Oratory upset challengers Ghajnsielem

23 January 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 11) Gozo Stadium

Ghajnsielem FC : 0

Oratory Youths FC : 3

15’ (0-1) penalty Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira

54’ (0-2) Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira

66’ (0-3) Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa

85’ (red card) Johnny Camilleri

Ghajnsielem FC:

A. Parnis, De. Bogdanovic, Al. Xuereb, D. Farrugia (K. Borg), K. Mercieca (L. Grima), S. Attard, M. Bezzina, K. Grima (An. Xuereb), J. De Sousa Ferreira, R. Watanabe, J. Camilleri.

Oratory Youths:

A. Brignoli, J.V. Ferrari Silva, K. Farrugia (M. Zammit), H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, D.G. Lago, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, D. Azzopardi, J. Grima, K. Formosa, S. Curmi (K. Hili), Ju. Attard.

Oratory Youths obtained three very important points from a deserved win over Ghajnsielem so that they increased their lead over the team at the bottom place of the table, despite retaining the seventh place.  The two teams needed a win from this match for different reasons as Ghajnsielem were aiming to earn the full points at stake in their attempt to retain their chance to challenge for the title, while Oratory needed points to move away from the relegation zone.  With this result Ghajnsielem practically compromised their chances to keep challenging for the title while Oratory re-opened their chances to move away from the red zone as they are just two points behind three teams occupying better positions.

For this match Ghajnsielem were once again without their striker Igor Nedeljkovic who is still suspended, and also without Jhon Arboleda Valencia and Sam Frank Bajada due to injuries.  On the other hand Oratory introduced midfielder from Ivory Coast David Gnonka Lago.

Oratory were the better side throughout the ninety minutes.  They were more aggressive in their play and produced danger every time that their strikers approached Ghajnsielem’s territory.  On the other hand Oratory were very effective in the midfield where they denied Ghajnsielem from producing their usual play.  Ghajnsielem became frustrated as time passed by and ended up being also very erratic in their finishing so that they missed some opportunities to re-open the issue.  Overall, Oratory created much more scoring opportunities and the win for the Youths could have been with a larger margin.

Timeline

Oratory came out in a better shape and seemed more motivated to impose their play.

7’ The Youths were unlucky when an attempt directly from a free kick was stopped by the crossbar.

12’ Ghajnsielem replied with a shot by Alberto Xuereb that missed the target.

13’ The same Alberto Xuereb had a shot on the run following a cross by Johnny Camilleri that ended high.

15’ (0-1) penalty Oratory opened the score when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Shaun Attard on Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira and the latter converted from the spot kick.

20’ Ghajnsielem replied with a header by Jefferson De Sousa Ferreira following a free kick by Alberto Xuereb that ended high.

23’ The Blacks could have created more danger when Kurt Grima entered Oratory’s area from the right flank and from his low pass the shot on the run by Michael Bezzina missed the target.

27’ Oratory missed a good scoring opportunity when Ghajnsielem’s defence failed to clear the ball from the midfield and Goncalves Barbosa took the ball, entered the area but was denied from concluding towards goal with a fine intervention by Ghajnsielem’s goalie Adrian Parnis. 

30’ The same Goncalves Barbosa once again took the ball following a mishap by Ghajnsielem’s defence but the striker concluded badly from a good position and the ball ended over the crossbar.

Ghajnsielem continued to suffer Oratory’s breaks but the Youths continued to be erratic in their final shot towards goal.

32’ Oratory’s Goncalves Barbosa entered Ghajnsielem’s area after receiving the ball on the right flank, the goalkeeper left his position but the lob by the Brazilin striker was weak and cleared from the goalmouth by central defender Daniel Farrugia.

During the final stages of the first half Ghajnsielem tried to produce a reaction but the Youths were well deployed and the goalkeeper was not called to make any difficult interventions so that the score remained unchanged until the break.

HT (GHJ 0 – OY 1)

Second Half

For the second period Ghajnsielem came out determined to recover the score and produced pressure on Oratory’s defence from the early stages.

3’ Ghajnsielem’s Michael Bezzina delivered the ball towards the goalmouth from a corner kick but Daniel Farrugia hit badly from close distance and lifted the ball over the crossbar.

3’ The same Michael Bezzina had a low shot from a good position that was neutralised by goalie Angelo Brignoli. 

9’ (0-2) Oratory surprised their opponents with a counter break from the right flank through Goncalves Barbosa who entered the area and released Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira who concluded in goal with the ball hitting the post before crossing the fatal line.

15’ Ghajnsielem’s reaction arrived through a header by Ryota Watanabe following a cross from the left flank by Kenneth Mercieca that ended wide.

19’ Ghajnsielem lost another scoring opportunity but a prolonged action inside Oratory’s area ended with a shot by Michael Bezzina that ended high. 

21’ (0-3) Oratory once again punished their opponents with a counter break that ended with a close ranged shot by Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa that was partially saved by the goalkeeper and from the rebound the same striker concluded into an empty net.

27’ Ghajnsielem’s Michael Bezzina had a shot that got a deflection by the defence but the goalkeeper Angelo Brignoli was well placed and saved without difficulty.

31’ Oratory went very close to score a fourth goal when Goncalves Barbosa entered Ghajnsielem’s territory following a counter break but his shot was saved in two attempts by goalie Adrian Parnis.

37’ Ghajnsielem were again dangerous through a half volley by Johnny Camilleri following a cross from the right by Shaun Attard that ended just over the crossbar.

40’ (red card)  The Blacks ended with ten players as Johnny Camilleri was sent off for a foul in the midfield on Oratory’s Keith Farrugia.

45’ Ghajnsielem’s goalkeeper Adrian Parnis denied Oratory from scoring a fourth goal when he managed to block a close ranged shot by Karl Formosa who was alone in the area.

FT (GHJ 0 – OY 3)

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann