Xaghra move closer to qualification with a handsome win

21 September 2022

GFA 2nd Division Challenge Cup (MD 3) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Xaghra move closer to qualification with a handsome win

Xaghra United FC ; 5

St Lawrence Spurs FC ; 2

14′ (1-0) penalty Leiner Garcia Panesso

22’ (1-1) Victor John Saliba

41’ (2-1) Joel Xuereb

50’ (3-1) Leiner Garcia Panesso

63’ (3-2) Adebayo Ademilua

77’ (4-2) Joel Xuereb

83’ (5-2) Leiner Garcia Panesso

Xaghra U:

A. Debono, S. Galea, L. Meilak (G. Debono), J. Xuereb (J. Formosa), M. Cordina, S. Sultana, M. Mamo (S. Bonello), D. Azzopardi (J. Micallef), A. Farrugia (L. Sultana), F.J. Xuereb, L. Garcia Panesso.

St Lawrence:

J. Xiberras, J. Axiak, G. Portelli, T. Grech (K. Vella) C. Grima, V.J. Saliba (N. Haber), J. Xuereb (J. Saliba), L. Portelli (J. Azzopardi), D. Micallef, J.M. Portelli (M. Dingli), A. Ademilua.

Xaghra United made it three wins in a row in the GFA 2nd Division Challenge Cup as they defeated St Lawrence Spurs with a 5-2 score.  With this win Xaghra retained their top position with SK Victoria Wanderers so that the two sides become hot favourites to contest the final of this honour.

The match between Xaghra and St Lawrence turned out to be quite interesting for more than an hour as the Spurs tried hard to obtain a positive result which could have left them with the possibility to challenge for the qualification to the final.  However, Xaghra were more effective in attack and managed to keep a comfortable lead for most of the second period so that they had their minds at rest from the win during the final stages of the encounter.  Xaghra’s protagonists in this match were strikers Leiner Garcia Panesso, who scored a hat-trick and the other two goals arrived through a brace by Joel Xuereb.

Timeline:

Play for most of the first half was well contested as the Spurs tried hard to be serious challengers for the win while Xaghra seemed determined to extend their good moment of form expressed since the beginning of the season.

14’ (1-0) penalty Xaghra opened the score when Leiner Garcia Panesso converted his shot from the penalty spot.

22’ (1-1) The Spurs had a good reaction and levelled the score with a goal scored by Victor John Saliba.

41’ (2-1) Xaghra regained the lead just before half time through a goal scored by Joel Xuereb.

HT (2-1)

Second Half

After the break Xaghra seemed more confident and resisted swell to St Lawrence’s reaction.  The Blues also increased their lead and put the score beyond St Lawrence’s reach.

5’ (3-1) Xaghra increased their lead with a goal scored by Leiner Garcia Panesso.

18’ (3-2) St Lawrence tried to remain in contention and re-open the issue and reduced the deficit to just one goal through Adebayo Ademilua.

32’ (4-2) Xaghra continued to be the better side on the field and re-established the two goal lead when Joel Xuereb scored his second personal goal of the encounter.

38’ (5-2) Xaghra made sure of the win with a goal scored by Columbian striker Leiner Garcia Panesso who also marked a personal hat-trick.

FT (XU 5 – SLS 2)

Referee: Patrick Falzon