Xewkija turn a defeat into a win

20 September 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 3) Gozo Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC ; 1

Xewkija Tigers FC ; 3

Referee: Philip Farrugia

12’ (1-0) Lucas Farrugia

16’ (1-1) Rodney Buttigieg

45+2’ (1-2) Damir Andelovic

53’ (1-3) Matthias Mercieca

Victoria H: 

L. Gatt, O. Cremona, C. Vella, O.G. Fernandes, A. Debrincat, L. Farrugia, A. Xiberras (S. Sillato), L. Mancuso Lemos Santos Ferreira, E.A. Da Silva, E. Xiberras (D. Hili), D.C. Kassekar.

Xewkija T:

N. Kosanin, J. Vella, M. Mercieca (S. Xuereb), J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg, J.A. Hernandez Leal, D. Bogdanovic (M. Bonnici), A. Bozovic, D. Merceica, D. Andelovic, C. Abela.

Xewkija Tigers earned their first points in the championship when they came from behind in the match against Victoria Hotspurs and registered a 3-1 win.  This was a match between two sides who conceded defeats in their respective first two matches of the championship.  As a result both Xewkija and Victoria were determined to win the three points at stake.

Play was quite interesting for most of the encounter as the two sides created some good scoring opportunities.  However, Xewkija scored a goal seconds before half time and another goal few minutes after the break and with these goals they determined the outcome of the encounter.  The Tigers grew in confidence with the comfortable two-goal lead and managed to Victoria’s reaction.  On the other hand the Hotspurs became demoralised as time passed by and failed to recover the deficit.

Timeline:

The two sides came out very aggressive and created scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field.  Play continued to be quite balanced and both sides could have ended the first half in the lead.

11’ The Hotspurs created the first serious scoring opportunity but a shot on the run by Dimitri Christian Kassekar, following a corner kick by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes, was saved to another corner with difficulty by goalie Nikola Kosanin.

12’ (1-0) The Hotspurs capitalised from the resultant corner action and opened the score.  Xewkija’s goalie partially saved the corner kick by Olimpio Fernandes but from the attempt to clear the ball by defender Josiah Buttigieg, Victoria’s Lucas Farrugia concluded in goal from close distance.

13’ Xewkija replied through a shot from outside the area by Dejan Bogdanovic that was weak and goalie Liam Gatt saved without difficulty.

14’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through an effort by Elton Da Silva that was well saved by Xewkija’s keeper Nikola Kosanin.

16’ (1-1) Xewkija levelled the score when Victoria’ goalie Liam Gatt blocked a free kick by Damir Andelovic and from the rebound Hernandez Leal prolonged in the area so that Rodney Bittigieg took he opportunity and guided the ball in the net.

The Hotspurs tried to take territorial supremacy but found it difficult to create danger to Xewkija’s keeper.

28’ Xewkija were again dangerous through a shot from a good position by Matthias Mercieca that ended wide.

31’ Xewkija’s goalie was well placed and punched away an attempt from a free kick by Victoria’s Elton Da Silva.

33’ (goal disallowed) Xewkija’s Rodney Buttigieg concluded in the net with a fine header following a cross for the right flank by Matthias Mercieca but the goal was disallowed since Mercieca crossed when the ball has already crossed the goal line.

45+2’(1-2) Xewkija took the break in the lead as they managed to turn the result in their favour on the stroke of half time with a goal that arrived through a fine shot from long distance by Damir Andelovic tht ended out of the reach of Victoria’s goalie.

HT (1-2)

Second Half

Victoria tried to produce a reaction but Xewkija were in the driving seat and also managed to increase their lead during the opening minutes of the second half so that they administered play for the rest of the encounter.

8’ (1-3)  Xewkija scored their third goal through a low drive towards the far post by Matthias Mercieca who was released inside Victoria’s area by Hernandez Leal.

Victoria’s reaction continued to be sterile and for most of the second period the two goalkeepers were not called to make difficult saves.

27’ The Hotspurs wet closest to re-open the issue when an attempt with a back heel by Lucas Mancuso Lemos Santos Ferreira, following a free kick by substitute Damon Hili was well saved by goalie Nikola Kosanin.

30’ Xewkija could have added another goal but a shot on the run by Dejan Bogdanovic following a cross by Josiah Buttigieg missed the target.

33’ (protests for penalty) The Hotspurs protested for a penalty when Andrea Debrincat ended on the floor inside the area following a challenge with an opponent.

35’ (goal disallowed) Xewkija’s Jhanluis Aron Hernandez Leal passed through Victoria’s rear guard and netted with a fine shot but his goal was disallowed since the view of Victoria’s keeper was blocked by  Xewkija striker in on offside position.

FT (VH 1 – XT 3)

Referee: Philip Farrugia