11 September 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 1) Gozo Stadium
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 3
Nadur Youngsters FC : 5
26’ (0-1) Igor Nedeljkovic
47’ (red card) Steve Sultana (NY)
50’ (1-1) Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes
53’ (1-2) Igor Nedeljkovic
56’ (2-2) Elton Aleksandre Da Silva
73’ (2-3) penalty Marcello Jr Barbosa
78’ (2-4) o.g. Oliver Cremona
90+4’ (3-4) Elton Aleksandre Da Silva
90+5’ (3-5) Marcelo Jr Barbosa
Victoria H:
L. Gatt, O. Cremona, C. Vella, O.G. Fernandes, A. Debrincat (A. Xiberras), J. Pace, D. Hili (E. Xiberras), L. Farrugia, L. Mancuso Lemos Santos Ferreira, E.A. Da Silva, D.C. Kassekar.
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, L.B. Da Silva, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella, J. Zammit, M. Jr. Barbosa, I. Nedeljkovic, G. Hili (J. Xerri), G. Farrugia (L. Camilleri), G. Dourado Ferreira (M.P. Camilleri), G. Muscat.
The last match from Match-Day 1 of the BOV Gozo Football League for the first division this season lived up to the expectations as reigning champions Nadur Youngsters and Victoria Hotspurs produced an entertaining match that turned out into an eight-goal thriller. Nadur managed to clinch the 5-3 win despite playing almost all of the second half with a player less on the field.
The two sides were motivated to start the championship with a positive result as Nadur were aiming to make up for the disappointing defeat conceded the previous weekend in the final of the BOV GFA Super Cup, while the Hotspurs seemed determined to start the new season with a positive result in their attempt to be among the top teams. The match turned out into a well-contested encounter as Nadur were playing for the second time with three foreign players and also had their goalkeeper who was sent off in the second minute of play of the second period. On the other hand, Victoria had a prudent approach but their produced an effective reaction after the break and had the opportunity to at least earn a point from this match. The strikers of the two sides, Nadur’s Igor Nedejkovic and Marcelo Barbosa, together with Victoria’s Elton Da Silva were the protagonists of this encounter by scoring a brace each.
The outcome of this match indicates that the two sides need to address the deployment of their respective defensive departments as both Nadur and Victoria conceded dangerous actions within their territory which turned out in various scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field.
Timeline
Nadur took the initiative of play from the early stages but the Hotspurs were well deployed at their defence and operated mainly with counter breaks. The match, therefore, turned out to be quite interesting during the first period as the outcome was uncertain.
6’ Nadur created the first dangerous action of the encounter when Marcelo Barbosa passed through Victoria’s area with a personal action but his attempt from a good position missed the target.
13’ The Hotspurs replied with an attempt by Elton Da Silva that ended high.
21’ Nadur missed a golden scoring opportunity when Victoria’s goalie Liam Gatt partially saved a shot from outside the area by Marcelo Barbosa but from the rebound, Joseph Zammit incredibly concluded over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.
23’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through a low shot by Elton Da Silva but the ball took a deflection and ended in a corner.
26’ (0-1) Nadur opened the score through an overhead kick by Igor Neeljkovic following a clearance inside the area by Victoria’s defence, which surprised the goalkeeper.
30’ The Hotspurs could have created more danger but Elton Da Silva’s header was weak and goalie Steve Sultana saved without difficulty.
45’ The Hotspurs went very close to levelling the score when Elton Da Silva took the ball inside the area but his shot from an angled position was well blocked by goalie Steve Sultana.
45+1’ The same goalkeeper was well placed and neutralised without difficulty another effort by Elton Da Silva.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
The match became much more entertaining with more goals after the break as both teams increased their efforts in an attempt to win the full points at stake.
2’ (red card) Nadur were reduced to ten players when goalie Steve Sultana went out of his area to block on Lucas Farrugia and the keeper was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
5’ (1-1) The Hotspurs capitalised from the resultant free-kick as the effort by Elton Da Silva was saved partially by substitute goalkeeper Leonard Camilleri but from the rebound, Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes arrived on the ball and concluded with a tap-in.
8’ (1-2) Nadur had an immediate reaction and regained the lead through a low drive by Igor Nedeljkovic following a personal action.
11’ (2-2) The Hotspurs were not demoralised and scored their second equaliser when Lucas Farrugia delivered a low cross from the right flank and Elton Aleksandre Da Silva concluded towards the corner of the net with a low shot.
28’ (2-3) penalty Nadur operated a fast break where Igor Nedeljkovic entered the area but was floored by goalie Liam Gatt. The referee awarded a penalty and Marcelo Jr Barbosa netted his shot from the spot kick.
33’ (2-4) Nadur increased their lead when Gennaro Hili delivered a cross from the left flank following a short corner kick, Lucas Baretto Da Silva had his header hit the crossbar but Victoria’s defender Oliver Cremona committed an own goal in an attempt to clear the ball from the goalmouth.
38’ Nadur were again dangerous but Marcelo Barbosa hit badly from close distance following a cross from the right flank and the ball ended wide.
41’ The Hotspurs could have re-opened the issue but two efforts from a good position by Elton Da Silva in separate actions within the same minute missed the target.
45+3’ Nadur could have scored another goal but a low drive by Marcelo Barbosa ended wide.
45+4’ (3-4) Victoria Hotspurs reduced the deficit through a fine strike from the edge of the area by Elton Aleksandre Da Silva that ended out of the reach of Nadur’s keeper.
45+6 (3-5) Nadur sealed the win following a counter break that started at the edge of their area. The Hotspurs protested for a free kick just outside Nadur’s area and the Youngsters operated a counter break where Igor Nedeljkovic released Marcelo Jr Barbosa and the latter placed in goal with a fine strike.
FT (VH 3 – NY 5)
Referee: Sergii Boiko
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