Second consecutive win for Munxar

31 October 2021

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 2) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Gharb Rangers FC : 1

Munxar Falcons FC : 4

9’ (0-1) Kenneth Mizzi

30’ (0-2) o.g. Joseph Attard

60’ (1-2) penalty Rodrigo Apestegui Duran

80’ (1-3) Ayesller Carvalho

90’+5’ (1-4) Mark Debrincat

Gharb R:

Ow. Xuereb, O. Saliba, G. Debrincat, N. Attard, C. Dingli, M. Ciangura, R. Apestegui Duran, J. Attard, M. Theuma, S. Azzopardi, D.P. Saliba (J. Xerri).

Munxar F:

D. Galea, J.P. Grima, C. Gafa, A. Buttigieg, P. Rapa (P. Parnis), L. Meilak, M. Debrincat, J. Grima (M. Azzopardi), A. Carvalho, R. Grima (D.P. Borg), J. Agius, K. Mizzi (M. Tabone).

Munxar Falcons recovered from the heavy defeat conceded the previous weekend in the match form the preliminary round of the GFA Cup and registered a convincing 4-1 win over Gharb Rangers.  This was the last match from Match-day 2 of the campaign and both teams had the motivation to obtain the full points at stake.  Gharb were aiming to win the first point in the league while Munxar needed the win to join Zebbug Rovers at the top of the table with maximum points after two matches.

Munxar deserved the win as they were the better side during the first period and took the break with a two-goal lead.  The Falcons had a good reaction after conceding Gharb’s goal that arrived on the hour mark and made sure of the three points by scoring two other goals during the final stages of the encounter.  With this result Gharb remain at the bottom of the table without a point from two matches.

Timeline:

Munxar seemed more adventurous during the opening stages and took the driving seat by scoring an early goal.

9’ (0-1) Munxar opened the score when Ayesller Carvalho delivered a low cross from the right flank and Kenneth Mizzi followed the action and fired in goal from close distance.

Gharb’s reaction was sterile while Munxar administered play.

16’ The Falcons were again dangerous but a lob by Kenneth Mizzi when the goalkeeper was out of his position ended wide.

18’ Gharb replied through a header from a good position by Gabriel Debrincat that ended wide.

30’ (0-2) Munxar doubled the score when Ayesller Carvalho passed into Gharb’s defence from the right flank and from his low cross Robert Grima addressed towards goal but Gharb’s defender Joseph Attard hit badly in an attempt to clear off the fatal line and committed an own goal.

43’ Gharb had their best opportunity to reduce the score but a shot by Duran Rodrigo Apestegui was well saved by goalie Daniel Galea.

44’ Munxar almost punished their opponents for the missed chance as Ayesller Carvalho entered Gharb’s area with a personal action but his low drive defeated the goalkeeper but was stopped by the base of the post.

HT (0-2)

Second Half

After the resumption play became interesting as Gharb came out more motivated in an attempt to recover the deficit while Munxar tried to make sure of the win by increasing their lead.  

2’ Munxar’s substitute Derek Paul Borg had an attempt form outside the area that missed the target.

14’ (1-2) penalty Gharb managed to re-open the issue when Rodrigo Apestegui Duran delivered a cross inside Munxar’s area and a shot on the run by Gabriel Debrincat was handled by defender John Paul Grima and the referee awarded a penalty, so that Rodrigo Apestegui Duran concluded in goal with his shot from the spot kick.

Gharb failed to maintain pressure on Munxar’s defence and as time passed by the Falcons regained supremacy and for most of the time they kept their area clear from danger.

30’ Munxar’s reaction arrived through a free kick by Ayesller Carvalho that ended wide.

33’ Munxar protested for a penalty when Ayseller Carvalho tried to pass inside Gharb’s area with a personal action but ended on the floor following a challenge by a defender.

35’ (1-3) Munxar put their minds at rest from the win by scoring the third goal that arrived following a counter break.  Substitute Michael Tabone released Ayesller Carvalho and the latter entered the area, turned around the goalkeeper and placed into an open goal.

45’ The Falcons could have added another goal when Ayesller Carvalho entered Gharb’s area from the right flank and from his low cross, goalie Owen Xuereb partially cleared the ball and the defence recovered in time to deny Michael Tabone from concluding towards goal from an ideal position.

45’+5’ (1-4) Munxar sealed the win through a strike from the edge of the area by Mark Debrincat after receiving a pass from Ayesller Carvalho.

FT (GR 1 – MF 4)

Referee: Jason Portelli