Nadur consolidate leadership with a close win

14 October 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 7) Gozo Stadium

Nadur Youngsters FC : 2

Sannat Lions FC : 1

33’ (1-0) Marcelo Jr. Barbosa

36’ (2-0) Predrag Dordevic

61’ (2-1) Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales

Nadur Y:

S. Sultana, L.B. Da Silva, M. Tabone, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella, M. Jr. Barbosa, I. Nedeljkovic, G. Hili, J. Xerri (N. Mifsud), G. Muscat (M.P. Camilleri), P. Dordevic.

Sannat L:

L. Buttigieg, A. Sultana, J. Cassar, R.H. Alves Saldanha, N. Grima (O. Grech), C.A. Sanchez Gonzales, D. Borg, L. Silva Gomes, A. Attard, S. Martinez Turizo, A. Azzopardi.

Nadur ended the first round at the top of the table with the points obtained from a 2-1 win over Sannat Lions who are struggling to keep away from the red zone.  Nadur as expected held command of play for long stretches and created continuous danger on Sannat’s defence but the reigning champions failed to convert their superiority by opening a comfortable lead so that Sannat practically remained in contention to register a surprise until the final whistle.

In this match, Nadur confirmed the difficulties encountered in their previous matches this season where they find it very difficult to score despite the potential that they have in attack.  As a result, Nadur becomes vulnerable during crucial moments of the encounter and very often they end up conceding opportunities to less quoted opponents to obtain a positive result.  On the other hand, Sannat once again performed a defensive deployment and bet their chances to score with counter breaks or set pieces.

In this match, Sannat’s deployment made it difficult for their opponents to score and re-opened the issue with a goal that arrived against the run of play with thirty minutes left for the end of the encounter.  Nadur’s win practically matured with two goals scored in the space of a few minutes during the first half but did not manage to put their minds at rest from the win by scoring more goals.

Timeline:

Nadur came out very aggressive and produced pressure on Sannat’s defence from the first minutes of play.  However, Nadur was very often erratic in their final pass and in the finishing so they only managed to open the score after the half-hour mark.

9’ Nadur’s first scoring opportunity of the encounter arrived through an initiative by Gennaro Hili who delivered an inviting cross from the left-hand side but Joseph Xerri’s header from a good position ended wide.

15’ Sannat’s goalie Luke Buttigieg had good timing and managed to block a close-range shot by Igor Nedeljkovic who was released inside the area by Predrag Dordevic.

22’ Nadur missed an open scoring opportunity when Marcelo Barbosa controlled inside Sannat’s area a through pass from Joseph Mario Vella, turned around his direct opponent and the goalkeeper but concluded incredibly high from an ideal position.

31’ Marcelo Barbosa went again close to put Nadur in the lead but his header from close distance following a cross by Ian Xuereb ended over the crossbar.

33’ (1-0) Nadur’s efforts were rewarded as they opened the score with a goal that arrived through a curling shot directly from a free kick by Marcelo Barbosa that ended in goal despite the attempt of Sannat’s goalie to clear the danger.

36’ (2-0) The Youngsters doubled the score when Gennaro Hili delivered the ball towards Sannat’s goalmouth from a corner kick and Predrag Dordevic surprised the defence and headed in a goal from close distance.

HT (2-0)

Second Half

Nadur continued to dictate matters after the break while Sannat continued to adopt a defensive deployment in an attempt to limit the danger within their territory. Sannat managed to re-open the issue just after the hour mark and for some moments the match became more contested as Nadur struggled to regain command of play.

3’ Nadur’s Predrag Dordevic took the ball inside Sannat’s area but his low drive with the goalkeeper beaten was weak and the defence cleared the ball from the goalmouth.

6’ Sannat’s goalie Luke Buttigieg blocked a low shot by Igor Nedeljkovic.

10’ Nadur’s Predrag Dordevic had a shot from outside the area that ended just wide.

16’ (2-1) Sannat reduced the deficit when Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales surprised Nadur’s defence, entered the area and fired in goal as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

24’ Nadur could have regained the two-goal lead when Marcelo Barbosa passed to Predrag Dordevic inside Sannat’s area but the latter saw his low shot that was blocked by goalie Luke Buttigieg.

31’ Nadur went very close to scoring their third goal when Marcelo Barbosa released Igor Nedeljkovic but the latter saw his low drive aimed towards the far post that ended inches wide.

45+1’ Nadur’s lost opportunity to seal the win arrived through a header by Igor Nedeljkovic following a cross by Ian Xuereb that was well saved by goalie Luke Buttigieg.

FT (NY 2 – SL 1)

Referee: Alex Johnson