6 March 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 15) Gozo Stadium
Nadur Youngsters FC : 3
Ghajnsielem FC : 5
48’ (1-0) Jordi Parnis
54’ (1-1) Shaun Attard
67’ (1-2) Kevin Farrugia
72’ (1-3) penalty Igor Nedeljkovic
81’ (2-3) Marcelo Barbosa
82’ (2-4) Igor Nedeljkovic
90’ (2-5) penalty Igor Nedeljkovic
90+4’ (3-5) Ederson Bruno Domingos
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, M. Tabone, L. Moreira, J.M. Vella, I. Xuereb, J. Zammit, M.J. Barbosa, S. Cassar, E. Bruno Domingos, G. Hili (G. Farrugia), J. Parnis (L. Atzori).
Ghajnsielem:
A. Parnis, K. Borg, Al. Xuereb (R. Watanabe), D. Farrugia, K. Mercieca, S. Attard, M. Bezzina (K. Farrugia), K. Grima, J. De Souza Ferreira, L. Grima, I. Nedeljkovic.
Ghajnsielem ended a long period where they compromised the possibility to challenge for the main honour with an impressive 5-3 win over the current leaders on the table and the hot favourites to win the title Nadur Youngsters. With this result, the Blacks not only inflicted the first defeat to Nadur after thirteen consecutive wins in the championship but consolidated their second spot on the table and also gained the confidence to be serious challengers for the other two honours of the season the BOV KO competition for the first division and the BOV GFA Cup. Ghajnsielem also broke a taboo with this win as it has been ten years since the last success in the Gozitan championship of the Blacks against their rivals Nadur Youngsters.
Nadur were hot favourites to start the third round with a win from this match as they were having a perfect run in the championship through convincing performances and seemed heading to win the championship unbeaten. Nadur was also followed by a sizeable crowd at the Gozo Stadium as a win from this match could have placed them a few points away from becoming mathematically champions. Nadur expressed their usual play for around an hour of the match but they lost composure midway through the second half when Ghajnsielem opened a two-goal lead and until the end of the match they only managed to make the score respectable.
On the other hand, Ghajnsielem were facing this match without any pressure particularly as they were struggling to find the best form after a long disappointing period and also because their coach Gotthard Conti had a limited selection due to injuries. However, Ghajnsielem’s mentor Conti achieved the best of the players on the field as the effective deployment at their defensive department and in the midfield not only made it difficult for Nadur to create serious danger but also instilled confidence in all the players who managed to capitalise with goals during the decisive phase of the encounter. Ghajnsielem’s collective performance was also complemented with the imprżessive game produced by their Serbian striker Igor Nedeljkovic who scored three of the fżive goals for his side.
The match between Nadur and Ghajnsielem was probably the best match played in Gozitan competitions this season. During the first period, the two sets of players expressed the high quality of play which is not very usual in local competitions. The match was at a deadlock at the end of the first half but play became much more open after the break as Nadur took the lead with a goal that arrived during the opening minutes. Ghajnsielem showed character in staging a reaction so that they also punished their opponents by turning the result in their favour so that they took the driving seat for the rest of the encounter.
Timeline
Nadur as expected came out more aggressive and produced some pressure on Ghajnsielem’s rearguard during the opening stages. However, Ghajnsielem were well organised and as time passed by they started to share play and produce some offensive actions.
5’ Nadur went very close to opening the score when Marcelo Barbosa entered Ghajnsielem’s area with personal action and released Ederson Bruno Domingos but the latter saw his low drive that was stopped by the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
7’ Ghajnsielem replied with personal action by Igor Nedeljkovic who entered the area but his low shot was weak saved easily saved by goalie Steve Sultana.
9’ Marcelo Barbosa had a shot from an angled position following prolonged action inside Ghajnsielem’s area that missed the target.
Ghajnsielem recovered from the difficult start and came out more out of their defence.
17’ Nadur were again dangerous when Marcelo Barbosa delivered a cross from the left towards the far post but Stefan Cassar incredibly headed wide from close distance.
22’ The Blacks had a good scoring opportunity when Igor Nedeljkovic unmarked Kurt Grima within Nadur’s area but the latter saw his attempt from an angled position that ended high.
27’ Nadur operated a good action from the left flank through Ederson Bruno Domingos but from his cross that was prolonged inside the area by Jordi Parnis, the header by Joseph Zammit ended just wide.
45’ Ghajnsielem’s goalie Adrian Parnis was well-paced to block a close-range shot by Ederson Bruno Domingos who was released by Marcelo Barbosa.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
Nadur had an excellent start for the second period as they took an early lead but they conceded Ghajnsielem’s reaction so that the latter scored the equaliser and for the rest of the encounter they grew in confidence and surprised their opponents by turning the result in their favour midway through the second half.
48’ – 3’ (1-0) Nadur opened the score in their first offensive action of the second period when a cross from the left flank by Gennaro Hili arrived at an unmarked Jordi Parnis inside Ghajnsielem’s area and the latter concluded easily in goal from close distance.
8’ Ghajnsielem replied with a good shot from an angled position by Igor Nedeljkovic that was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Steve Sultana.
9’ (1-1) From the resultant corner kick by Alberto Xuereb, Nadur’s defence failed to clear the danger, Daniel Farrugia prolonged inside the area and Shaun Attard fired in goal from close distance.
20’ Ghajnsielem’s goalie Adrian Parnis was at the right place to block a shot from an angled position by Marcelo Barbosa.
22’ (1-2) The Blacks turned the result in their favour through a close-ranged deflection by substitute Kevin Farrugia following a cross from the left by Alberto Xuereb.
26’ (1-3) penalty Nadur was shocked and conceded a penalty when Joseph Mario Vella tackled Alberto Xuereb as the latter entered the area and Igor Nedeljkovic made no mistake with his shot from the spot-kick.
35’ Nadur replied with personal action by Stefan Cassar but the latter saw his attempt from a good position end wide.
36’ (2-3) Nadur re-opened the issue when Ederson Bruno Domingos delivered a cross from the right flank and Marcelo Barbosa was at the right place and concluded in goal with a tap-in.
37’ (2-4) However, Nadur’s hopes to save the result were short-lived as Ghajnsielem re-established the two-goal lead when Alberto Xuereb delivered a cross from the left flank and Igor Nedeljkovic arrived on the ball before the goalkeeper and headed towards an open goal.
45’ (2-5) penalty Ghajnsielem sealed the win when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Lucas Moreira on Igor Nedeljkovic and the same striker registered a personal hat-trick with his shot from the spot-kick.
45+2’ Nadur could have reduced the deficit but a shot by Ederson Bruno Domingos following a personal action was blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis.
45+4’ (3-5) Nadur made the score more respectable when Marcelo Barbosa entered Ghajnsielem’s area but has his shot that was stopped by the crossbar. However, Ederson Bruni Domingos followed the actin and headed in a goal from the rebound.
FT (NY 3 – GHJ 5)
Referee: Darryl Agius
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