7 October 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 6) Gozo Stadium
Oratory Youths FC : 0
Xewkija Tigers FC : 1
84’ (0-1) Rodney Buttigieg
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, J. Tabone, M. Zammit (S. Curmi), J. De Sousa Ferreira, H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, I. Belhadj, O. Curmi (K. Farrugia), A. Xuereb, N. Sutic, Ju. Attard (D. Atzori), S.U. Ubuwere.
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, J. Vella, M. Mercieca (M. Bonnici), J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg, D. Bogdanovic, J. Arboleda Valencia, A. Bozovic, D. Merceica, D. Andelovic, C. Abela (S. Xuereb).
Xewkija Tigers earned three precious points from a 1-0 win over Oratory Youths so that they moved further away from the red zone on the table. Before this match, the Tigers had a two-point lead over Oratory Youths and therefore the two sides were motivated to win the full points at stake in an attempt to take a comfortable placing on the table. Moreover, the two sides were aiming for the win as they both needed to make up for the respective disappointing results of their previous match, where Xewkija conceded a defeat while Oratory earned just one point from a draw.
Xewkija may have enjoyed territorial supremacy for longer stretches, and created more danger within their opponent’s area, but Oratory maintained their composure, resisted well during some difficult phases, gained confidence as time passed by and also created some good chances, particularly during the last part of the first half, where they could have surprised their opponents. Overall the two sides failed to capitalise on their best scoring opportunities so the outcome remained uncertain until the final stages of the encounter. As the match seemed to head to a goalless draw, Xewkija managed to score the decisive goal that arrived six minutes away from the end of regular time so the Oratory were demoralised and did not have enough energy and time to stage a reaction.
Timeline
Xewkija came out very aggressive and took command of play from the early stages in an attempt to take the lead. Oratory however was not demoralised and resisted well to the pressure so that as time passed by they also managed to threaten Xewkija’s defence with counter breaks.
6’ Xewkija missed a good scoring opportunity when Rodney Buttigieg received an inviting ball inside the area but his close ranged attempt was well blocked by goalie Angelo Brignoli.
9’ Xewkija’s Damir Andelovic had a cross-shot from the right flank that ended on the roof of the net.
20’ The same Andelovic had an attempt from outside the area that ended over Oratory’s crossbar.
24’ Xewkija could have created more danger but a header from a good position by Rodney Buttigieg following a cross by Damir Andelovic ended away from goal.
29’ Oratory’s first attempt towards Xewkija’s goal arrived through a strike from outside the area by Nikola Sutic that ended high.
32’ Oratory’s goalie was called to make an important intervention to block a header by Jhon Arboleda Valencia following a corner kick by Damir Andelovic and from the rebound, the attempt by Josmar Vella was blocked by the defence.
34’ Xewkija’s goalie was also called to make a difficult save to deny Oratory from opening the score when he stopped an attempt by central defender Jefferson De Sousa Ferreira following a free kick by Sunday Uforma Ubuwere and from the rebound, Xewkija’s Josmar Vella cleared the ball from the goalmouth in time before Matthew Zammit could arrive for a tap-in.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
The match continued to be well contested from the first minutes of play of the second period as both Oratory and Xewkija increased their efforts in an attempt to clinch the victory.
1’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was called into action after just 27 seconds into the second period and turned to a corner with difficulty a shot from outside the area by Damir Andelovic.
11’ Xewkija were again dangerous when Rodney Buttigieg took the ball from Oratory’s defence but his shot from a good position missed the target.
17’ Oratory went very close to opening the score when Xewkija’s defence cleared badly a cross from the left flank by Sunday Uforma Ubuwere and the ball arrived at the edge of the area where Oratory’s Ismael Belhadj fired towards the goal but goalie Nikola Kosanin was at the right place and deflected the ball to a corner.
20’ Xewkija’s Damir Andelovic was again dangerous through an attempt directly from a free kick but the ball ended just high.
32’ Xewkija missed a golden scoring opportunity when Oratory’s defence failed to clear the ball from their area following a free kick by Damir Andelovic but consecutive attempts by Rodney Buttigieg, Dejan Bogdanovic and Josmar Vella were blocked in front of an unattended goalmouth.
39’ (0-1) Xewkija scored the goal that decided the issue when Damir Andelovic delivered a cross from the right flank and Rodney Buttigieg’s header from close distance ended in goal despite the attempt by the goalkeeper to block the danger.
FT (OY 0 – XT 1)
Referee: Emanuel Grech
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