Qala move very close to winning the title with a close win

5 March 2022

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

Qala Saints FC: 1

Xaghra United FC : 0

48’ (1-0) Brandon Said

(red card – after final whistle) Steve Sultana (XU)

Qala S:

M. Muscat, J. Portelli, S. Sillato (S. Muscat), Jsph. Buttigieg, M. Buttigieg, S. Farrugia, E. Buttigieg, B. Said, F. Mumford (P. Muscat), E.R. Okpokwu (C. Farrugia), M. Xerri.

Xaghra U:

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

Qala scored a goal in the opening stages of the second half in the match against Xaghra United and earned three precious points which put them very close to becoming mathematically champions and returning to the top flight next season after many years.  This was the first match of the third and final round of the campaign and this result may be enough for the Maroons to achieve their ambition in the case that their closest rivals Munxar Falcons do not win their commitment of this Match-day.

Qala’s win was well deserved as they saw more of the ball than their opponents but they may have been overconfident as they failed to convert their superiority into open scoring opportunities and could not put their minds at rest from the win at an early stage of the encounter so that the outcome of the encounter remained in contention until the final whistle.  Xaghra tried to extend their positive recent performances in an attempt to move to a better place on the table but they were very weak in attack and they rarely created danger towards Qala’s goal.

Timeline

Qala, as expected, took command of play from the early stages but they found it more difficult than expected to take the lead as Xaghra showed character to resist the pressure and the actions towards the goal were quite rare.

5’ Xaghra’s goalie Leonard Camilleri was well placed and turned to a corner with some difficulty a header from close distance by Brandon Said.

Qala kept insisting but Xaghra defended well and for most of the time they let their opponents away from the danger area.

26’ Qala could have opened the score but a close raged attempt by Brandon Said following a cross from the right by Stefan Farrugia ended just wide.

31’ Xaghra’s goalie Leonard Camilleri was again called to make a good save to block a low shot from an angled position by Stefan Farrugia and the defence cleared the danger.

34’ Qala were again dangerous when Xaghra’s Shemar Tristan Blair headed away from the goalmouth following a corner action but Jeremy Camilleri’s first-timer towards the far post ended just wide.

 44’ Qala’s Samuel Sillato delivered an inviting ball in front of Xaghra’s goalmouth from a corner kick but the header by Brandon Said ended just over the crossbar.

HT (0-0)

Second Half

Qala took the driving seat from the early stages of the second period as they scored an early goal and were in a position to administer Xaghra’s reaction.

3’ (1-0) Qala opened the score when Xaghra’s goalie Leonard Camilleri left his area in an attempt to clear the ball but missed the timing so that Brandon Said took advantage and addressed the ball into an open goal despite the attempt of central defender Jonathan Xibberas to clear the ball from the fatal line.

Xaghra’s reaction was sterile while Qala maintained composure and did not risk exposing their defence so that the two goalkeepers were not called to make any difficult interventions.

34’ Qala could have doubled the score but a shot by substitute Samwel Muscat following a short free-kick was weak and goalie Leonard Camilleri saved without difficulty.

37’ Xaghra’s goalie Leonard Camilleri denied Qala from scoring the second goal when he blocked a close-ranged attempt by Brandon Said after receiving from Martin Buttigieg.

(red card) After the final whistle, Xaghra’s Steve Sultana and Qala’s official Christian Bugeja were shown a red card for fighting.

FT (QS 1 – XU 0)

Referee: Vladimir Rizoski