Wanderers re-open relegation tussle with an impressive win

9 February 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 12) Gozo Stadium

Sannat Lions FC : 0

SK Victoria Wanderers : 4

6’ (0-1) o.g. Anthony Sultana

26’ (0-2) Gabriel Cardona

38’ (0-3) Aud-Gustine James Obaje

77’ (0-4) Fabricio Rozkiewicz

Sannat L:

L. Xuereb, A. Sultana, L.B. Da Silva (A. Azzopardi), D. Bellotti (H. Muscat), H.F. Solis, D. Borg (N. Grima), M.M. Uzor, M. Mamo, M. Mifsud, N. Biculjevic, F.J. Xuereb.

SK Victoria W:

M. Kukrika, A. Refalo, A. Agyeman, A.J. Obaje, N. Camilleri (D. Kuru), O. Curmi (E. Zammit), F. Rozkiewicz, D.U. Monday (K. Grima), G. Cardona (J.W. Meilak), A. Touarha (O. Fenech), N. Vella.

SK Victoria Wanderers produced their best performance of the season and earned three very important points from a 4-0 win against Sannat Lions.  This was a clash between two teams who needed points to move away from the relegation zone.  The Wanderers were five points behind Sannat prior to this encounter and therefore they needed the full points to re-open their chances to retain their status for another season.  On the other hand a draw could have been enough for Sannat to retain a safe position on the table.  With this result the Wanderers pulled three other teams in serious relegation trouble as the Citizens are now on equal points at the bottom of the table with Oratory and both teams are just one point away from Xewkija Tigers and two points from Sannat.

The win for the Wanderers was well deserved.  They were more motivated and seemed in a better physical condition throughout the ninety minutes.  Victoria not only scored four goals but created many other good scoring opportunities so that the win could have been with a larger margin.  Victoria’s defence should also be given credit for this result as they managed to keep a clean sheet for the second consecutive match and denied Sannat from creating serious danger.  Sannat was disappointed in this match, particularly when considering that they defeated Victoria in the match between the two sides of the first round and also because they were coming from a series of positive performances.  Sannat may have been considered as favourites in this match but they were punished for overconfidence and failed to produce a reaction to Victoria’s play.

Timeline

The Wanderers had a better start and created more danger than their opponents so that they opened a two-goal lead before the half-hour mark.

6’ (0-1) The Wanderers opened the score on their first action within Sannat’s area as Aud-Gustine James Obaje defended the ball and addressed towards goal.  Sannat’s defender Antony Sultana badly in an attempt to clear the ball from the goalmouth and committed an own goal.

10’ The Wanderers could have added another goal when Aud-Gustine James Obaje entered Sannat’s territory but goalie Lorjean Xurereb left his area in time and managed to block the danger.

11’ Sannat replied through a strike from outside the area by Henry Fabian Solis that was well saved by goalie Mladen Kukrika.

13’ Victoria were again dangerous through a personal initiative by Aaron Touarha who entered the area but concluded weakly and the goalkeeper saved without difficulty.

17’ Sannat’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb was well placed and saved a shot from an ideal position by Gabriel Cardona.

26’ (0-2) The Wanderers doubled the score through a shot from close distance by Gabriel Cardona following a cross from the right flank by Aaron Touarha.

Sannat’s reaction was sterile.

38’ (0-3) Victoria scored their third goal when Sannat’s rearguard failed to clear a through ball from the midfield and Aud-Gustine James Obaje took advantage, entered the area, turned around the goalkeeper and netted easily from close distance.

40’ The Wanderers could have scored another goal but Nicholas Vella’s attempt following a low shot by Gabriel Cardona ended wide.

42’ Victoria were again dangerous through a shot by Fabricio Rozkiewicz that ended wide.

HT (0 – 3)

Second Half

Sannat came out more aggressive after the break-in an attempt to re-open the issue while the Wanderers tried to protect their lead but the latter continued to create more dangerous actions mainly with counter breaks.

4’ Sannat’s Matthias Michael Uzor passed through Victoria’s defence with a personal action but his shit was neutralised by goalie Mladen Kukrika.

8’ The Wanderers replied with personal action by Aud-Gustine James Obaje who entered the area but his shot from an angled position was blocked by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and the defence cleared the danger.

9’ Sannat’s Henry Fabian Solis won the ball within Victoria’s territory but his shot from long distance was saved to a corner by goalie Mladen Kukrika.

13’ Victoria’s Aud-Gustine James Obaje had a good attempt following a cross by Fabricio Rozkiewicz that was blocked to a corner by the defence.

15’ The Wanderers went very close to adding another goal when Aaron Touarha entered Sannat’s area but had his shot that was partially saved by the goalkeeper and defender Anthony Sultana cleared the ball from the goalmouth to avoid a certain goal.

17’ The Citizens operated another breakthrough Gabriel Cardona who entered the area from the right flank but his low shot from an angled position ended wide.

21’ The same Cardona had another attempt from a good position following a prolonged action but the ball ended wide.

23’ The Wanders missed another good scoring opportunity when Aud-Gustine James Obaje incredibly headed incredibly wide from an ideal position following a free-kick by Fabricio Rozkiewicz.

31’ In another counter break Victoria’s Aud-Gistine James Obaje entered the area and turned around the goalkeeper but he concluded incredibly high with an open goal at his mercy.

32’ (0-4) The Wanderers managed to score the fourth goal that arrived when Aud-Gustine James Obaje released Fabricio Rozkiewicz and the latter netted with a low drive 

34’ The same Rozkiewicz could have scored another goal but his lob from a good position when Sannat’s goalie was out of his position ended wide.

41’ Sannat could have scored a consolation goal but a header by Henry Fabian Solis following a free-kick by substitute Hayden Muscat ended wide.

44’ Victoria’s substitute Owen Fenech had a strike from outside the area that was well saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.

FT (SL 0 – SKVW 4)

Referee: Fyodor Zammit