Nadur, Ghajnsielem share the spoils in opening match

3 September 2021

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 1 Gozo Stadium

Nadur Youngsters FC : 2

Ghajnsielem FC : 2

20’ (1-0) Ederson Bruno Domingos

31’ (1-1) Igor Nedeljkovic

42’ (1-2) Dejan Galic

70’ (2-2) Judivan Flor Da Silva

90+2’ (red card) Keith Borg (GHJ)

Nadur Youngsters:

S. Sultana, L. Moreira, J.M. Vella (G. Farrugia), I. Xuereb, M. Barbosa, E. Bruno Domingos, G. Hili, S. Cassar, J. Parnis (J. Zammit), G. Muscat, J. Flor Da Silva.

Ghajnsielem FC:

 Parnis, A. Xuereb (K. Borg), D. Farrugia, , S.F. Bajada, K. Mercieca, S. Attard (J. Camilleri), J. Arboleda Valencia, K. Grima (M. Bezzina), J. De Souza Ferreira (K. Farrugia), D. Galic, I. Nedeljkovic.

The football season 2021/2022 in Gozo started with the first match from the BOV Gozo Football League of them first division between Nadur Youngsters, the last team who was crowned champions in the season 2019/2020, and Ghajnsielem, who were heading towards winning the championship last season (2020/2021) but were denied from winning the honour since the competitions were abandoned due to the pandemic.  This match was therefore a direct clash between two sides who are both aiming to be serious contenders for the main honour of this new season.

At the end the match lived up to the expectations as both Nadur and Ghajnsielem showed that they have the potential to be challengers for the title.  The two coaches, Nadur’s Branko Nisevic and Ghajnsielem’s Daniel Bogdanovic had all their players available for this encounter and their respective latest signings were also included in the starting line ups.  The final score is just as the two sides tried hard to start the championship with a win.  Nadur had a better start but suffered Ghajnsielem’s reaction so that the latter were in the lead at the end of the first period.  Nadur saw more of the ball after the break but for a long time, the Blacks managed to keep danger away from their area.  However, the Youngsters saved the result by scoring a deserved equaliser midway through the second period.

Timeline

Nadur came out more aggressive and produced some pressure over Ghajnsielem’s rear guard during the first part of the encounter.  The Blacks recovered after conceding the opening goal of the match and managed to turn the result in their favour before the end of the first half.

27 sec. The Youngsters could have opened the score when Marcelo Barbosa took the ball following some hesitation by Ghajnsielem’s defence and from his pass Ederson Bruno Domingos saw his close ranged shot well blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis.

6’ The same goalkeeper was again called to make a difficult intervention to save an attempt directly from a free kick by Marcelo Barbosa.

12’ Ghajnsielem replied through an effort by Jhon Arboldea Valencia who entered the area with a personal action but his shot was well saved by Nadur’s keeper Steve Sultana.

17’ The same goalie was well placed and neutralised a direct free kick by Dejan Galic.

18’ Nadur were again dangerous but a strike by Marcelo Barbosa was saved to a corner with some difficulty by goalie Adrian Parnis.

20’ (1-0) Nadur opened the score through a low shot from outside the area by Ederson Bruno Domingos thayt ended out 0of the reach of Ghajnsielem’s keeper.

25’ Ghajnsielem replied with a good action by Jhon Arboleda Valencia who entered the area from the right flank but his low shot was saved without difficulty by goalie Steve Sultana.

31’ (1-1) Ghajnsielem levelled the score when Jhon Arboleda Valencia entered Nadur’s territory from the right flank, turned around the goalkeeper at the edge of the area and from his attempt was cleared badly by the defence so that the ball arrived to Igor Nedeljkovic who fired in goal with the ball getting also a deflection from a defender before crossing the fatal line.

Nadur were shocked and Ghajnsielem became more confident in their play.

38’ Nadur operated a counter break which could have been dangerous but Ghajnsielem’s keeper Adrian Parnis left his position in time and managed to clear the ball away before Judivan Flor Da Silva could conclude towards an open goal.

40’ Ghajnsielem went close to scoring when a corner kick by Dejan Galic arrived to Sam Frank Bajada who headed wide from a good position.

42’ (1-2) Ghajnsielem turned the result in their favour through an initiative by Igor Nedeljkovic, who entered the area from the right flank and from low pass Dejan Galic placed in goal with a low drive.

45+2’ Nadur could have created more danger but a shot by Marcelo Barbosa from a good position ended away from goal.

HT (1-2)

Nadur came out for the second period determined to recover the deficit but despite their territorial supremacy, they found it difficult to create serious scoring opportunities.

2’ Nadur’s Ederson Bruno Domingos passed through Ghajnsielem’s defence outside the area with a personal action but his final shot missed the target.

Ghajnsielem seemed in a position to control Nadur’s reaction but the latter kept composure and managed to reach their minimum objective.

25’ (2-2) Nadur levelled the score when Ghajnsielem’s rear guard cleared the danger from their area following a prolonged action but the ball arrived to Stefan Cassar and the latter released Judivan Flor Da Silva who controlled easily and fired in goal from close distance.

45’ (red card) Ghajnsielem were reduced to ten players when Keith Borg, who entered the field of play as a substitute during the first period, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

FT (NY 2 – GHJ 2)

Referee: Philip Farrugia