Kercem back in the reckoning

11 December 2022

GFA BOV GFL 1st Division (MD 8) Gozo Stadium

Xewkija Tigers FC ; 0

Kercem Ajax FC ; 1

14’ (0-1) Gabriel Cardona

Xewkija T:

N. Kosanin, J. Vella, M. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg (M. Bonnici), R. Buttigieg, D. Bogdanovic, J. Arboleda Valencia, A. Bozovic, D. Mercieca, D. Andelovic, T. Axiak (S. Xuereb).

Kercem A:

D. Spiteri, N. Mercieca, L.H. Santana Motta, J. Theuma, B. Da Cruz,  P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, A. Mizzi, G. Cardona, K. Formosa, S. Azzopardi, M.V. Da Costa Soares Da Silva.

In the last match from Match Day-8 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, Kercem Ajax recovered from the defeat conceded in their previous match and earned the full points at stake from a close win over Xewkija Tigers.  This was the same score of the match between the two sides from the first round.  With this win, Kercem moved to the third spot on the table and regained their chances to be among the challengers for the title.

Kercem’s win matured with a goal scored during the opening stages of the encounter.  Otherwise, the match was well contested where each side expressed territorial supremacy over the opponents for a half each.  Throughout the ninety minutes, the two defensive departments were often in control of the respective strikers and as a result, the actions on goal were quite rare.

The match was also considered a direct clash between two sides who needed a win to earn a place with the top four teams at the end of the second round.  With this outcome, Xewkija missed an opportunity to reduce their gap from the other teams who are above them on the table and at the moment they remain outside the group that will be contesting the title during the second part of the championship.

Photo: Anthony Cassar

Timeline:

Kercem seemed more aggressive during the opening stages and took the lead in their first attempt at goal so that they gained confidence and made it very difficult for their opponents to produce a reaction.

14’ (0-1) Kercem opened the score in their first attempt toward the goal through Gabriel Cardona who pushed the ball into the net from close distance following a cross from the left flank by Marcos Soares Da Silva.

22’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was called to make a good save to turn to a corner a strike by Pablo Vinicius Ferreira.

33’ Kercem could have created more danger when Marcos Soares Da Silva released Gabriel Cardona inside Xewkija’s area but the latter hit badly from a good position and the ball ended away from the goal.

45’ The Ajax were again dangerous through a strike by Pablo Vinicius Ferreira that ended just over Xewkija’s crossbar.

45+1’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin denied Kercem from scoring a second goal when he blocked with difficulty an attempt by Pablo Vinicius Ferreira who was released inside the area by Marcos Soares Da Silva. 

HT (0-1)

Second Half

Xewkija came out of their defence and became much more adventurous during the second period. Kercem, however, were well deployed and most of the time they kept danger away from their area.  The Ajax however did not create much danger with their counter breaks so the outcome of the encounter remained uncertain.

13’ Xewkija could have created more danger but a direct free kick from a good position by Damir Andelovic missed the target.

24’ Kercem could have doubled the score when Bruno da Cruz and Marcos Soares da Silva played the ball from a free kick and released Pablo Vinicius Ferreira but the latter hit badly when he arrived face to face with Xewkija’s keeper and the defence managed to block the danger.

28’ Xewkija also missed a golden scoring opportunity when Jhon Arboleda Valencia took the ball inside Kercem’s area following a through pass by Damir Andelovic, ut his lob over Kercem’s goalie who was out of his position ended high.

45+4’ Xewkija’s last opportunity to save the result arrived through a cross-shot by Damir Andelovic that was deflected to a corner and from the same corner kick by Andelovic, Kercem’s goalie cleared inside the area but the strike from an ideal position by Matthias Mercieca ended high.

FT (XT 0 – KA 1)

Referee: Glen Tonna

Photo: Anthony Cassar