29 November 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 3) Kercem Arkafort Stadium
Zebbug Rovers FC : 1
Munxar Falcons FC : 2
7’ (0-1) Henry Fabian Solis
40’ (red card) Ian Buttigieg (ZR)
73’ (0-2) Henry Fabian Solis
74’ (1-2) Daniel Mesa Pineros
Zebbug R:
B. Saliba, P. Spiteri, I. Buttigieg, M. Formosa (O. Atzori), C. Gauci, R. Saliba, L. Atzori, D. Mesa Pineros, E. Gauci, M. Gauci, M. Camilleri Psaila (N.J. Cini).
Munxar F:
D. Galea, C. Gafa, A. Buttigieg, R. Meilak (J.P. Grima), S. Farrugia, H.F. Solis, M. Zerafa, B. Said, G. Sillato, R. Grima, K. Mizzi.
In the first match from Match Day-3 of the second division BOV Gozo Football League, Munsar falcons registered their first win in the campaign by defeating Zebbug Rovers with the odd goal from three. The two sides were determined to obtain the full points at stake from this encounter as Munxar earned only one point from their previous two matches while Zebbug was aiming to return to winning ways after conceding a defeat in their previous match.
Munxar’s win matured with a goal scored in each half. The Falcons were more pragmatic as they capitalised on their best scoring opportunities and controlled Zebbug’s reaction for most of the ninety minutes. The Rovers, who play more than half of the encounter with a player less on the field, struggled to create serious danger towards Munxar’s goal and missed an opportunity to obtain at least a point from this match.
With this result, Munxar moved over the same Zebbug on the table and the outcome of the encounter should contribute to self-confidence in their potential to challenge the upper part of the table. On the other hand, Zebbug needs to express more consistency in order to be among the most competitive sides of the category.
Timeline
Munxar had an excellent start and scored an early goal so that they took the driving seat and managed to administer play without difficulty. Zebbug’s reaction to the goal was sterile and Munxar’s goalie was not called to make difficult interventions.
7’ (0-1) Munxar took the lead when Kenneth Mizzi delivered a cross from the right flank and Henry Fabian Solis arrived on the ball before Zebbug’s goalie and headed easily in goal.
34’ Zebbug could have created more danger but a shot from a long distance by Eric Gauci ended high.
36’ Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba was well placed and saved in two attempts a free kick by Stefan Farrugia.
40’ (red card) Zebbug were reduced to ten players when Ian Buttigieg was sent off for pushing the referee during protests for a foul in the midfield.
43’ Munxar’s goalie Daniel Galea was in the right placed and neutralised a header by Daniel Mesa Pineros following a free kick.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
The match became much more interesting after the break despite the fact that Zebbug had a player less on the field. The Rovers staged a determined reaction but were often erratic in their finishing and compromised the possibility to earn a positive result by conceding a second goal. The Rovers re-opened the issue but could not find a way to save the result.
1’ Zebbug almost committed an own goal when Carl Gauci hit badly in an attempt to clear the danger but goalie Baskal Saliba recovered in time and punched away the danger.
16’ The Rovers were dangerous through a strike from a long distance by Daniel Mesa Pineros that was saved with difficulty in two attempts by goalie Daniel Galea.
21’ The same Daniel Mesa Pineros had another good attempt from a free kick that was saved to a corner by Munxar’s goalie.
24’ Zebbug missed a good scoring opportunity when a strike from outside the area by Ryan Saliba was partially saved by goalie Daniel Galea and from the rebound, Lorenzo Atzori incredibly concluded over the crossbar from close distance.
27’ The Rovers went close to levelling the score but a header by Carl Gauci following a corner kick by Matthion Formosa ended high.
28’ (0-2) Zebbug were punished for the missed chances as Munxar doubled the score with a goal that arrived through a low shot by Henry Fabian Solis following a personal action.
29’ (1-2) Zebbug managed to reduce the score through a fine shot from outside the area that ended out of the reach of Munxar’s goalie.
44’ Zebbug’s goalie Baskal Saliba kept his side in contention with a good save to block a low shot from an ideal position by Brandon Said.
45+2’ Zebbug had the last opportunity to save the result but a curling shot from an angled position by substitute Orlando Atzori just missed the target.
FT (ZR 1 – MF 2)
Referee: Patrick Falzon
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