2 October 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 5) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 0
Ghajnsielem FC : 1
63’ (0-1) penalty Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, J. Vella, M. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg, J.A. Hernandez Leal (S. Xuereb, J. Camilleri), D. Bogdanovic, A. Bozovic, D. Merceica, D. Andelovic, C. Abela.
Ghajnsielem:
A. Parnis, K. Borg, A. Xuereb, D. Farrugia, K. Mercieca, J.P. Oliveira Santos, S. Attard, K. Farrugia, C. Camilleri (M. Bezzina), V. Candido Junior, C.H. Da Silva Barbosa.
Ghajnsielem recovered from a difficult moment and obtained three precious points from a 1-0 win over Xewkija Tigers in a match from Match Day 5 of the championship. This was an important match for the two sides as Xewkija were coming from two consecutive wins while Ghajnsielem were coming from two consecutive defeats. Two teams were also on equal points before this match and both sides suffered from the absence of their strikers as Ghajnsielem had Pablo Dos Santos Cruz due to a suspension while Xewkija lost the service of striker Hernandez Leal after half an hour of play due to an injury.
The match turned out to be very contested. Ghajnsielem held more possession and produced more offensive play but Xewkija were well deployed at their defence and operated some dangerous counter so that the outcome of the encounter remained uncertain until the final whistle. The match was decided with a penalty scored during the second period when Ghajnsielem were producing their maximum effort to take the lead. Xewkija tried to produce a reaction but went close to saving the result mainly from set pieces. With this result, Ghajnsielem is back in the reckoning while Xewkija remains in a mid-table position.
Timeline
The two sides had a prudent approach during the first part of the first half but as time passed by Ghajnsielem increased their efforts and held territorial supremacy. Xewkija on the other hand were well organised in their defence and managed to threaten their opponents with counter breaks but the first half ended in a goalless draw.
3’ Ghajnsielem’s Alberto Xuereb had a shot from a good position that missed the target.
9’ Xewkija created danger within Ghajnsielem’s area when Rodney Buttigieg unmarked Jhanluis Aron Hernandez Leal but the latter saw his close-range shot saved in two attempts by goalie Adrian Parnis.
10’ Ghajnsielem replied immediately through an initiative by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa who passed to Shaun Attard but the latter had his attempt from a good position that was blocked with some difficulty by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
25’ Xewkija’s keeper Nikola Kosanin was called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner a strike from outside the area by Chris Camilleri.
39’ Ghajnsielem should have capitalised better when Xewkija’a rear guard failed to clear the ball from their area following a free kick and at the end, the shot from an ideal position by Kevin Farrugia ended away from goal.
42’ Xewkija replied with a low shot by Damir Andelovic after receiving from Matthias Mercieca that was saved without difficulty by goalie Adrian Parnis.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
After the resumption, Ghajnsielem took full command of play but they continued to find it difficult to conclude their manoeuvre with serious attempts towards Xewkija’s goal but managed to take the lead with a goal scored from a penalty midway through the second half.
6’ Ghajnsielem went very close to opening the score when Valdeci Candido Junior headed towards the goal following a corner kick by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos, and the ball almost surprised goalie Nikola Kosnain. The latter however recovered in time and managed to save with difficulty to another corner.
13’ The Blacks were again dangerous through a direct free kick from an angled position by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos that surprised the defence and the goalkeeper, but the ball ended just wide.
16’ A shot on the run by Ghajnsielem’s Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos was neutralised by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
17’ (0-1) penalty Ghajnsielem were awarded a penalty for a challenge by Carlo Abela on Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa and Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos converted from the spot kick.
21’ Ghajnsielem could have doubled the score but a lob from close distance by Chris Camilleri ended over the crossbar.
23’ Xewkija replied through an attempt directly from a freekick that was blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis.
24’ The Tigers were again dangerous through a direct free kick from an angled position by the same Damir Andelovic that ended just wide.
30’ Xewkija’s Damir Andelovic had a low shot from outside the area that was well saved by Ghajnsielem’s keeper.
37’ Ghajnsielem operated a counter break through Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos who released Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa. Da Silva Barbosa unmarked Shaun Attard inside the area but the latter saw his shot from a good position that was well saved to a corner by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
FT (XT 0 – GHJ 1)
Referee: Andrea Sciriha
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