Nadur defeat Xewkija to retain the top position

21 January 2023

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 11) Gozo Stadium

Nadur Youngsters FC : 3

Xewkija Tigers FC : 1

7’ (1-0) Predrag Dordevic

22’ (1-1) Matthias Mercieca

33’ (2-1) Gennaro Hili

73’ (3-1) Igor Nedeljkovic

Nadur Y:

S. Sultana, M. Tabone, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella, M. Jr. Barbosa, S. Cassar (N. Mifsud), G. Hili, G. Dourado Ferreira (G. Farrugia), G. Muscat, I. Nedeljkovic, P. Dordevic (M.P. Camilleri).

Xewkija T:

N. Kosanin, J. Vella, M. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, R. Buttigieg (S. Xuereb), J.A. Hernandez Leal (J. Camilleri), D. Bogdanovic, J. Arboleda Valencia, D. Mercieca, D. Andelovic, C. Abela (M. Bonnici).

In the first match from Match Day-11 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, Nadur Youngsters obtained the full points at stake from the match against Xewkija Tigers with a 3-1 win.  With the points obtained Nadur are now mathematically sure of a place in the championship pool for the second phase of the campaign and also retained its top position on the table.

Nadur was determined to take revenge for the defeat conceded in the match against Xewkija of the first round and held command of play for long stretches.  The Youngsters took an early lead but conceded Xewkija’s reaction so that they struggled to put their nose in front with a second goal that arrived during the final stages of the first half.  The Youngsters kept insisting after the break and also managed to put the result beyond the reach of their opponents with a third goal scored during the last stages of the encounter.  In this match, Nadur expressed some very good effective play and produced more scoring opportunities than their opponents.  Xewkija, on the other hand, tried to express their usual defensive deployment which so far saw them achieving a place with the top four teams on the table.  However, during these ninety minutes, they committed decisive defensive mistakes that compromised their possibility to earn at least a point.

For this match, Xewkija’s Aleksa Bozovic and Nadur’s Lucas Baretto Da Silva were both missing due to a suspension, but Xewkija had Jhonluis Aron Hernandez Leal and Carlo Abela who were making a return in the starting lineup after a long period where they were out of the squad due to injuries.

Timeline:

Play during the first period turned out to be quite interesting.  Nadur had a better start and opened the score but they conceded a reaction by Xewkija midway through the first period.  Nadur however regained territorial supremacy and took the break with a one-goal lead.

2’ Nadur went very close to scoring an early goal but a header from a good position by Ian Xuereb from a corner kick by Gennaro Hili ended wide.

6’ Nadur were again dangerous through a close-ranged shot by Predrag Dordevic following a cross by Stefan Cassar that got a deflection by the defence to a corner.

7’ (1-0) The Youngsters took the lead following a prolonged action inside Xewkija’s area as goalie Nikola Kosanin blocked two consecutive attempts by Gustavo Dourado Ferreira and Stefan Cassar and from the final rebound Predrag Dordevic fired in goal.

17’ Xewkija replied through a shot by Jhon Arboleda Valencia that was well saved by goalie Steve Sultana.

22’ (1-1) Xewkija kept insisting and levelled the score when Matthias Mercieca defended the ball and entered Nadur’s area from the right so that the young striker netted with a low shot as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

27’ Nadur’s Igor Nedeljkovic had a good shot that ended wide. 

33’ (2-1) Nadur regained the lead when a free kick from a long distance by Gennaro Hili surprised Xewkija’s rear guard and the goalkeeper and ended in the net.

37’ (protests for a penalty) Xewkija protested for a penalty alleging a foul by Nadur’s keeper Steve Sultana on Hernandez Leal when the former blocked a low cross from the right despite the challenge by Xewkija’s striker.

42’ Nadur were again dangerous but a strike by Stefan Cassar from outside the area ended high.

HT (2-1)

Second Half

The Youngsters tried to maintain their momentum for the second period and produced some pressure on Xewkija’s defence.  However, Nadur found it difficult to convert their play into more goals so Xewkija maintained their chances to recover the deficit for most of the time.

2’ Nadur could have capitalised better but a shot from close distance by Marcelo Barbosa ended wide.

7’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin denied Nadur from adding another goal when he managed to block a low shot by Predrag Dordevic following a personal action and from the rebound the clearance by the defence hit Dourado Ferreira and the ball ended away from goal.

16’ The same goalkeeper was well placed and neutralised an effort by Predrag Dordevic after receiving from Igor Nedeljkovic.

19’ Xewkija relied with a long-range shot by Damir Andelovic when Nadur’s keeper was out of his position but the ball ended over the crossbar.

29’ (protests for penalty) Xewkija protested with the match officials for the second time for a penalty when Jhon Arboleda Valencia ended on the floor as he tried to pass the defence inside Nadur’s area.

33’ (3-1) Nadur practically put their minds at rest from the win by scoring the third goal as Predrag Dordevic won the ball in the midfield and released Marcelo Barbosa in a counter break so that the latter unmarked Igor Nedeljkovic who placed in goal with a low shot.

41’ (crossbar) Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana denied Xewkija from re-opening the issue when he saved to a corner with the aid of the crossbar an attempt directly from a free kick by Damir Andelovic.

FT (NY 3 – XT 1)

Referee: Etienne Mangion