Gharb, St Lawrence end the second round with a draw

27 February 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 10) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Gharb Rangers FC: 1

St Lawrence Spurs FC: 1

8’ (1-0) Gabriel Debrincat

19’ (1-1) Jurgen Mario Portelli

78’ (red card) Daniel Micallef (SLS)

Gharb R:

O. Xuereb, A. Borg, C. Cutajar, G. Debrincat, N. Attard, J. Xerri, S. Farrugia, M. Ciangura, R. Aprestegui Duran, J. Cefai Farrugia, S. Azzopardi (J. Muscat).

St Lawrence S:

J. Grima, L. Attard (C. Mercieca), G. Portelli, A. Attard, C. Grima, A. Haska, C. Cauchi, J. Xuereb, D. Miallef, J.M. Portelli (V.J. Saliba), J. Buhagiar.

Gharb Rangers and St Lawrence Spurs obtained a point each from a draw of two goals so that the two sides retained their position on the table at the end of the second round of the campaign.  The Spurs defended their mid-table position while Gharb remain at the bottom place on the table with a five-point gap from their closest rivals.

The match turned out to be quite balanced although St Lawrence held territorial supremacy for most of the second half.  However, St Lawrence suffered a setback when they ended up playing with a player less and found it difficult to turn the result in their favour.  On the other hand, Gharb had a good start as they were more motivated to obtain the win but the Rangers were very weak in attack and managed to clinch the positive result through some fine interventions by their goalkeeper during the second period.

Timeline

The play took place in the midfield during the opening stages as soon as Gharb opened the score, the Spurs had a good reaction and obtained a deserved equaliser.

8’ (1-0) Gharb opened the score when Marco Ciangura released Gabriel Debrincat within St Lawrence’s territory and the young striker avoided the intervention by the goalkeeper and deposited the ball into an open goal.

15’ The Rangers were again dangerous through a low shot by Marco Ciangura after receiving from Carlos Cutajar that was well saved by St Lawrence’s goalie Justin Grima.

19’ (1-1) St Lawrence levelled the score when Alen Haska unmarked Jurgen Mario Portelli who entered the area and concluded in goal as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

24’ Gharb’s Gabriel Debrincat went again close to scoring but his lob following a through pass by Marco Ciangura ended high.

30’ Gharb’s goalie Owen Xuereb was well placed and blocked a good shot from an angled position by Jurgen Mario Portelli and from the rebound, Alen Haska’s attempt missed the target.

35’ St Lawrence operated another good action through Alen Haska who passed two direct opponents but his final low shot was saved by goalie Owen Xuereb.

HT (1-1)

Second Half

St Lawrence saw more of the ball for most of the second period and created danger towards Gharb’s goal, but the latter had their goalie in excellent form and made some decisive intervention to deny the Spurs from taking the lead.

1’ Gharb’s Gabriel Debrincat entered St Lawrence’s area but his attempt was well saved by goalie Justin Grima.

11’  The Spurs replied with an effort by Alen Haska following a personal action that ended wide.

14’ St Lawrence kept insisting and Christopher Cauchi unmarked Alen Haska inside Gharb’s area but Gharb’s goalie Owen Xuereb had good timing and left his position in time to block the attempt from close distance by the striker.

19’ The same goalkeeper made another important save to turn to a corner with some difficult shot by St Lawrence’s Alen Haska.

21’ St Lawrence’s Luke Attard headed wide from an ideal position following a cross by Christian Garima.

25’ Gharb’s goalie was again well placed and saved to a corner a strike from outside the area by Alen Haska.

28’ (red card) St Lawrence ended up playing with ten players when Daniel Micallef was sent off for a foul in the midfield on Rodrigo Apestegui Duran.

43’ Gharb could have obtained the win but a free kick by Rodrigo Apestegui Duran from a good position ended high.

FT (GR 1 – SLS 1)

Referee: Patrick Falzon