Nadur save the result with second half goals

17 December 2022

GFA BOV GFL 1st Division (MD 9) Gozo Stadium

Nadur Youngsters FC : 2

Oratory Youths FC : 2

24’ (0-1) Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa

42’ (0-2) Sunday Uforma Ubuwere

53’ (1-2) penalty Marcelo Jr Barbosa

71’ (2-2) Gustavo Dourado Ferreira

Nadur Y:

S. Sultana, L.B. Da Silva, M. Tabone, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella, M.P. Camilleri (J. Xerri), M. Jr. Barbosa, G. Hili, G. Dourado Ferreira (N. Mifsud), G. Muscat, I. Nedeljkovic.

Oratory Y:

R. Sammut, J. Tabone, P. Rapa (O. Curmi), J. De Souza Ferreira, K. Hili (N. Said), H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, A. Xuereb, A. Azzopardi (H. Muscat), N. Sutic, Ju. Attard (O. Xuereb), S.U. Ubuwere.

Leaders Nadur Youngsters were trailing by two goals at the end of the first half in their match against relegation strugglers Oratory Youths, but the reigning champions produced a determined reaction after the break and managed to recover the deficit so that they left the field with a point and avoided an embarrassing defeat which could have compromised their leadership.

Oratory, who lost the match of the first round against Nadur with the odd goal from three, once again surprised their opponents and were determined to obtain a positive result from this encounter.  The Youths seemed in excellent form during the first period and took the break with a deserved two-goal lead.  However, for the second period, the Youths suffered Nadur’s reaction and lost the possibility to earn the full points at stake.  Oratory left the field of play with their heads held up high as they deserved the point despite the fact that they were playing against the reigning champions and the team aiming to win another consecutive title.

Nadur was punished for their overconfidence as they were forced to run after the result and therefore they were never in control of the play. In this match, Nadur once again confirmed the difficulties they are finding this season to impose their play and more than that the difficulties they are encountering to create scoring opportunities.

Timeline:

Naur came out for this match with the intention to take command of play but although they saw more of the ball, Oratory made it extremely difficult for them to find space to conclude towards the goal.  The Youths were well organised and managed to threaten their opponents with dangerous breaks so they also took the break with a deserved two-goal lead.

24’ (0-1) Oratory surprised their more quoted opponents and opened the score in the first serious action of the encounter when Nikola Sutic won the ball from the opponents in the midfield and released Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa within Nadur’s territory.  The latter resisted to the challenge of his direct opponent and placed in goal as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

26’ (crossbar) Nadur had an immediate reaction and was unlucky when an attempt from close distance by Lucas Baretto Da Silva was stopped by the crossbar.

30’ Oratory could have created more danger but an attempt directly from a free kick by Nikola Sutic ended over the crossbar.

37’ Nadur continued to suffer Oratory’s counter break and the Youths missed another good opportunity to add another goal when a strike by Goncalves Barbosa was blocked by Nadur’s defender Ian Xuereb.

38’ Oratory’s keeper Richard Sammut was called to make his first serious intervention when he turned to a corner with some difficulty a shot from a long distance by Gennaro Hili.

42’ (0-2) Oratory managed to double the score when the ball arrived to Kenny Hili inside Nadur’s area following an initiative by Goncalves Barbosa.  The shot by Hili hit the post with the goalkeeper beaten and from the rebound, Sunday Uforma Ubuwere netted easily from a close distance.

HT (0-2)

Second Half

For the second period, Nadur came out more aggressive with the intention to re-opened the issue.  The Youngsters reduced the score at an early stage of the second period but Oratory was not demoralised and the match became more contested, although the actions on goal continued to be quite rare.

5’ (protests for penalty) Nadur protested for a penalty when Marcelo Barbosa ended up on the floor inside Oratory’s area following a challenge with his direct opponent.

7’ (1-2) penalty Nadur was awarded a penalty for an intervention by Oratory’s James Tabone on Igor Nedeljkovic and Marcelo Jr Barbosa converted from the spot.

12’ Oratory replied with a shot from outside the area by Nikola Sutic that ended wide.

22’ Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut was at the right place and neutralised without much difficulty a low shot by Lucas Baretto Da Silva.

26’ (2-2) Nadur managed to clinch the equaliser when Gennaro Hili delivered a cross from the left flank and Gustavo Dourado Ferreira headed in a goal from close distance.

34’ (protests for penalty) Oratory protested for a penalty when Goncalves Barbosa ended up on the floor inside Nadur’s area following contact with an opponent when he was passing through the defence with personal action.

45+5’ Nadur could have scored a dramatic goal when Igor Nedeljkovic delivered a cross from the right but the attempt from close distance by substitute Joseph Xerri was blocked by Oratory’s goalie Richard Sammut.

FT (NY 2 – OY 2)

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri