Xewkija keep their challenge for the fourth spot

22 December 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 9) Gozo Stadium

Sannat Lions FC : 0

Xewkija Tigers FC : 7

17’ (0-1) Damir Andelovic

22’ (0-2) penalty Damir Andelovic

27’ (0-3) Damir Andelovic

65’ (0-4) Johnny Camilleri

66’ (0-5) Johnny Camilleri

73’ (0-6) penalty Jhon Arboleda Valencia

85’ (0-7) Damir Andelovic

Sannat L:

L. Buttigieg, A. Sultana, R.H. Alves Saldanha, O. Grech, N. Grima, C.A. Sanchez Gonzales, D. Borg (T. Agius), C. Dingli, M. Mifsud, A. Attard (M. Farrugia), A. Azzopardi.

Xewkija T:

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

In the last match of the calendar year, 2022 Xewkija Tigers registered an impressive 7-0 win over bottom-placed Sannat Lions and with the pint obtained they are now sharing the fourth place on the table with Ghajnsielem.  The Tigers are therefore still in contention to earn a place with the four top teams at the end of the second round which would put them in the group to contest the championship pool in the second phase of the league.

Xewkija dominated the encounter and the win was practically achieved within the first half-hour of play.  However, this match confirmed the consistency by Xewkija after nine matches of the championship as they once again ended with a clean sheet and their defensive department consolidated their status as the best defence of the top flight.  Moreover, in this match, Xewkija scored more goals than they did in the previous eight matches so they got some relief from the frustration they encountered when they found it so difficult to convert their play into goals.  The main protagonist for Xewkija in this match was Damir Andelovic who scored four of the seven goals in the encounter.

The Tigers also took revenge for the close defeat conceded in the match against Sannat in the first round.  Sannat failed to produce another effective performance in this match and suffered another heavy defeat.  At the end of Match Day-9 Sannat ended alone at the bottom of the table but more than that, they should be worried about their defensive deployment as the team conceded 35 goals in nine matches with an average of almost four goals in each match.

Timeline:

During the opening minutes of the encounter, Sannat gave the impression that they were aiming for a positive result but Xewkija took the lead with an early goal and continued to dominate for the rest of the match.

6’(crossbar) Sannat almost surprised their opponents when an attempt from a free kick by Aaron Azzopardi was saved to a corner by goalie Nikola Kosanin. From the same corner action, taken by Azzopardi, a header by Alves Saldanha was stopped by the crossbar.

17’ (0-1) Xewkija opened the score when Rodney Buttigieg released Damir Andelovic inside Sannat’s area and the latter controlled the ball and concluded in goal with a low shot.

22’ (0-2) penalty Xewkija were awarded a penalty for a foul by Daniel Borg on Jhon Arboleda Valencia and Damir Andelovic converted from the spot kick.

27’ (0-3) Sannat continued to suffer Xewkija’s play and the Tigers added another goal when Rodney Buttigieg headed backwards inside Sannat’s area a long-ranged cross by Josiah Buttigieg and Mattias Bonnici prolonged to Damir Andelovic who fired in goal with a shot on the run and with the ball hitting the crossbar before ending in the net.

41’  Xewkija could have capitalised better when Johnny Camilleri delivered a low cross inside Sannat’s area but Jhon Arbolecda Valencia hit badly from a close distance and the ball ended wide.

43’ Sannat replied through a shot from outside the area by substitute Tristen Agius that was neutralised by Xewkija’s keeper.

45+2’ Xewkija were again dangerous and were denied from scoring another goal when a low drive by Jhon Arboleda Valencia aimed towards an open goal was clear from the goalmouth by Sannat’s defender Anthony Sultana with the goalkeeper beaten. 

HT (0-3)

Second Half

The match lost much of the interest after the break as Sannat were demoralised while Xewkija reduced their momentum and administered play.

15’ (goal disallowed) Xewkija’s Johnny Camilleri concluded in the net following a prolonged corner action but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement.

20’ (0-4) Xewkija scored their fourth goal that arrived following a good action between Dejan Bogdanovic and Rodney Buttigieg which was concluded with a tap-in by Johnny Camilleri.

21’ Xewkija’s Jhon Arboleda Valencia had a good attempt from an angled position that was saved with the aid of the crossbar by goalie Luke Buttigieg.

22’ (0-5) The fifth goal by Xewkija arrived through a header by Johnny Camilleri, who was unmarked inside the area, following a cross from the left flank by Dejan Bogdanovic.

28’ (0-6) penalty Xewkija were awarded a second penalty when Jhon Arboleda Valencia ended on the floor inside Sannat’s area following a challenge by defender Anthony Sultana and the same striker made no mistake with his shot from the spot kick.

30’ (crossbar) Xewkija were again unlucky when an attempt from a free kick by Damir Andelovic hit the crossbar.

40’ (0-7) Xewkija added another goal when Jhon Arboleda Valencia released Damir Andelovic inside Sannat’s area and the latter fired in goal from an ideal position.

43’ (crossbar/post) The Tigers could have increased their score but an attempt by Rodney Buttigieg was stopped by the crossbar and from the rebound, the shot by Jhon Arboleda Valencia hit the post.

FT (SL 0 – XT 7)

Referee: Andrea Sciriha