Nadur Youngsters win the BOV GFA 1st Division Knock Out

16 April 2022

BOV GFA Knock Out Division I (Final) Gozo Stadium

Ghajnsielem FC : 0

Nadur Youngsters FC : 3

26’ (0-1) Joseph Zammit

34’ (0-2) Marcelo Jr. Barbosa

43’ (0-3) Marcelo Jr. Barbosa

77’ (red card) Kevin Farrugia (GHJ)

Ghajnsielem FC:

A. Parnis, K. Borg, Al. Xuereb, D. Farrugia, K. Mercieca (R. Watanabe), A. Attard, M. Bezzina (K. Farrugia), K. Grima (J. Camilleri), J. e Sousa Ferreira, L. Grima, I. Nedeljkovic.

Nadur Y:

S. Sultana, M. Tabone, L. Moreira, J.M. Vella, I. Xuereb, J. Zammit, M.J. Barbosa (L. Atzori), S. Cassar (G. Farrugia), E. Bruno Domingos (O.P. Bugeja), G. Hili, J. Flor Da Silva (J. Parnis).

Nadur Youngsters lifted the first from the possible three trophies of the Gozitan football season 2020/2021 by winning the BOV GFA Knock Out competition for the first division.  Nadur achieved this honour with a 3-0 win over Ghajnsielem in the final match of the competition.  This was the second time that Nadur Youngsters won this honour in the club’s history.

The final between Nadur and Ghajnsielem was expected to be contested as they both started the season with ambitions to be very competitive for the main honours.  It was also the fourth match between the two sides this season as they already faced each other in the three matches of the championship, where the first encounter ended in a draw while Nadur and Ghajnsielem won one each in the other matches from the second and third round.  Apart from this context, the two sides were motivated to obtain the win as Nadur is now aiming to win all the trophies this season while Ghajnsielem wants to make up for failing to be competitive in the championship by winning at least one honour.

In this final of the KO competition for the top flight, Nadur prevailed over their opponents throughout the ninety minutes.  They took control of the play from the initial stages and practically made sure o0f the win by the end of the first half.  Nadur controlled their lead with authority during the second period and could have obtained the win by scoring more goals.  The Youngsters produced a collective effort where the goalkeeper was in good form as he made two important interventions to deny the opponents from re-opening the issue and the defensive department managed to neutralise Ghajnsielem’s dangerous strikers.  Nadur was impressed mainly with their constant recovery of the ball from the midfield and with the effective manoeuvres in an attack that produced dangerous actions by the strikers.

As a result of Nadur’s performance, the Blacks struggled to remain in contention.  They compromised their chances to be serious challengers by conceding three goals during the first half and after the break, they only managed to create danger through set-pieces.  Ghsjnsielem practically threw the towel when they ended with ten players for the last part of the encounter.

At the end of the match the President of the Gozo Football Association Dr Samuel Azzopardi, together with other GFA officials, presented the medals and the trophy among the celebrations of Nadur’s players, staff, officials and the numerous supporters who followed the match at the Gozo Stadium.

Timeline

Nadur came out very aggressive and took full advantage of the wind blowing in their favour so that they kept the pressure on Ghajnsielem’s defence for most of the time of the first half and practically paved the way to win the first honour of the season by taking the break with a three-goal lead.

6’ Nadur created the first serious scoring opportunity when Joseph Mario Vella received the ball just outside the area but his strike ended just wide.

12’ (crossbar) The Youngsters went very close to opening the score when a strike from an angled position by Ederson Bruno Domingos was stopped by the crossbar. 

15’ Nadur’s Marcelo Barbosa passed through Ghajnsielem’s rearguard but his shot from an ideal position was deflected to a corner.

26’ (0-1) Nadur opened the score when Judivan Flor Da Silva passed inside the area from the right and from his low cross Joseph Zammit concluded with a tap-in.

27’ (protests for penalty) Nadur’s Judivan Flor Da Silva protested for a penalty following a challenge with an opponent following a cross by Marcelo Barbosa that was neutralised by goalie Adrian Parnis.

29’ Ghajnsielem missed a golden scoring opportunity when Igor Nedeljkovic entered Nadur’s territory but had his low shot that was partially saved by goalie Steve Sultana.  However, the ball arrived at an unmarked Kurt Grima who concluded incredibly over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.

32’ Nadur replied with an initiative by Marcelo Barbosa who delivered a cross towards the goalmouth from the right but the strikers failed to connect from close distance.

34’ (0-2) Nadur converted their superiority expressed during the first part of the encounter with a second goal that arrived through a direct free kick by Marcelo Barbosa that did not give any chance to the goalkeeper to block the danger.

43’ (0-3) The Youngsters added another goal when Ghajnsielem’s defence cleared a cross by Judivan Flor Da Silva but the ball arrived at Marcelo Barbosa who released himself from the direct opponent and fired in goal with a fine strike.

HT (0-3)

Second Half

Ghajnsielem came out with the intention to produce a reaction in an attempt to recover the deficit but they only manage to threaten Nadur’s rearguard from set-pieces.  Nadur took their foot off the pedal after the break as they were well deployed, neutralised Ghanjsielem’s play and administered their lead by keeping control of the midfield.

2’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana made a difficult save to turn to a corner and attempt directly from a free-kick by Ghajnsielem’s Igor Nedeljkovic.

12’ The Blacks were again dangerous from another free-kick by Igor Nedeljkovic but once again Nadur’s goalie made an important intervention and saved the danger to a corner.

15’ Nadur replied with a shot from outside the area by Marcelo Barbosa that ended away from goal.

24’ Nadur’s Stefan Cassar released Marcelo Barbosa inside Ghajnsielem’s area, the latter passed with a personal action but his low shot was weak and the goalkeeper saved without difficulty.

29’ Nadur could have added another goal when Marcelo Barbosa released Judivan Flor Da Silva in a counter break but the latter hit badly as he was challenged by central defender Jefferson De Souza Ferreira and the goalkeeper saved the danger.

32’ (red card) Ghajnsielem were reduced to ten players when substitute Kevin Farrugia was sent off for a second bookable offence.

36’ Ghajnsielem could have created more danger when Lawrence Grima produced a personal action but his shot from outside the area ended high.

39’ Nadur operated another breakthrough Stefan Cassar but the latter concluded badly and the goalkeeper saved the danger.

FT (GHJ 0 – NY 3)

Referee: Alex Johnson

Asst. Referees: Luke Portelli, Kurt Saliba

Fourth Official: Krisztian Kavai