20 March 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 17) Gozo Stadium
Nadur Youngsters FC : 5
Xewkija Tigers FC : 1
1’ (1-0) Jordi Parnis
16’ (1-1) Elton Aleksandre Da Silva
27’ (2-1) Judivan Flor Da Silva
29’ (3-1) Marcelo Junior Barbosa
54’ (4-1) penalty Ederson Bruno Domingos
59’ (5-1) Judivan Flor Da Silva
*** Nadur Youngsters Champions
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, M. Tabone, L. Moreira, J.M. Vella (M.P. Camilleri), I. Xuereb, M.J. Barbosa, S. Cassar (J. Xerri), E. Bruno Domingos, G. Hili (O.P. Bugeja), J. Parnis (G. Farrugia), J.Flor Da Silva.(L. Atzori)
Xewkija T:
K. Attard, J. Axiak, J. Vella, N. Micallef, M. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg (S. Xuereb), O. Xuereb, D. Mercieca (M. Dingli), E.P. Lattes, H.S. Shola (M. Farrugia), E.A. Da Silva.
Nadur Youngsters became mathematically champions of the Gozitan football for the 13th time in the club history with the points obtained from a convincing 5-1 win over Xewkija Tigers. Nadur managed to achieve their ambition to win the championship despite the fact that they still have to play four more matches until the end of the league by taking full advantage of the defeat conceded by their closest rivals Ghajnsielem in their respective match form Match-Day 17 of the championship. This result, therefore, confirms the superiority of the Youngsters in Gozitan football this season, particularly when considering that they managed to make sure of the main honour at a very early stage even though they dropped five points from the seventeen matches from the two matches of the first and third round against the same Ghajnsielem.
This was Nadur’s third win over Xewkija from the three matches in the championship, which include a 7-0 win registered in the match between the two sides of the first round. Nadur was determined to obtain the victory and to start celebrating the honour in this match. The Youngsters dominated over their opponents and could have paved the way to the win during the early stages of the encounter. Xewkija surprised their more quoted opponents by scoring an equaliser but Nadur immediately regained territorial supremacy and converted their superiority by scoring four more goals until the end of the encounter.
For this match Nadur had their young striker Joseph Zammit missing as he was forming part for the first time of the U/21 National teams. On the other hand, Xewkija had central defender Martin Hrubsa and striker Rodney Buttigieg missing due to suspensions.
At the end of the match Nadur’s players, officials and supporters started a spontaneous celebration to mark the 13th title and they also reached Victoria Hotspurs to become the two Gozitan clubs who won the most championships in local football.
Timeline
Nadur could not have had a better start and opened the score in their first action so that they continued to dominate over their opponents. Nadur created various scoring opportunities and could have opened a comfortable lead within the first minutes of the encounter. Xewkija managed to level the score against the run of play but the Youngsters soon regained command of play and scored two more goals before the half-hour mark to pave the way to the win.
24sec. (1-0) Nadur opened the sore in their first action of the match when Marcelo Barbosa unmarked Jordi Parnis inside Xewkija’s area and the latter placed in goal with a low drive.
6’ The same Parnis could have created more danger but he hit badly from a good position and the goalkeeper saved without difficulty.
7’ (crossbar) Xewkija’s goalie Kyle Attard made a good intervention to turn to a corner a strike from outside the area by Marcelo Barbosa. From the resultant corner action, the defence cleared outside the area but a short by Judivan Flor Da Silva was stopped by the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.
9’ Nadur kept insisting and they were once again unlucky when a low shot by Marcelo Barbosa after receiving from Stefan Cassar shaved the base of the post.
10’ Nadur’s Marcelo Barbosa entered the area with a personal action but his low shot was blocked in two attempts by goalie Kyle Attard.
13’ The same goalkeeper once again denied Nadur from scoring the second goal with a good save following a shot by Judivan Flor Da Silva after receiving from Jordi Parnis.
16’ (1-1) Nadur was punished for the missed chances as Xewkija levelled the score when Josmar Vella headed towards the area following a free-kick by Emiliano Lattes and Elton Aleksandre Da Silva controlled at an unmarked position and concluded easily in goal from close distance.
21’ Nadur replied with an effort by Jordi Parnis that was neutralised by Xewkija’s goalie Kyle Attard.
24’ A free-kick by Stefan Cassar was again saved by Xewkija’s goalie Kyle Attard.
27’ (2-1) Nadur regained the lead through a close-range header by Judivan Flor Da Silva following a cross from h left flank by Gennaro Hili.
28’ Nadur’s Marcelo Barbosa had an attempt from a good position that ended just wide.
29’ (3-1) Marcelo Barbosa made up for the previous mistake as he added another goal when he received the ball inside the area from Judivan Flor Da Silva following a clearance by the defence and concluded in goal when he was alone in front of the goalkeeper.
43’ Xewkija’s goalie Kyle Attard is again at the right place to block to a corner a shot by Jordi Parnis following a cross by Marcelo Barbosa.
HT (3-1)
Second Half
For the second period, Nadur continued to produce continuous pressure on Xewkija’s defence and at the same time they continued to miss various scoring opportunities,
3’ Nadur’s Marcelo Barbosa entered the area from the left-hand side but had his attempt blocked by goalie Kyle Attard and the defence cleared the ball from the danger area.
5’ The Youngsters missed an open scoring opportunity when Ederson Bruno Domingos entered the area from the right-hand side and from his low cross, Jordi Parnis left the ball to an unmarked Marcelo Barbosa but the latter incredibly lifted over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.
6’ The same Barbosa had a low shot that was again blocked by Xewkija’s goalie.
9’ (4-1) penalty Nadur scored their fourth goal when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Josiah Buttigieg on Gennaro Hili and Ederson Bruno Domingos converted from the spot-kick.
14’ (5-1) Xewkija continued to suffer Nadur’s play and conceded another goal that arrived through a shot by Judivan Flor Da Silva after receiving inside the area from Jordi Parnis.
21’ Nadur went close to score another goal but an effort by Marcelo Barbosa following a personal action was blocked by Xewkija’s goalie Kyle Attard.
32’ Xewkija could have capitalised better but Matthias Mercieca and Josmar Vella both missed the opportunity to conclude from close distance following a free kick by Emiliano Lattes.
42’ Xewkija’s goalie Kyle Attard once again made an important intervention to block a close-ranged attempt by substitute Lorenzo Atzori following a cross from the right flank by the other substitute Michael Paul Camilleri.
FT (NY 5 – XT 1)
Referee: Etienne Mangion
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