Hotspurs register first win of the season

29 October 2022

GFA KO Division I (Q/finals) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 4

Oratory Youths FC : 0

14’ (1-0) Andrea Debrincat

38’ (2-0) penalty Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes

42’ (3-0) Andrea Debrincat

84’ (4-0) Lucas Farrugia

Victoria H: 

O. Attard, D.C. Kassekar, O. Cremona, O.G. Fernandes, J. Azzopardi, A. Debrincat (G. Borg), L. Farrugia, D. Hili (A. Xiberras), E.R. Okpokwu, J. Grech (S. Sillato), A. Xiberras.

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, J. Tabone, P. Rapa (O. Curmi), J. De Sousa Ferreira, H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, I. Belhadj (D. Atzori), A. Xuereb, N. Sutic, N. Said (K. Hili), Ju. Attard (A. Azzopardi), S.U. Ubuwere (K. Saliba).

In the first match from the Quarter Finals of the GFA Division I KO competition, Victoria Hotspurs earned a place in the semi-final with a convincing 4-0 win over neighbours Oratory Youths.  This was Victoria’s first win of the season as in their previous matches since the beginning of September they only obtained two draws, one of them against the same Oratory in the match from the first round of the championship.

Victoria and Oratory were aiming to obtain the qualification for different reasons.  The Hotspurs needed to make up for the disappointing results while Oratory had the objective to extend their positive moment of form after obtaining the qualification to the quarter-finals of the BOV GFA Cup in their previous match.  However, the Hotspurs were more motivated and organised in this encounter and they practically held command of play throughout the ninety minutes.  The Hotspurs put their minds at rest from the win of the derby match and of the qualification by scoring three goals before the end of the first half.  In the semi-finals stage later in November, the Hotspurs will face the winner of the match between Nadur Youngsters and Kercem Ajax.

Timeline

The Hotspurs came out more aggressive and produced pressure on Oratory’s defence from the early stages.  The Youths struggled to produce a reaction and practically compromised their chances to challenge for the qualification by conceding three goals during the first period. 

4’ (goal disallowed) Oratory’s defence failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth so Victoria’s Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes took advantage and addressed into the net but his shot got a deflection and the goal was disallowed for an offside.

6’ The Youths almost surprised their opponents when a shot by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa was partially saved by Victoria’s keeper Owen Attard and from the rebound, the attempt by Sunday Uforma Ubuwere ended wide.

14’ (1-0) The Hotspurs took the deserved lead when Dimitri Christian Kassekar headed towards goal following a corner kick by Damon Hili, Oratory’s defender Jurgen Attard blocked the ball on the fatal line and from the rebound, Andrea Debrincat pushed the ball in the net.

20’ Victoria were again dangerous through a shot from outside the area by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes that was neutralised by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

32’ Oratory created some danger within Victoria’s area through an attempt from close distance by Sunday Uforma Ubuwere following a corner kick by Ismael Belhadj that was partially saved by goalie Owen Attard and the defence cleared the danger.

36’ Oratory once again threatened Victoria’s defence but a strike from outside the area by Nikola Sutic ended high.

38’ (2-0) penalty Victoria doubled their lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Oratory’s James Tabone on Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes and the same Fernandes converted from the spot kick.

39’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was called to make a good save to turn to a corner a shot from outside the area by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes.

42’ (3-0) The Hotspurs added another goal when a shot by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes was blocked by the defence and from the rebound, Andrea Debrincat concluded in goal with a low shot.

43’ Victoria’s goalie Owen Attard was well placed and neutralised a header from a good position by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa.

HT (3-0)

Second Half

The Hotspurs seemed more confident after the break and neutralised without much difficulty Oratory’s attempt to produce a reaction.  The Hotspurs also managed to make sure of the win by scoring a fourth goal near the end of the encounter.

11’ Oratory’s Nikola Sutic had a shot from outside the area that got a deflection and ended in a corner.

14’ The Hotspurs replied through a low shot by Lucas Farrugia that was partially saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli and from the rebound the effort by Victoria’s Andre Debrincat was neutralised by the same keeper.

18’ Victoria’s goalie was almost surprised and failed to hold the ball following a low shot by substitute Keith Saliba and the ball ended in a corner.

39’ (4-0) The Hotspurs sealed the win when Lucas Farrugia took the ball from Oratory’s defence and placed it in goal as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

45’ Oratory’s last opportunity to score a consolation goal arrived through a strike by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa from outside the area was blocked by goalie

FT (VH 4 – OY 0)

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann