29 January 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 11) Gozo Stadium
SK Victoria Wanderers : 2
Xewkija Tigers FC : 0
48’ (1-0) penalty Fabricio Rozkiewicz
61’ (red card) Haruna Shodija Shola (XT)
81’ (2-0) Nicholas Vella
SK Victoria W:
M. Kukrika, A. Agyeman, A.J. Obaje, N. Camilleri, O. Curmi, N. Grech, F. Rozkiewicz (O. Fenech), D.U. Monday, G. Cardona (K. Grima), A. Touarha (E. Zammit), N. Vella.
Xewkija T:
K. Attard, J. Axiak (J. Xuereb), J. Vella,J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg, D. Mercieca (M. Mercieca), M Hrubsa, E.P. Lattes, J.G. Vella, H.S. Shodija, E.A. Da Silva.
SK Victoria Wanderers re-opened their chances to move away from the bottom of the table as they closed the gap from the teams above them with the points obtained from a 2-0 win over Xewkija Tigers. With this result the Tigers lost an opportunity to increase their lead over the teams involved in the relegation zone so that the last four teams on the table are now within five points.
Victoria’s win matured with two goals scored after the break. During the first half play was quite balanced where the two sides failed to capitalise form their respective scoring opportunities. The Wanderers took the lead during the opening minutes of the second period and for the rest of the second half they conceded Xewkija’s reaction despite the fact that after the hour mark they had a player sent off. The Wanderers however had an effective defensive deployment that made it very difficult to Xewkija to recover the score so that near the end of the match the Citizens made sure of the win by scoring the second goal following a typical counter break.
Timeline
The Wanderers started the match with the wind blowing in their favour and during the opening minutes they were more offensive in their play, while Xewkija were forced to defend and to operate with counter breaks. As time passed by Xewkija came out of their defence and for most of the time play was contested in the midfield.
11’ Victoria had their first attempt towards goal through a shot by Aaron Touarha that got a deflection by the defence and the goalkeeper neutralised without difficulty.
12’ Xewkija’s keeper Kyle Attard was well placed to save a free kick by Fabricio Rozkiewicz.
13’ The Tigers replied wit an effort by Elton Da Silva from a good position that missed the target.
28’ Xewkija’s Rodney Buttigieg produced a good move from the right flank but his low shot was weak and goalie Mladen Kukrika saved without difficulty.
31’ A shot from long distance by Xewkija’s Haruna Shodija Shola missed the target.
33’ The Wanderers could have capitalised better when goalie Kyle Attagrechrd failed to hold a free kick by Fabricio Rozkiewicz and from the resultant melee Aaron Touraha’s attempt was blocked to a corner by the defence.
35’ Xewkija’s goalie made up for the mistake as he managed to block a close ranged shot by Aud-Gustine James Obaje following a miskick by the defence.
36’ The Tigers replied with another good shot by Elton Da Silva that ended just wide.
40’ Xewkija protested for a penalty when Elton Da Silva tried to defend the ball inside Victoria’s area but ended on the floor following a challenge with an opponent.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
The outcome of the encounter continued to be uncertain for most of the second period as the Wanderers opened th score but Xewkija had a determined reaction in an attempt to obtain a positive result.
3’ (1-0) penalty The Wanderers were awarded a penalty for a foul by Martin Hrubsa on Aud-Gustine James Obaje and Fabricio Rozkiewicz placed in goal with a low shot from the spot kick.
8’ Victoria could have doubled the score when Aud-Gustine James Objae passed through the defence within Xewkija’s area but Haruna Shodija Shola recovered in time and cleared to a corner. From the resultant corner kick by Fabricio Rozkiewicz the defence managed t clear the ball from the goalmouth.
11’ Xewkija replied through an effort by Elton Da Silva that was weak and neutralised by goalie Mladen Kukrika.
15’ Xewkija kept insisting and created danger inside the area through an overhead kick by Rodney Buttigieg that was cleared to a corner and form the same corner action Xewkija protested for alleged handling by the defence in an attempt to clear the ball from the area.
16’ (red card) Xewkija reduced to ten players when Haruna Shodija Shola committed retaliation after suffering a foul just outside Victoria’s area.
17’ (crossbar) From the resultant free kick by the attempt by Elton Da Silva hit the crossbar.
18’ A free kick form long distance by Emiliano Lattes was neutralised by Victoria’s keeper.
25’ Victoria’s goalie Mladen Kukrika was well placed and saved easily an effort by Elton Da Silva after receiving from substitute Matthias Mercieca.
25’ The same Da Silva could have concluded better following a cross form the right flank but the veteran striker lifted the ball over the crossbar from close distance.
Xewkija kept insisting despite playing with a player less on the field and the Wanderers were forced to protect their territory with many players.
36’ (2-0) The Wanderers doubled the score following a counter break when Nicholas Vella released Aud-Guistine James Obaje who entered the area but had his attempt that was blocked by goalie Kyle Attard and from the rebound the same Vella concluded easily into an open goal.
37’ Xewkija could have reduced the deficit but a strike form outside the area by Joseph George Vella was turned to a corner with difficulty by goalie Mladen Kukrika.
45+2’ Xewkija were again denied from scoring with another difficult save by goalie Mladen Kukrika who turned to a corner a close ranged shot by Joseph George Vella.
45+3’ The same Vella had another attempt form the edge of Victoria’s area but the shot was weak and the goalkeeper saved without difficulty.
FT (SKVW 2 – XT 0)
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
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