Qala increase their lead at the top of the table

26 February 2022

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

Zebbug Rovers FC: 1

Qala Saints FC : 3

2’ (0-1) Brandon Said

26’ (0-2) Ebube Ralph Okpokwu

45+1’ (1-2) Daniel Mesa Pineros

81’ (1-3) Brandon Said

83’ (red card) Ian Buttigieg (ZR)

Zebbug R:

F. Portelli, I. Buttigieg, E. Bugeja, C. Gauci, D. Mesa Pineros (D. Mercica), E. Gauci, M. Camilleri Psaila (O. Atzori), N.J. Cini (J. Azzopardi), M. Grech, R. Saliba (C. Farrugia), P. Spiteri.

Qala S:

M. Muscat, Jsph. Buttigieg, M. Buttigieg, S. Farrugia (NC. Njoku), C. Farrugia (S. Sillato), E. Buttigieg, P. Muscat (M. Zerafa), B. Said, F. Mumford, E.R. Okpokwu (S. Muscat), M. Xerri.

Qala Saints ended the second round on an excellent note and earned another deserved win so that they increased their lead over their closest rivals to eleven points.  With this result, Qala is just two wins away from becoming mathematically champions of the category and making a return in the top flight after a long period.

Qala confirmed their supremacy in the category in this match against Zebbug Rovers and opened a two-goal lead before the half-hour mark.  The Maroons suffered a setback seconds from the end of the first half when they conceded a goal from their opponents but after the break, they managed to keep control of the play and sealed the win by scoring the third goal. On the other hand, Zebbug extended their negative patch and they are now in the tussle to avoid the lower positions on the table.

Timeline

Qala had an aggressive start and dominated play from the first minutes of play.  Zebbug tried hard to resist Qala’s pressure but they were forced to defend with many players so that they compromised the possibility to create an offensive play.

2’ (0-1) Qala opened the score when Stefan Farrugia released Brandon Said and the latter placed in goal with a low drive.

14’ Zebbug’s defender Eman Bugeja saved his goal when he blocked a close-range shot by Qala’s Joseph Buttigieg.

25’ Zebbug’s goalie Francesco Portelli made a good intervention to clear away from the goalmouth a low shot from an angled position by Martin Buttigieg.

26’ (0-2) Qala doubled the score when Brandon Said took the ball outside Zebbug’s area following a corner action and passed to Ebube Ralph Okpokwu who turned around his direct opponent and fired in goal from close distance.

36’ Qala could have added another goal when Stefan Farrugia came face to face with Zebbug’s goalie Francesco Portelli but the striker had his close-ranged attempt that was blocked by the goalie.  From the rebound, Brandon Said managed to arrive on the ball but the latter had his low shot that ended wide.

37’ Zebbug’s goalie blocked with some difficulty a shot by Charlon Farrugia and from the rebound, the attempt from close distance by Brandon Said s stopped by the post.

42’ The same goalkeeper made the best save of the afternoon when he turned to a corner a strike by Stefan Farrugia.

45+1’ (1-2) Zebbug reduced the deficit when Ian Buttigieg released Daniel Mesa Pineros and the latter entered Qala’s area, turned around the goalkeeper and placed in goal with a low shot.

HT (1-2)

Second Half

Qala continued to dictate matters during the second period while Zebbug tried to come out of their defence with sporadic breaks in an attempt to recover the score.

10’ Qala’s Stefan Farrugia had a good shot from outside the area that was stopped by the crossbar.

Play for most of the second period became rough and with few actions at the two ends of the pitch.

36’ (1-3) Qala practically made sure of the win when substitute Samuel Sillato released Brandon Said and the latter placed in goal with a low shot.

38’ (red card) Zebbug were reduced to ten players when Ian Buttigieg was sent off for a foul in the midfield on Peter Muscat.

FT (ZR 1 – QS 3)

Referee: Patrick Falzon