Munxar turn defeat to a win

6 March 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 11) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Munxar Falcons FC: 2

St Lawrence Spurs FC: 1

12’ (0-1) Alen Haska

39’ (1-1) Ayesller Carvalho

49’ (2-1) Ayesller Carvalho

Munxar F:

D. Galea, C. Gafa, P. Parnis, P. Rapa (R. Grima), M. Azzopardi, L. Meilak, L. Portelli (O. Farrugia), A. Carvalho, G. Sillato (A. Buttigieg), M. Farugia, K. Mizzi (D.P. Borg).

St Lawrence S:

Co. Mercieca, L. Attard, G. Portelli, A. Attard, A. Haska, V.J. Saliba, C. Cauchi, C. Azzopardi, J.M. Portelli, Ch. Mercieca (L. Dimech), J. Buhagiar (C. Grima).

Munxar Falcons turned a defeat into a 2-1 win in their match against St Lawrence Spurs and with the points obtained they increased their lead over the same Spurs so that they become favourites to end at the runners-up position at the end of the campaign.  This was an important match for the two sides as Munxar were coming from a heavy defeat in their previous match and could have compromised the second place on the table, while the Spurs were aiming to extend a positive run which them moving from the lower places on the table to becoming challengers for the position which puts them in the play-off with the team of the first division that ends up in the second place from the bottom of the final table.

This first match of the third and final round for the two sides turned out into an entertaining encounter where the outcome remained uncertain until the final whistle.  Munxar’s win matured with a goal scored in each half by their Brazilian striker Ayesller Carvalho.  The Falcons managed to defend their lead as St Lawrence were erratic in their finishing so they compromised the efforts during the second period to save the result.

Timeline

The match was well contested during the first period as St Lawrence came out more aggressive and scored an early goal but Munxar had a good reaction and recovered the deficit.

6’ The Spurs went very close to open the score but a low shot by Alen Haska was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Daniel Galea.

12’ (0-1) St Lawrence took the lead when Alen Haska took the ball from Munxar’s defence within their area and fired easily in goal from an unmarked position.

4’ Munxar replied with an initiative by Ayesller Carvalho who entr4d he are but had his shot from an angled position that was blocked by goalie Courtney Mercieca.

21’ St Lawrence’s goalie Courtney Mercieca was well placed and neutralise an effort by Kenneth Mizzi who was released inside the area by Ayesller Carvalho.

26’ Munxar were again dangerous through a strike by Gabriel Sillato that ended on the side of the net.

28’ St Lawrence’s Alen Haska could have created more danger but his cross-shot missed the target.  

32’ Munxar’s goalie Daniel Galea was called to make a good save to turn to a corner a shot by Alen Haska.

38’ St Lawrence’s goalie Courtney Mercieca was once again called to make a difficult intervention to save to a corner a low cross-shot by Luke Meilak. 

39’ (1-1) From the resultant corner kick by Paul Rapa Munxar scored the equaliser through a header by Ayesller Carvalho that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.

HT (1-1)

Second Half

The match continued to be quite interesting as the two sides tried to take command of the play.  Munxar managed to take the lead just after the restart, resisted St Lawrence’s reaction and went close to increasing their lead on more than one occasion through counter breaks.

4’ (2-1) Munxar turned the result in their favour when Ayesller Carvalho received the ball just outside St Lawrence’s area from Luke Portelli and surprised the goalkeeper with a first-timer.

8’ The Spurs replied through a shot by Jurgen Mario Portelli that was well saved by goalie Daniel Galea.

14’ Munxar were again dangerous through an effort from an angled position by Ayesller Carvalho that was blocked by goalie Courtney Mercieca.

28’ St Lawrence could have created more danger but a header by Joseph Buhagiar from a corner kick by Luke Attard was blocked by Munxar’s keeper.

29’ The Falcons operated a counter break in the following action as Ayesller Carvalho entered St Lawrence’s territory but had his first attempt partially saved by goalie Courtney Mercieca and from the rebound, the same Carvalho concluded incredibly wide with an open goal at his mercy.

36’ St Lawrence were dangerous through a shot from an angled position that ended just over the crossbar.

38’ The Spurs could have capitalised better when Alen Haska took the ball from Munxar’s defence and entered the area but central defender Mario Farrugia made a decisive recovery and denied the striker from concluding towards goal from an ideal position.

44’ Munxar could have made sure of the win when Luke Meilak came face to face with the goalkeeper at the edge of Lawrence’s area following a counter break but goalie Courtney Mercieca had good timing and blocked the danger.

45’ St Lawrence replied with personal action by Alen Haska who entered the area from the right flank but the striker saw his shot ending on the side of the net.

FT (MF 2 – SLS 1)

Referee: Patrick Falzon