Ghajnsielem launch their title challenge with a large win

11 September 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 1) Gozo Stadium

Sannat Lions FC : 0

Ghajnsielem FC: 8

2’ (0-1) Shaun Attard

12’ (0-2) Shaun Attard

20’ (0-3) Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa

66’ (0-4) Patrick Dos Santos Cruz

70’ (red card) Joseph Cassar (SL)

72’ (0-5) Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos 

73’ (0-6) Patrick Dos Santos Cruz

77’ (0-7) Chris Camilleri

90’ (0-8) penalty Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos

Sannat L:

S. Muscat, A. Sultana, J. Cassar, R.H. Alves Saldanha, R. Grech (T. Agius), N. Grima, C.A. Sanchez Gonzales, D. Borg, L. Silva Gomes (M. Farrugia), M. Mifsud (C. Dingli), S. Martinez Turizo.

Ghajnsielem:

A. Parnis, A. Xuereb (K. Borg), D. Farrugia, J.P. Oliveira Santos, S. Attard (C. Camilleri), K. Farrugia (K. Mercieca), N.I. Belhadj (J. Micallef), K. Grima, V. Candido Junior, C.H. Da Silva Barbosa (K. Saliba, P. Dos Santos Cruz.

Ghajnsielem registered an impressive 8-0 win over Sannat Lions in the first match for the two sides of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division.  Ghajnsielem were favourites to obtain a win from this match as they were coming from the victory over the champions in the Super Cup and they are considered as serious challengers for the main honours.  On the other hand, Sannat Lions are expected to be among the teams who would be struggling to avoid the lower places on the table.

As a result, Ghajnsielem dominated this match and practically made sure of the win before the end of the first half.  Ghajnsielem’s win with a large score however matured with four goals scored during the final stages of the encounter.

Timeline

Ghajnsielem as expected took command of play from the early stages and paved the way to the win by scoring two early goals.  Sannat found it extremely difficult to neutralise Ghajnsielem’s strikers and compromised their match before the half-hour of play.

1’ Ghajnsielem were dangerous through a header by Daniel Farrugia following a corner action that got a deflection by the defence and the ball was cleared to another corner.

2’ (0-1) The Blacks opened the score when Sannat’s keeper Samuel Muscat cleared badly inside his area and Shaun Attard took advantage and lobbed into an open goal.

12’ (0-2) Ghajnsielem doubled the score when a cross by Alberto Xuereb from inside Sannat’s area arrived to an unmarked Shaun Attard who fired easily in goal. 

20’ (0-3) Ghajnsielem’s third goal arrived through a personal action by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa who turned around two defenders inside the area and lobbed over the goalkeeper.

25’ The Blacks could have added another goal but a header from close distance by Patrick Dos Santos Cruz following a cross from the right flank by Da Silva Barbosa ended just over the crossbar.

31’ Sannat’s keeper Samuel Muscat blocked a free kick from an angled position by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos.

45’ Sannat protested for a penalty alleging handling by Kevin Farrugia who blocked a pass inside the area by Nicholas Grima.

45+2’ Sannat went closest to reducing the score but a direct free kick by Sebastien Martinez Turizo ended wide.

HT (0-3)

Second Half

Ghajnsielem took the foot off the pedal for the second period while Sannat maintained the momentum of the last stages of the first half. Play became more contested in the midfield for the first part of the second period but Ghajnsielem took advantage when they had an extra player on the field and ended up scoring more goals to register a win with a large margin.

5’ Sannat were again dangerous through an effort by Lucas Da Silva Gomes following a personal action that was saved without difficulty by Ghajnsielem’s goalie Adrian Parnis.

21’ (0-4) Ghajnsielem added another goal when Kurt Grima delivered a low cross inside Sannat’s area from the right flank and Patrick Dos Santos Cruz concluded in goal with a low drive. 

23’ (goal disallowed) Ghajnsielem could have increased the lead following a counter break but a goal by Da Silva Barbosa was disallowed for an offside infringement.

25’ (red card) Sannat were reduced to ten players when central defender Joseph Cassar was sent off for denying Patrick Dos Santos Cruz from concluding an open scoring opportunity.

27’ (0-5) From the resultant free kick, the shot by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos surprised the defence and the ball ended in goal despite the late attempt to block the danger in front of the goal mouth.

28’ (0-6) Sannat was demoralised and conceded another goal when the goalkeeper and the defence failed to clear the ball from the goal line and Patrick Dos Santos Cruz took advantage of the situation and deposited it easily into an open goal.

32’ (0-7) Ghajnsielem’s veteran Chris Camilleri, who came in as a substitute at the beginning of the second period, scored the seventh goal for his side with a low shot from an angled position.

45’ (0-8) On the stroke of regular time Ghajnsielem were awarded a penalty for a foul by substitute Christian Dingli on Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos and the same player converted from the spot kick.

FT (SL 0 – GHJ 8)

Referee: Daniel Portelli