Zebbug leave it late to defeat St Lawrence

19 March 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 13) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Zebbug Rovers FC: 4

St Lawrence Spurs FC: 2

4’ (1-0) Eric Gauci

11‘ (1-1) Alen Haska

60’ (2-1) Orlando Atzori

82’ (2-2) Charles Mercieca

85’ (3-2) Nathan John Cini

90+2’ (4-2) Daniel Mesa Pineros

Zebbug R:

F. Portelli, I. Buttigieg, E. Bugeja, C. Gauci, D. Mesa Pineros, E. Gauci, N.J. Cini, J. Azzopardi (G. Grech), M. Grech (C. Farrugia), O. Atzori, P. Spiteri.

St Lawrence S:

Co. Mercieca, F. Grima (D. Micallef), L. Attard, G. Portelli, C. Grima, A. Haska, L. Cilia, J. Xuereb, C. Azzopardi, J.M. Portelli, C. Mercieca.

Zebbug Rovers scored two late goals to register a 4-2 win over St Lawrence Spurs and earned the full points at stake from this direct clash for the third place on the table.  The two sides had a good start as they tried to take control of play but as time passed by the two sides tried to protect their respective area rather than producing offensive play.

Zebbug, however, took the upper hand after the break but they conceded a reaction by St Lawrence who managed to recover a one-goal deficit and the match seemed to head towards a draw of four goals.  The Rovers regained the lead a few minutes before the end of regular time so that the Spurs were shocked and conceded another goal during stoppage time.   

Timeline

The two sides tried to take command of play despite the difficult weather conditions due to the strong wind and rain. Zebbug scored an early goal but the Spurs had an immediate reaction and levelled the score so that for most of the first half play took place in the midfield where the two goalkeepers were not called to make any important interventions.

4’ (1-0) Zebbug opened the score when St Lawrence’s goalie Courtney Mercieca partially saved a strike by Orlando Atzori and from the rebound, Eric Gauci took the ball and placed in goal from close distance.

11’ (1-1) St Lawrence levelled the score when Zebbug’s defence cleared baldy and Christian Azzopardi headed towards Alen Haska who was unmarked inside the area and the striker controlled well and fired towards the upper corner of the goal.

23’ Zebbug could have regained the lead when Orlando Atzori entered St Lawrence’s area from the left flank but his low drive aimed towards the far post ended just wide.

HT (1-1)

Second Half

Zebbug came out more aggressive and produce some pressure on St Lawrence’s defence so that they managed to regain the lead.  The Spurs had a good patch of play and scored the second equaliser but ended up committing defensive mistakes during the final stages so that they compromised the possibility to leave the pitch with a positive result.

3’ Zebbug’s Eman Bugeja had an attempt from a free-kick from a long distance that missed the target.

5’ St Lawrence’s goalie Courtney Mercieca saved in two attempts a cross-shot from the left flank by Orlando Atzori.

15’ (2-1) Zebbug regained the lead when St Lawrence’s goalie blocked a cross from the right and from the resultant melee the ball arrived at Orlando Atzori who concluded in goal.

St Lawrence’s immediate reaction was sterile but during the final stages, they increased their efforts and seemed in a position to end the encounter with a point.

25’ The Rovers could have created more danger but a strike from a long distance by Daniel Mesa Pineros missed the target.

30’ The Spurs could have created more danger when Zebbug’s defence cleared badly a corner kick from the right flank but the shot by Christian Grima from an unmarked position ended high.

37’ (2-2) The Spurs managed to score the equaliser that arrived through a header by Charles Mercieca following a free-kick by Luke Attard.

40’ (3-2) The Rovers regained the lead when Nathan John Cini entered St Lawrence’s territory in a counter break and addressed towards goal with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger and with the ball hitting the base of the post before ending in the net.

43’ In another good action by Zebbug a shot by substitute Clive Farrugia after receiving from Daniel Mesa Pineros was well saved by goalie Courtney Mercieca.

45+2’ (4-2) Zebbug made sure of the win by scoring the fourth goal that arrived through a low shot from an angled position by Daniel Mesa Pineros that surprised Sty Lawrence’s goalie and ended in a goal.

FT (ZR 4 – SLS 2)

Referee: Milos Krstic