Sannat registers the double over Ghajnsielem and avoids relegation

1 May 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 21) Gozo Stadium

Ghajnsielem FC : 1

Sannat Lions FC : 2

32’ (0-1) Henry Fabian Solis

60’ (0-2) penalty Henry Fabian Solis

89’ (1-2) Igor Nedeljkovic

Ghajnsielem:

L. Buttigieg, K. Borg (De. Bogdanovic), Al. Xuereb, D. Farrugia, S.F. Bajada (J. Micallef), S. Attard, M. Bezzina (K. Farrugia), K. Grima (K. Mercieca), L. Grima, I. Nedeljkovic, J. Camilleri (R. Watanabe).

Sannat L:

L. Xuereb, A. Sultana, L.B. Da Silva, D. Bellotti (N. Grima), H.F. Solis, D. Borg, M. Mamo, M. Mifsud (M.M. Uzor), N. Biculjevic, A. Azzopardi, F.J. Xuereb.

Sannat Lions registered the most important result of the last Match-Day of the championship as they earned three decisive points from a 2-1 win over the runners-up of the BOV Gozo Football League and became mathematically sure to avoid the direct relegation to the lower category.  With this result, Sannat ended in the second place from the bottom of the final standings and will have to defend their division one status in a play-off against the runners-up of the second division Munxar Falcons.  This win also means that Sannat earned seven points from the three marches against Ghajnsielem in the championship as the previous two matches saw Sannat obtaining a win and a draw.

For this match Ghajnsielem had some regular players missing due to injuries and suspensions, particularly their regular goalkeeper Adrian Parnis and central defender Jefferson De Souza Ferreira.  However, the two sides had the motivation to obtain a positive result from this match and as a result, the encounter became very interesting with an uncertain outcome.  Ghajnsielem were favourites to obtain their first win in the championship over Sannat Lions and held territorial supremacy but they were very erratic in their finishing so they failed to convert their offensive play into goals.  Sannat was determined to obtain the win and maintained an organised defence so that they found the right time to operate dangerous breaks.  Sannat was very effective through their main striker Henry Fabian Solis who created continuous danger each time that he got possession within Ghajnsielem’s territory so that the striker ended up as the hero for his side by scoring the two goals, one in each half that at the end decided the issue.

Timeline

The play was quite balanced for most of the first half. Ghajnsielem created more scoring opportunities but Sannat managed to open the score so that they grew in confidence for the rest of the encounter.

9’ Ghajnsielem could have opened the score but a header by Kurt Grima following a cross by Michael Bezzina.

10’ Sannat’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb was well placed and neutralised without difficulty a header by Daniel Farrugia following a corner kick by Alberto Xuereb.

29’ Ghajnsielem were again dangerous through a strike by Michael Bezzina that ended just wide.

32’ (0-1) Sannat took the lead when Henry Fabian Solis took the ball from Ghajnsielem’s defence, turned around the goalkeeper and a defender at the edge of the area and deposited the ball into an open goal.

35’ Ghajnsileem seemed shocked and Sannat could have doubled the score when Aaron Azzopardi produced a personal action, Ghajnsielem’s goalie left his position but Azzopardi’s attempt towards an open goal ended wide.

41’ Ghajnsielem replied with an effort by Alberto Xuereb from an angled position that was well saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

For the second period play continued to be similar to that expressed during the first half as Ghajnsieem struggled to score while Sannat were dangerous in their sporadic actions so that they paved the way to achieve their objective by opening a two-goal lead on the hour mark.

25sec. Ghajnsielem’s Kurt Grima entered the area from the right-hand side with a personal action but his shot from an angled position was partially saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and the defence cleared the danger.

2’ Sannat’s goalie Lorjen Xuereb made a difficult save to block an attempt directly from a free-kick by Igor Nedeljkovic and from the rebound, Shaun Attard’s strike was blocked by the defence.

8’ A shot by Igor Nedeljkovic following a personal action missed the target.

11’ Sannat went close to double the score but a header from a good position by Dylan Bellotti following a free kick by Nebojsa Biculjevic ended high.

12’ Ghajnsielem replied through a shot by Michael Bezzina following a personal action that missed the target.

14’ (0-2) penalty Sannat operated a breakthrough on Henry Fabian Solis who entered the area but ended on the floor following a challenge with Keith Borg.  The referee awarded a penalty and the same Sannat striker doubled the score with his shot from the spot-kick.

23’ Ghajnsielem’s Igor Nedeljkovic just missed to head the ball from close distance following a cross by Shaun Attard and Sannat’s defence cleared the danger.

34’ Ghajnsielem missed another scoring opportunity when Sannat’s defence failed to clear a cross from the right flank but Alberto Xuereb’s shot on the run was blocked by the defence.

44’ (1-2) Ghajnsielem re-opened the issue for the final stages when they reduced the score following a prolonged action.  Sannat’s goalie Lorjen Xuereb blocked a corner a close-range shot by a substitute 

Joshua Micallef and from the resultant corner kick by Alberto Xuereb, the defence failed to clear the danger and Igor Nedeljkovic netted with a low shot.

FT (GHJ 1 – SL 2)

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann