4 March 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 15) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC: 1
Oratory Youths FC: 1
60’ (0-1) Ishmael Belhadj
88’ (1-1) penalty Elton Aleksandre Da Silva
Xewkija T:
F. Attard, J. Vella, N. Micallef (J. Saliba), M. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg, D. Mercieca, E.P. Lattes, J.G. Vella, H.S. Shola, E.A. Da Silva.
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, J.V. Ferrari Silva, K. Farrugia, H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, D.G. Lago, P, Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, D. Azzopardi, I. Belhadj, J. Grima, S. Azzopardi, Ju. Attard (K. Hili).
In the first match from the third round of the championship, Xewkija Tigers and Oratory Youths earned a point each from a draw of two goals so that the two sides retained their position on the table and both remain in the red zone of the table. However, Oratory may be more satisfied with the result as they defended their lead over the other teams aiming to avoid the drop.
In this match, Oratory confirmed their good moment of form in terms of offensive play and had a larger share of the time where they expressed the better play. However, the Youths lack the experience and failed to put their minds at rest of the result by scoring a second goal so that as time passed by Xewkija increased their efforts and managed to save the result with a goal that arrived two minutes form the end of regular time. This was Xewkija’s second consecutive positive result after a long period of disappointing results and performances which saw them falling down from a comfortable place on the table to the relegation zone.
The outcome of this encounter leaves five teams struggling to obtain points from the remaining matches in an attempt to keep the respective first division status as early as possible.
Timeline
Oratory saw more of the ball during the first period and created some good scoring opportunities. Xewkija struggled to defend their area, although their goalkeeper was not called to make difficult interventions, and found it very difficult to produce an offensive play.
5’ The Youths could have opened the score when Keith Farrugia took the ball from a short clearance by the defence and his shot from outside the area arrived at Daniel Azzopardi who incredibly concluded wide from a good position.
14’ Oratory missed another potential scoring opportunity when Goncalves Barbosa hit the ball inside Xewkija’s area following a cross from a long distance by Vinicius Ferreira but Keith Farrugia’s low shot was blocked in front of the goalmouth by central defender Josmar Vella.
24’ Goncalves Barbosa had an attempt from a good position towards Xewkija’s goal that ended high.
41’ Oratory’s Vinicius Ferreira had a shot directly from a free-kick that ended on the roof of the net,
HT (0-0)
Second Half
Play became more interesting after the break as Xewkija came out of their defence and started to share play.
8’ Xewkija created the first attempt towards Oratory’s goal when Elton Da Silva passed through the defence from the right-hand side but his low shot was neutralised by goalie Angelo Brignoli.
15’ The Tigers operated a counter break where Shodija Shola released Rodney Buttigieg but the latter concluded badly from a good position and goalie Angelo Brignoli neutralised without difficulty.
15’ (0-1) Oratory opened the score in the following action when Ishmael Belhadj took the ball at the edge of the area and netted with a fine lob that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.
17’ Xewkija’s goalie Franklin Vella managed to save with some difficulty a strike from outside the area by Goncalves Barbosa.
22’ The same Goncalves Barbosa produced a personal action within Xewkija’s territory but his low shot from outside the area ended wide.
23’ Xewkija’s Rodney Buttigieg headed badly from a close distance following a cross from the left flank.
24’ A free-kick by Xewkija’s Elton Da Silva missed the target.
39’ Xewkija missed a golden scoring opportunity when Elton da Silva released Haruna Shodija Shola, the latter entered the area but fired incredibly away from goal when he arrived in an ideal position to hit the target.
41’ The Youths replied with a low shot from outside the area by substitute Kenny Hili but the ball ended wide.
43’ (1-1) penalty Xewkija were awarded a penalty for a foul by James Grima on Josiah Buttigieg and Elton Aleksandre Da Silva converted from the spot-kick.
44’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was well placed and neutralised a low shot from outside the area by Emiliano Lattes.
FT (XT 1 – OY 1)
Referee: Glen Tonna
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