6 February 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 12) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 1
Kercem Ajax FC : 3
27’ (0-1) Sebastien Martinez Turizo
32’ (0-2) Euller Da Silva Rodrigues
51’ (0-3) Sebastien Martinez Turizo
74’ (1-3) Joseph George Vella
Xewkija T:
F. Vella, J. Axiak, J. Vella, M. Mercieca (J. Saliba), J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg, J. Xuereb (D. Mercieca), M Hrubsa, E.P. Lattes, J.G. Vella, E.A. Da Silva.
Kercem A:
G. Bugeja, D. Cassar, N. Mercieca, L.H. Santana Motta, N. Inguanez, J. Theuma, S. Martinez Turizo, C. Camilleri (C. Attard), A. Mizzi, W.S. Dos Santos (J. Buttigieg), E. Da Silva Rodrigues.
Kercem Ajax returned to winning ways by defeating Xewkija Tigers and with the points obtained they regained their chances to challenge for the second place on the table. This was an important match for the two sides as both Kercem and Xewkija were coming from a stretch of negative results. Kercem needed a positive result to consolidate their place with the top teams while Xewkija needed points in an attempt to avoid the risk of getting involved in the red zone. The match between the two sides of the first round ended in a ten-goal thriller where Kercem ended up obtaining a 6-4 win and this match could have easily ended with the same score when considering the scoring opportunities created during the ninety minutes.
Xewkija were motivated to obtain a positive result to make up for the defeat conceded in the match against Kercem of the first round. They had goalie Franklin Vella who was making his debut after an experience with Zabbar St Patricks but were without their coach Alexandar Simoncic on the bench.
Kercem’s win however was well deserved as they held territorial supremacy for most of the encounter and produced more scoring opportunities than Xewkija. Kercem paved the way to the win by scoring two goals during the first period and added another goal during the opening minutes of the second half. Xewkija were frustrated, missed some opportunities where they could have remained in contention and only managed to score when there was not much time left to save the result.
Timeline
Kercem were undoubtedly the better side throughout the first half and could have entered for the break with a lead of more than two goals. Xewkija on the other hand suffered Kercem’s play ad only managed to threaten Kercem’s defence with sporadic breaks.
9’ Kercem went very close to take the lead but Andrew Mizzi’s shot following a cross by Daniel Cassar from the right flank was weak and goalie Franklin Vella saved without difficulty.
10’ The Ajax could have capitalised better when Xewkija’s keeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger but Andrew Mizzi and Euller Da Silva Rodrigues missed the opportunity to address the ball towards an open goal.
12’ (protests for penalty) Kercem protested for a penalty when Chris Camilleri released Euller Da Silva Rodrigues but the striker ended on the floor inside the area following a challenge by his direct opponent.
14’ Xewkija replied through a counter break by Rodney Buttigieg who entered the area from the right flank but from his inviting low cross. Joel Xuereb incredibly concluded badly and failed to hit the target.
20’ Kercem’s goalie Gaetano Bugeja was well placed and saved a direct free kick by Elton Da Silva.
21’ The Ajax could have opened the score but Chris Camilleri failed to connect to an inviting low cross by Andrew Mizzi.
22’ Xewkija’s keeper Franklin Vella blocked a good shot by Andrew Mizzi from an angled position and Chris Camilleri missed the opportunity to conclude from close distance.
27’ (0-1) Kercem managed to open the score when Xewkija’s defence failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth and form the resultant melee Sebastien Martinez Turizo placed easily in goal from close distance.
31’ Xewkija could have created more danger but Joel Xuereb’s shot from a good position missed the target.
32’ (0-2) Kercem doubled the score when Euller Da Silva Rodrigues entered Xewkija’s area from the left flank, lobbed over the goalkeeper and placed easily into an open goal with a low drive.
40’ Kercem went very close to add another goal but an effort by Chris Camilleri from a good position ended just wide.
44’ (goal disallowed) Kercem continued to create danger with a close ranged shot by Euller Da Silva Rodrigues that was blocked by goalie Franklin Vella and from the rebound Sebastien Martinez Turizo deposited the ball into an open net but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement.
44’ Xewkija replied with a strike by Emiliano Lattes that ended wide.
45+1’ Xewkija missed a good opportunity to re-open the score but an attempt by Elton Da Silva was neutralised by goalie Gaetano Bugeja.
45+3’ Kercem’s goalie Gaetano Bugeja denied Xewkija from scoring by turning to a corner a low shot by Elton Da Silva.
HT (0 – 2)
Second Half
Xewkija came out more aggressive as they tried to reduce the deficit but they ended up conceding the third goal in the first break operated by Kercem in the second half so that the match lost much of the interest.
2’ A shot by Elton Da Silva was saved to a corner by goalie Gaetano Bugeja.
6’ (0-3) Kercem operated a counter breakthrough Euller Da Silva Rodrigues, who turned around the goalkeeper outside the area but had his attempt cleared from the goalmouth by central defender Martin Hrubsa. The same Da Silva Rodrigues took the ball on the right flank and from his cross towards the far post Sebastien Martinez Turizo headed in goal.
14’ The Ajax were again dangerous through a low shot from an angled position by Chris Camilleri that ended wide.
15’ Xewkija replied with a low shot by Rodney Buttigieg when Kercem’s keeper was out of his position that ended wide.
16’ Kercem’s Chris Camilleri hit badly from a good position following a low cross from the right flank and the ball ended away from goal.
20’ Kercem operated another dangerous action but the shot by Andrew Mizzi after receiving from Chris Camilleri was well saved by goalie Franklin Vella.
24’ Xewkija missed an opportunity to reduce the score but a shot from close distance by Elton da Silva was blocked in front of Kercem’s goal by a Xewkija player and from the rebound, the attempt through a backheel by Rodney Buttigieg was blocked by the defence.
29’ (1-3) Xewkija managed to score when Joseph George Vella received the ball outside Kercem’s area, passed through the defence and placed in goal with a low shot.
33’ Kercem’s goalie Gaetano Bugeja was well placed and saved without much difficulty a free-kick from a long distance by Elton Da Silva.
36’ Xewkija’s Elton Da Silva had another attempt that ended wide and less than a minute later an effort by the same striker from an angled position was saved by Kercem’s goalie.
42’ Kercem’s goalie Gaetano Bugeja denied Xewkija from scoring a second goal when he saved to a corner a low shot by Elton Da Silva.
FT (XT 1 – KA 3)
Referee: Slawomir Olucha
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