Tristan Blair scores four goals as Xaghra stun Munxar

26 February 2022

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

Munxar Falcons FC: 1

Xaghra United FC: 4

25’ (1-0) Luke Meilak

51’ (1-1) Shemar Tristan Blair

69’ (1-2) Shemar Tristan Blair

85’ (1-3) penalty Shemar Tristan Blair

90’ (1-4) Shemar Tristan Blair

Munxar F:

D. Galea, C. Gafa, A. Buttigieg (J.P. Grima), P. Rapa (G. Sillato), M. Azzopardi (O. Farrugia), L. Meilak, M. Debrincat, N. Haber, L. Portelli, R. Grima (M. Farrugia), D.P. Borg (K. Mizzi).

Xaghra U:

A. Debono, J. Bajada, J. Xiberras, L. Sultana, S.T. Blair, M. Cordina, S. Sultana, S. Bonello, F. Cauchi (J. Camilleri), E. Galea (A. Cini), E. Scerri.

Xaghra United ended the second round of the campaign on an excellent note as they turned a defeat into a 4-1 win over Munxar Falcons.  With this result, Xaghra re-opened their chances to move away from the lower places on the table and may also aim to at least end the league at the third spot.  With this result, Xaghra also took revenge for the defeat conceded against the same Munxar in the match between the two sides of the first round.

The two sides had different reasons to aim for the three points at stake.  Munxar needed the win to consolidate their second place on the table while Xaghra needed a positive result to re-join the teams who are challenging for a mid-table position.  Munxar seemed to head towards obtaining a win as they ended the first half in the lead despite playing without their influential striker Ayesller Carvalho who is injured.  However, Xaghra were not demoralised and during the second period, they produced a strong reaction where their striker Shemar Tristan Blair distinguished himself by scoring the four-goal that turned the result in Xaghra’s favour.

Timeline

The play was rather balanced during the first part of the match as the two sides came out with the intention to obtain a positive result.  As a result, the two defensive departments were often in control of the respective strikers so that the actions on goal were rare.

19’ Xaghra could have opened the score but Johan Bajada missed a good scoring opportunity when his attempt from a close distance missed the target.

22’ Xaghra were again dangerous through an initiative by Luke Sultana who entered Munxar’s area but goalie Daniel Galea left his position in time and blocked the danger.

25’ (1-0) Munxar took the lead in their first serious attempt towards goal when Luke Portelli unmarked Luke Meilak and the latter netted with a low drive.

35’ Xaghra replied through a shot by Matthias Cordina from the edge of the area that was saved with difficulty by goalie Daniel Galea.

HT (1-0)

Second Half

After the resumption, Xaghra came out determined and produced some pressure on Munxar’s defence so that the match became much more interesting.

6’ (1-1) Xaghra levelled the score when Shemar Tristan Blair entered Munxar’s area with personal action, turned around the defence and was placed in goal with a low shot.

10’ Xaghra could have turned the result in their favour as Shemar Tristan Blair once again produced a personal action inside Munxar’s area but missed the opportunity to conclude towards the goal.  However, the same Tristan Blair released Luke Sultana but the latter saw his first shot that was blocked by Munxar’s Neville Haber and from the rebound, the same Sultana conclude incredibly wide.

12’ Munxar replied with a break by Luke Meilak who entered the area but ended on the floor inside the area following a challenge by Silvan Bonello but the referee did not notice any infringement.

20’ Xaghra were unlucky when a strike by Shemar Tristan Blair following a personal action was stopped by the post.

24’ (1-2) Xaghra confirmed the good moment and took the lead when a cross-shot by Francesco Cauchi was partially saved by goalie Daniel Galea and Shemar Tristan Blair took the short clearance and headed easily in gal from close distance.

37’ Munxar could have capitalised better but a low shot by substitute Kenneth Mizzi from n unmarked position was weak and easily saved by Munxar’s goalie Daniel Galea.

40’ (1-3) Xaghra made sure of the win when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by substitute Gabriel Sillato on Shemar Tristan Blair and the same striker netted his shot from the spot-kick to mark a personal hat-trick.

45’ (1-4) Munxar were demoralised and Xaghra sealed the win when Luke Sultana released Shemar Tristan Blair who fired in goal with a strike from outside the area that ended out of the reach of Munxar’s goalie so that the striker marked his excellent performance by scoring the four goals for his side.

FT (MF 1 – XU 4)

Referee: Jason Portelli