Oratory reach the semi-final with a win after extra-time

20 November 2021

BOV GFA Cup Q/Final Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Oratory Youths FC : 1

SK Victoria Wanderers : 0

97’ (1-0) James Grima

Oratory Y:

R. Sammut, P.P. Camilleri (J. Grima), D. Galea, J.V. Ferrari Silva, D. Atzori (Ju. Attard), K. Hili (H.H. Goncalves Barbosa), K. Farrugia, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, D. Azzopardi (M. Zammit), S. Azzopardi, S. Curmi (K. Formosa).

SK Victoria W:

M. Kukrika, A. Agyeman, E. Zammit (D. Kuru), O. Curmi, S. Harland, N. Grech, K. Grima, F. Rozkiewicz (A. Refalo), D.U. Monday, G. Cardona, O. Fenech (A. Adesina).

In the first match form the quarter final stage of the second most important competition in Gozitan football, Oratory Youths obtained a close win over SK Victoria Wanderers after extra time and became the first semi-finalist o the competition.  This was a match between the two sides who are struggling to avoid the relegation from the top flight and although both sides had some players missing for this encounter, Oratory and the Wanderers showed their respective limitations in attack aas throughout the encounter they both found it extremely difficult to create serious scoring opportunities.  The match seemed heading towards a penalty shot out but Oratory clinched the qualification as they capitalised from a misunderstanding between Victoria’s defence and the goalkeeper, midway through the first half of extra time, by scoring the decisive goal.  For this match the Wanderers had goalie Mladen Kukrika from Bosnia Herzegovina who was making his debut in Gozitan football.

Timeline:

Play for most of the first period was quite balanced as the two defensive departments prevailed over the respective strikers.  The Wanderers seemed more threatening during the opening minutes but as time passed by the Youths managed to create opportunities which could have been concluded better.

3’ The Wanderers created the first scoring opportunity of the encounter but a shot by Sam Harland was saved by Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut.

9’ Victoria’s Asante Agyeman had an attempt directly from a free kick that missed the target.

31’ Oratory missed a good scoring opportunity when Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira arrived face to face with Victoria’s keeper, who was out of his position, but the lob ended high.

38’ The same Vinicius Ferreira had another opportunity to open the score but his shot from outside the area following a prolonged action ended wide.

42’ Oratory were again dangerous but a direct free kick by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira ended high.

HT (0-0)

Second Half

For the second period the Wanderers increased their efforts in an attempt to take the lead but Oratory continued to be well deployed so that they protected their area and operated mainly with counter breaks.

2’ Victoria’s Emerson Zammit had an attempt form a free kick that ended wide.

10’ Oratory replied through a header by Jao Vitor Ferrari Silva from a free kick by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira that ended wide.

21’ Oratory could have capitalised better when goalie Mladen Kukrika failed to hold the ball from a free kick but Keith Farrugia hit badly from a good position and concluded wide.

26’ Victoria’s Kersten Grima almost surprised Oratory’s keeper with a free kick from long distance but the latter managed to recover and saved the danger.

29’ SK Victoria Wanderers missed a golden opportunity to open the score when Oratory’s defence failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth but from the resultant melee Owen Fenech and Sam Harland failed to hit from close distance so that Oratory’s defence managed to clear the danger.

34’ An attempt directly from a free kick by Oratory’s Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira was neutralised by goalie Mladen Kukrika.

40’ Oratory were again dangerous but a header by Samuel Azzopardi following a free kick by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira ended wide.

42’ The Wanderers replied through an action from the left flank but from Oliver Curmi’s cross, Emerson Zammit failed to connect and the ball ended wide.

90 mins. (0-0)

Extra Time:

Oratory came out more aggressive from the first minutes of play of the extra time and managed to open the score so that they administered the lead for the rest of the encounter.

7’ (1-0) Oratory opened the score through substitute James Grima who took advantage of some hesitation between the defence and the goalkeeper and placed into an open goal.

10’ The Youths could have doubled their lead but a strike by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Fereira ended just high.

13’ Oratory’s substitute Karl Formosa had a shot from outside the area that ended high.

For the second period of extra time the Wanderers seemed demoralised and Oratory continued to dictate play so that the two sides failed to create dangerous actions and the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

FT a.e.t. (OY 1 – SKVW 0)

Referee: Aleksandar Jovanovic