SK Victoria Wanderers keep hopes to avoid relegation alive with a draw

5 March 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 15) Gozo Stadium

SK Victoria Wanderers: 1

Kercem Ajax FC : 1

13’ (0-1) Sebastien Martinez Turizo

39’ (1-1) Gabriel Cardona

SK Victoria W:

M. Kukrika, A. Agyeman, A.J. Obaje, N. Camilleri, E. Zammit,  O. Curmi, N. Grech (J.w. Meilak), F. Rozkiewicz, D.U. Monday, G. Cardona, N. Vella.

Kercem A:

G. Bugeja, D. Cassar, N. Mercieca, L.H. Santana Motta, N. Inguanez, J. Theuma, S. Martinez Turizo, J. Buttigieg, C. Camilleri (W. Simeao Dos Santos), A. Mizzi, E. Da Silva Rodrigues.

SK Victoria Wanderers and Kercem Ajax repeated the same score of the match between the two sides of the second round and earned a point each from a 1-1 draw in the first match of the third round of the championship for the two sides.  SK Victoria Wanderers and Kercem Ajax were aiming to win this match for different reasons.

Kercem needed a win to keep chasing the runners-up position of the table while the Wanderers needed three points to move away from the bottom place on the table.  Kercem had additional motivation to obtain the win as they were coming from two defeats with a large score from two matches against Nadur Youngsters, the semi-final of the KO competition and a match from the championship, and they wanted to dedicate a positive result to show solidarity with their team-mate, Jean-Paul Mizzi, during a difficult moment for the loss of his young son Matteo that happened during the week.    With this result, the two sides practically remained in the same situation but moved closer to the respective teams above them on the table.

Kercem were in control of play for most of the first hour of play.  The Ajax scored an early goal and created some other good scoring opportunities which could have been capitalised in goals.  The Wanderers were not demoralised but were resilient during the difficult phase of the encounter so that they levelled the score before the break and during the second period they created as many scoring opportunities as their more quoted opponents.

Timeline

The two teams had a prudent approach and during the opening minutes lay took place mainly on the midfield.  However, Kercem opened the score in their first serious attempt and grew in confidence so that they denied the Citizens from producing an immediate reaction.  Victoria managed to recover a difficult moment and levelled the score minutes before the break.

13’ (0-1) Kercem won the ball in the midfield and from the resultant break, Euller Da Silva Rodrigues passed outside the area to Sebastien Martinez Turizo who concluded with a first-timer and the ball ended in goal despite the attempt of the goalkeeper to block the danger.

16’ Kercem’s Andrew Mizzi had a shot from a good position following a prolonged action that missed the target.

20’ Victoria’s goalie Mladen Kukrika was called to make a difficult save to avoid an own goal when he turned to a corner a header by defender David Udo Monday following a cross by Nathaniel Mercieca.

21’ From the resultant corner kick by Sebastien Martinez Turizo, Nicholas Inguanez’s header was well saved by the goalkeeper.

29’ Kercem’s Jason Theuma had a strike from outside the area that was neutralised without difficulty by Victoria’s keeper.

30’ The Wanderers had their first shot towards Kercem’s goal through an effort from outside the area by Gabriel Cardona but the ball missed the target.

39’ (1-1) The Wanderers levelled the score when Aud-Gustine James Obaje entered Kercem’s territory from the left flank, the defence failed to clear the low cross towards the goalmouth and Gabriel Cardona placed in goal with a low shot.

45+1’ Kercem were again dangerous but a header by Luiz Henrique Santana Motta from a cross by Martinez Turizo ended wide.

HT (1-1)

Second Half

After the break, the Ajax regained territorial supremacy and increased their efforts in an attempt to regain the lead while the Wanderers continued to defend with many players 

3’ Kercem’s Sebastien Martinez Turizo passed inside Victoria’s area but his low shot was blocked by Victoria’s goalie Mladen Kukrika.

8’ Kercem’s substitute Wesley Simeao Dos Santos had a shot from outside the area that was saved by Victoria’s keeper.

9’ Kercem kept insisting and Euller Da Silva Rodrigues also had a shot from outside the area that ended over Victoria’s goal.

20’ The Ajax went again close to scoring when Victoria’s defence cleared badly at the edge of the area by Andrew Mizzi’s low drive ended wide.

31’ The Wanderers could have capitalised better when Fabricio Rozkiewicz unmarked Aud-Gustine James Obaje inside Kercem’s area, the latter won a tussle with his direct opponent but had his close-range shot that was blocked by the defence with the goalkeeper beaten.

42’ Victoria were again dangerous but a low shot from outside the area by Gabriel Cardona ended wide.

44’ Kercem replied through a shot from a long distance by Luiz Henrique Santana Motta that ended just high.

45+2’ Kercem could have concluded better but a shot by Euller Da Silva Rodrigues following a prolonged action was weak and goalie Mladen Kukrika saved without difficulty.

FT (SKVW 1 – KA 1)

Referee: Andrea Sciriha