6 November 2022
GFA Division I KO (Q/finals) Kercem Arkafort Stadium
Sannat Lions FC: 1
Ghajnsielem FC : 3
2’ (0-1) Patrick Dos Santos Cruz
37’ (0-2) penalty Patrick Dos Santos Cruz
41’ (1-2) Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales
72’ (1-3) penalty Patrick Dos Santos Cruz
Sannat L:
L. Buttigieg, A. Sultana, J. Cassar (M. Azzopardi), R.H. Alves Saldanha, T. Agius, N. Grima (O. Grech), C.A. Sanchez Gonzales, D. Borg, L. Silva Gomes, C. Dingli, S. Martinez Turizo, A. Azzopardi.
Ghajnsielem:
M. Muscat, K.Borg, A. Xuereb (D. Portelli), D. Farrugia, M. Bezzina (P. Vella), J.P. Oliveira Santos, S. Attard (C. Camilleri), K. Grima (D.P. Rapa), J.V. Candido, C.H. Da Silva Barbosa, P. Dos Santos Cruz.
Ghajnsielem confirmed the improvement registered in the previous weeks, following a bad patch during October, and earned qualification to the semi-finals of the KO competition with a fine win over Sannat Lions. Ghajnsielem were favourites to obtain a win from this match but Sannat made it more difficult than expected for their opponents so that the qualification was practically decided near the final stages of the encounter.
The main protagonists of the match were undoubtedly Ghajnsielem’s Patrick Dos Santos Cruz who scored a hat trick and Sannat’s goalkeeper Luke Buttigieg who made a series of important interventions throughout the ninety minutes to deny Ghajnsielem from opening a lead with a larger margin. In the semi-final of the competition, Ghajnsielem will meet Qala Saints.
Timeline
Ghajnsielem took command of play from the kick-off and took an early lead so that the gained confidence and maintained control of play for the rest of the first period. Sannat suffered for most of the time during the first half but they managed to remain in contention due to a series of difficult interventions by Sannat’s goalie and also through a goal from a corner action scored in an immediate reply after conceding a goal from penalty.
2’ (0-1) The Blacks opened the score when Sannat’s defence cleared badly inside their area and Patrick Dos Santos Cruz won the possession and placed in goal with a low shot.
10’ Ghajnsielem were again dangerous through a strike from outside the area by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos that was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie Luke Buttigieg.
24’ Sannat’s goalie was again called to make a difficult intervention when he blocked a shot on the run by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa following a clearance by the defence from a free kick.
30’ (crossbar) Ghajnsielem’s Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa entered Sannat’s area with a personal action but his low shot was deflected to a corner by goalie Luke Buttigieg. From the resultant corner kick by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos, a header by Patrick Dos Santos Cruz hit the crossbar.
31’ The same Dos Santos Cruz went again close to double the lead but his low shot from a good position ended just wide.
37’ (0-2) penalty Ghajnsielem were awarded a penalty when Shaun Attard ended on the floor inside the area following a challenge for the ball with Christian Dingli and Patrick Dos Santos Cruz converted from the spot kick to increase the lead for his side.
41’ (1-2) Sannat reduced the deficit through a header by Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales from a corner kick by Aaron Azzopardi.
44’ Sannat’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was well placed and saved with difficulty a header by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa following a cross from the right flank by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos.
45+1’ The same goalkeeper blocked well a strike from outside the area by Shaun Attard.
HT (1-2)
Second Half
For the second period, Sannat tried to produce a reaction by taking advantage of the wind blowing in their favour but Ghajnsielem were well deployed and regained command of play. However, Ghajnsielem continued to find it very difficult to defeat Sannat’s keeper Luke Buttigieg and only managed to put their minds at rest by scoring the third goal, from another penalty, near the half-hour mark of the second period.
3’ Sannat’s Nicholas Grima had a shot from a long distance that ended over the crossbar.
5’ Ghajnsielem replied with an attempt directly from a free kick by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos that was saved with difficulty by Sannat’s keeper Luke Buttigieg.
9’ In another occasion Ghajnsielem’s Kurt Grima had a shot from an angled position that ended wide.
11’ (post) The Blacks went very close to adding another goal but a shot directly from a free kick by Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos was saved by the goalkeeper with the aid of the post and from the rebound, the effort by Patrick Dos Santos Cruz was blocked to a corner.
15’ Sannat’s keeper blocked a shot by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa and from the rebound, the same striker saw his attempt that ended over the crossbar.
27’ (1-3) penalty Ghajnsielem were awarded another penalty following a tackle by Christian Dingli on Patrick Dos Santos Cruz and the same striker made no mistake with his shot from the spot kick.
31’ Ghajnsielem’s Patrick Dos Santos Cruz missed a golden opportunity to score his fourth personal goal but the striker lifted over the crossbar from close distance following an inviting low cross from the right flank.
37’ Ghajnsielem had their last opportunity to add another goal but an effort directly from a free kick by substitute Chris Camilleri was neutralised with some difficulty by goalie Luke Buttigieg.
FT (SL 1 – GHJ 3)
Referee: Slawomir Olucha
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