Munxar turn a defeat into a win

30 January 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 7) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Munxar Falcons FC : 3

Gharb Rangers FC : 1

45’ (0-1) o.g. Christopher Gafa

65’ (1-1) Ayesller Carvalho

74’ (2-1) Luke Portelli

90’ (3-1) Ayesller Carvalho

Munxar F:

D.C. Spiteri, C. Gafa, P. Parnis (G. Sillato), A. Buttigieg, P. Rapa (M. Debrincat), M. Azzopardi (N. Haber), L. Portelli, A. Carvalho, R. Grima, D.P. Borg (M. Tabone), M. Farrugia

Gharb R:

Ow. Xuereb, F. Cini, A. Borg (M. Theuma), C. Cutajar, G. Debrincat (D.P. Rapa), N. Attard, S. Farrugia (O. Saliba), M. Ciangura, D.R. Apestegui, J.Cefai Farrugia, P.P. Buttigieg.

Munxar falcons turned a defeat into a 3-1 win from their match against bottom placed Gharb rangers so that at the end of Match-Day 7 of the campaign they retained the possibility to challenge the current leaders for the title.  Munxar held territorial supremacy for most of the ninety minutes but they found it difficult to convert their play in goals so that they took the break trailing by one goal.

The Falcons increased their efforts after the break.  They levelled the score midway through the second half and turned the result in their favour during the final stages of the encounter.  On the other hand Gharb tried hard to obtain a positive result in an attempt to move away from the bottom of the table but they were weak in attack and did not create enough scoring opportunities to save the result.

Timeline

Munxar Falcons came out very aggressive and for most of the time they produced pressure on Gharb’s defence.  However, the Falcons were often erratic in their finishing and ended up conceding a goal against the run of play seconds form half time.

13’ Munxar’s Ayesller Carvalho had a shot from outside the area that got a deflection to a corner by the defence.

17’ Gharb’s goalie Owen Xuereb was called to make a difficult save to a corner following an attempt by Ayesller Carvalho following a cross by Robert Grima.

23’ The Rangers replied through a close ranged shot by Gabriel Debrincat that was well blocked by goalie Damien Spiteri.

32’ Munxar created another dangerous action through a corner kick by Mario Azzopardi but Mario Farrugia’s header from close distance ended high.

40’ Gharb’s goalie Owen Xuereb was well placed when a free kick by Munxar’s Ayesller Carvalho got a deflection by Robert Grima and the extreme defender saved the danger.

45’ (0-1) Gharb punished their opponents for the missed chances and took the lead through an own goal by defender Christopher Gafa who headed behind his goalkeeper following a free kick from long distance by Francesco Cini.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

After the resumption Munxar tried to gain command of play in an attempt to recover the deficit while Gharb operated mainly with counter breaks.  As a result, the actions at goal were rare but Munxar’s efforts were rewarded and managed to clinch the win.

20’ (1-1) Munxar managed to clinch the equaliser through a direct free kick by Ayesller Carvalho.that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.

29’ (2-1) Munxar turned the score in their favour when Gharb’s rear guard stopped for an alleged offside, but the referee allowed play to go on and Luke Portelli took advantage, entered Munxar’s territory and fired in goal as he arrived in front of the goalkeeper.

41’ Gharb’s best opportunity to save the result arrived through a free kick from long distance by Francesco Cini that ended over the crossbar.

45’ (3-1) Munxar made sure of the three points through another direct free kick that was converted by Ayesller Carvalho.

FT (MF 3 – GR 1)

Referee: Jason Portelli