19 September 2021
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 3 Gozo Stadium
Kercem Ajax FC : 0
Ghajnsielem FC : 3
41’ (0-1) Kenneth Mercieca
51’ (0-2) penalty Igor Nedeljkovic
63’ (0-3) Kenneth Mercieca
72’ (red card) Dejan Bogdanovic (GHJ)
Kercem A:
G. Bugeja (J. Micallef), D. Cassar, N. Mercieca, , N. Inguanez, S. Martinez Turizo, J. Buttigieg, W. Simeao Dos Santos, A. Mizzi, I. Belhadj, A. Zammit, E. Da Silva Rodrigues.
Ghajnsielem FC:
A. Parnis, K. Borg, S.F. Bajada (D. Bogdanovic), K. Mercieca, S. Attard (K. Grima), K. Farrugia, J. Arboleda Valencia (M. Bezzina), J. De Sousa Ferreira (D. Farrugia), D. Galic, L. Grima, I. Nedeljkovic.
Ghajnsielem replied to the win registered by rivals Nadur Youngsters by obtaining the full points at stake from a convincing win over Kercem Ajax. This was a match between two sides who needed a win to take leadership. Kercem were the sole leaders at the end of Match-Day 2 of the championship and could have retained the status with a win, while Ghajnsielem needed the victory to join Nadur at the top of the table.
Kercem were without central defender Luis Henrique Santana Motta and midfielder Jason Theuma due to suspension for this match and at the end they were not in a position to express their full potential. On the other hand Ghajnsielem, who started the match with their best starting line-up, were determined to impose their superiority in this encounter and achieved their aim by putting their minds at rest form the three points with two goals that arrived during the first part of the second period.
Timeline
Ghajnsielem seemed more determined during the first period and saw more of the ball but Kercem maintained composure and managed to resist the pressure. The Ajax gained some confidence as time passed by and also operated some sporadic break which created some difficulty to Ghajnsielem’s rear guard to clear the danger from their territory. However, Ghajnsielem’s efforts were rewarded with a goal that arrived near the end of the first half.
28sec. The Blacks could have scored an early goal when Igor Nedeljkovic entered Kercem’s area from the right flank but his shot was well blocked to a corner by goalie Gaetano Bugeja.
13’ Kercem’s goalie was again called to make a difficult intervention when he blocked again to a corner a shot on the run by Dejan Galic following a cross from the right flank by Jhon Arboleda Valencia.
18’ (claims for penalty) Kercem almost compromised their encouraging start when the goalkeeper went up to the edge of the area in an attempt to clear the danger but hesitated under the pressure of Igor Nedeljkovic who ended on the floor but the referee did not note any infringement.
21’ (claims for a penalty) Ghajnsielem also went through the risk of giving away a penalty when a defender could have handled the ball in an attempt to clear the ball from the area following pressure by striker Euller Da Silva Rodrigues.
22’ The Blacks were dangerous through a low shot by Jhon Arboleda Valencia following a personal action that was saved by the goalkeeper.
26’ (goal disallowed) Ghajnsielem had a goal by Igor Nedeljkovic that was disallowed for an offside.
32’ In another good action by the Blacks, Kevin Farrugia incredibly concluded over the crossbar from close distance following a cross from the goal-line on the right by Shaun Attard.
38’ Kercem had their best scoring opportunity of the first half but Anthony Zammit hit badly from close distance when the defence failed to clear a cross from the right flank by Joshua Buttigieg.
41’ (0-1) Ghajnsielem opened the score when Dejan Galic delivered the ball from a free kick towards the far post, the defence failed to clear the danger and skipper Kenneth Mercieca took the ball and placed in goal from close distance.
44’ (protests for handling) Kercem protested for against the decision by the match officials to leave waive play on when Ghajnsielem’s goalie went up to the edge of the area to punch away the ball from the danger zone.
HT (0-1)
After the break Ghajnsielem increased their efforts and started to create more pressure on Kercem’s defence. The latter continued to struggle to defend their territory and only managed to address few attempts towards Ghajnsielem’s goal.
5’ (0-2) (penalty) Ghajnsielem’s Jhon Arboleda Valencia defended the ball inside the area but was floored following a challenge by Nichols Inguanez. The referee awarded a penalty and Igor Nedeljkovic converted from the spot kick.
8’ Kercem could have re-opened the issue when Andrew Mizzi released Euller Da Silva Rodrigues within Ghajnsielem’s territory but the latter saw his strike outside the area that was saved in style to a corner by goalie Adrian Parnis.
9’ Kercem’s goalie Gaetano Bugeja denied Ghajnsielem from scoring another goal when he saved to a corner with difficulty a low shot by Shaun Attard.
18’ (0-3) The Blacks however scored the third goal that arrived through a cross shot by Kenneth Mercieca that surprised completely goalie Gaetano Bugeja.
23’ Ghajnsielem’s keeper Adrian Parnis was well placed and blocked to a corner a free kick from long distance by Sebastien Martinez Turizo and from the resultant corner action a header by Euller Da Silva Rodrigues ended on the side of the net.
27’ (red card) The Blacks were reduced to ten players when substitute Dejan Bogdanovic was shown a straight red card for a foul on Sebastien Martinez Turizo.
44’ (two goals disallowed for offside) Ghajnsielem had two goals in separate occasions within one minute, by Igor Nedeljkovic and substitute Kurt Grima, that were disallowed for offside infringements.
45+1’ Kercem’s last opportunity to score a consolation goal arrived through an attempt by Euller Da Silva Rodrigues that missed the target.
FT (KA 0 – GHJ 3)
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
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