25 February 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 14) Gozo Stadium
Sannat Lions FC: 1
Ghajnsielem FC: 1
12’ (0-1) penalty Igor Nedeljkovic
67’ (1-1) Marlon Mamo
Sannat L:
L. Xuereb, A. Sultana, D. Bellotti (M. Azzopardi), H.F. Solis, D. Borg, M.M. Uzor, M. Mamo, M. Mifsud (N. Grima), N. Biculjevic, A. Azzopardi, F.J. Xuereb.
Ghajnsielem FC:
A. Parnis, K. Borg, De. Bogdanovic, D. Farrugia, K. Mercieca, K. Grima, J. De Souza Ferreira, R. Watanabe, L. Grima, I. Nedeljkovic, M. Portelli (K. Farrugia).
Ghajnsielem’s ambitions to challenge for the second place suffered a setback in the last match of the second round as they dropped two precious points when they were held to a draw of two goals by relegation strugglers Sannat Lions. Ghajnsielem were expected to make up for the disappointing defeat conceded in the match against Sannat in the first round but they failed to live up to the expectations.
The Blacks produced their best play during the first half but they only managed to take a one-goal lead. After the break, Ghajnsielem seemed overconfident and allowed their opponents to produce a reaction so that when the latter managed to recover the deficit the outcome of the encounter could have gone either way. However, the point obtained by the two teams is just as each side prevailed over the opponent for a half each and the two sides were therefore rewarded for their efforts.
For this match, Ghajnsielem were without six regular players. Michael Bezzina, Shaun Attard and Alberto Xuereb were suspended, while Johnny Camilleri, Sam Frank Bajada and Jhon Arboleda Valencia are injured. The Blacks had veteran Matthew Portelli who was making a return in the top division of Gozitan football after a long time. On the other hand, Sannat were without their regular central defender Lucas Baretto da Silva due to the suspension but the Lions had goalie Lorjean Xuereb in excellent form as was the main protagonist of the encounter with a series of important interventions that were decisive in terms of the final score.
Timeline
During the opening minutes, the play took place mainly in the midfield but as time passed by Ghajnsielem took supremacy while Sannat found it very difficult to produce a reaction.
11’ Sannat created the first dangerous attempt that arrived through a corner kick by Matthias Michael Uzor that was saved in two attempts by goalie Adrian Parnis.
12’ (0-1) penalty Ghajnsielem however broke the deadlock from a penalty awarded for a foul by goalie Lorjean Xuereb on Igor Nedeljkovic and the same striker converted from the spot-kick.
16’ Ghajnsielem’s Daniel Farrugia had a shot from a long distance that ended away from goal
23’ The Blacks were again dangerous but the shot from a free-kick by Igor Nedeljkovic missed the target
28’ Igor Nedeljkovic tried to pass through Sannat’s defence but his low shot was weak and easily saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.
30’ Ghajnsieem’s striker Igor Nedelkovic had an effort that was saved to a corner by Sannat’s goalkeeper.
35’ The same goalie Lorjen Xuereb was well placed and saved a low shot by Igor Nedeljkovic following a counter break.
38’ Ghajnsielem could have doubled the score but a close-range shot by Igor Nedeljkovic was blocked by Sannat’s keeper and from the rebound, the same Nedeljkovic had his attempt that was stopped by the crossbar
40’ Sannat operated a good action through Henry Fabian Solis but from his pass, Aaron Azzopardi’s attempt was saved in two attempts by goalie Adrian Parnis.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
Sannat came out more aggressive and almost surprised their opponents from two good scoring opportunities and as time passed by they gained more confidence so that they levelled the score and tried to turn the result in their favour.
7’ Ghajnsielem’s Adrian Parnis made an important intervention to save a close-range shot by Marlon Mamo following a counter break.
9’ Sannat once again threatened Ghajnsielem’s defence when a low shot by Henry Fabian Solis was partially saved by Ghajnsielem’s keeper and the defence cleared the danger from the area.
Ghajnsielem continued to suffer Sannat’s breaks but the latter were often erratic in their final passing and missed some opportunities to create more danger.
20’ Ghajnsielem replied through an attempt from a free-kick by Igor Nedeljkovic that missed the target.
22’ (1-1) Sannat’s efforts were rewarded when they scored the equaliser that arrived through a long-ranged lob by Marlon Mamo, when the goalkeeper was out of his position, with the ball hitting the crossbar before entering in goal.
The match became much more interesting as Sannat increased their efforts while Ghajnsielem seemed shocked and did not manage to regain the superiority that they expressed during the first half.
38’ Ghajnsielem operated a counter break where Igor Nedeljkovic defended the ball despite the challenge by the defence but his low effort was cleared off the fatal line by defender Aaron Azzopardi, with the goalkeeper beaten, to avoid a certain goal.
45+3’ Sannat’s goalie once again distinguished himself and saved the result for his side when he managed to block a low shot from inside the area by Igor Nedeljkovic.
FT (SL 1 – GHJ 1)
Referee: Daniel Casha
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