ideal position and the ball missed the target.

2’ In another good action by Sannat Joseph Zammit entered Victoria’s territory and turned around the goalkeeper outside the area but defender Lawrence Grima made an excellent recovery and took away the ball in time before the striker could have hit towards an open goal.

4’ Victoria Hotspurs produced their first dangerous action through a shot from outside the area by Joseph Mario Vella that was neutralised by Sannat’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb.

7’ Victoria’s Henrique Maciel had a shot on the run that ended away from goal.

As timed passed by Victoria Hotspurs increased their pressure on Sannat’s defence but the former found some difficulty to create serious scoring opportunities.

22’ The Hotspurs had a good opportunity to open the score when James Tabone delivered a cross inside Sannat’s area from the right flank, Henrique Maciel headed towards the goalmouth but the shot on the run by Shaun Attard ended wide.

24’ Sannat replied with a shot by Milos Perisic following a personal effort that ended high.

27’ (1-0) Victoria Hotspurs opened the score when Jordi Parnis defended the ball outside the area on the left flank and passed to Shaun Attard who placed in goal with a low shot towards the far post.

31’ Victoria Hotspurs went very close to add another goal when Christian Mercieca took the ball from a free kick and passed to Shaun Attard but the latter had his curling shot that was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.

37’ (2-0) Victoria Hotspurs doubled the score through an excellent striker from the edge of the area by Shaun Attard, after receiving from Christian Mercieca, which ended out of the reach of Sannat’s keeper.

40’ In another good action by the Hotspurs, a shot by Christian Mercieca was well saved to a corner by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.

42’ The same goalkeeper was again called to make a good save to neutralise a shot from long distance by Henrique Maciel.

 HT (2-0)

Sannat came out more determined for the second period and during the opening stages they managed to re-open the issue but the Hotspurs had an immediate reaction and regained full control of play for the rest of the match.

2’ Sannat threatened Victoria’s rear guard through a free kick by Milos Perisic that ended high.

7’ Victoria replied through a shot by Shaun Attard that was neutralised by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.

12’ (2-1) Sannat reduced the score when Joseph Zammit took the ball following a counter break and form his low cross Brandon Said fired in goal from close distance.

20’ Victoria Hotspurs were dangerous through a shot by Christian Mercieca after receiving from Paulo Santos De Azevedo that ended high.

21’ In another offensive action by the Hotspurs a strike by Christian Mercieca after receiving from Shaun Attard that was stopped by the crossbar.

25’ (1-3) Victoria Hotspurs regained the two goal lead when Henrique Maciel entered Sannat’s area with a personal action and from his cross Paulo Santos De Azevedo surprised the goalkeeper with an overhead kick.

35’ Sannat’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb denied the Hotspurs from adding another goal when he turned to a corner a direct free kick by Henrique Maciel.

44’ In another offensive action by the Hotspurs an overhead kick by Shaun Attard following a cross by substitute Christian Attard ended wide.

44’ Vitoria had their last opportunity to score a fourth goal but a low shot by Paulo Santos De Azevedo was well saved by Sannat’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb

FT (VH 3 – SL 1)

Referee: Ezekiel Barbara