SK Victoria Wanderers defeat direct challengers with a late goal

7 January 2023
GFA BOV GFL 2nd Division (MD 6) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

SK Victoria Wanderers : 1
Xaghra United FC : 0

90+2’ (1-0) Aud-Gustine James Obaje

SK Victoria W:
O. Xuereb, N. Camilleri, A. Refalo, A.J. Obaje, E. Zammit, S. Harland (N. Grech), S.F. Bajada, K. Grima,
O. Fenech (J. Saliba), N. Vella, J.G. Vella.

Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, J. Bajada (E. Galea), S. Galea, L. Sultana (J. Xuereb), L. Meilak (K. Mercieca), M. Cordina,
S. Sultana, M. Mamo, D. Azzopardi, M. Bezzina, L. Garcia Panesso.

SK Victoria Wanderers took revenge for the defeat conceded in the match against Xaghra United of the
first round and obtained three precious points from a 1-0 win over the same Xaghra in the first Matchday
of the second round of the campaign.

The match was well contested as the two sides were aiming for the win. Victoria needed the points to
retain their sole leadership, while Xaghra could have reached the Wanderers on equal points with a win
from this encounter. The match seemed heading towards a goalless draw but during the first minute of
added time, the Wanderers capitalise from a corner action and score the goal that decided the issue.
This was Xaghra’s third defeat in the campaign and they practically compromised the good start in the
league so that they only obtained a point from their last four matches.

Timeline:
Xaghra were more motivated and took territorial supremacy from the early stages of the encounter.
Xaghra however were often erratic in their finishing while the Wanderers maintained a strong defensive
deployment and operated with counter breaks.
5’ Xaghra created the first scoring opportunity of the encounter but an attempt by Leiner Garcia Panesso
was well saved by Victoria’s goalie Omar Xuereb.
31’ Xaghra could have created more danger but a shot by Savio Galea from a corner action missed the
target.
32’ The Wanderers relied with an effort by Aud-Gustine James Obaje but the ball ended away from
Xaghra’s goal.
34’ Xaghra were again dangerous through a cross-shot by Luke Meilak but the ball ended just wide.
HT (0-0)

Second Half
For most of the time during the second-period play took place in the midfield where the two defensive
departments prevailed over the respective strikers. Xaghra tried to increase their efforts during the final
stages but they missed their best chances to score so they ended up conceding the goal that
decided the issue during stoppage time.
35’ Xaghra’s substitute Kenneth Mercieca could have marked his debut with a goal but the veteran
player failed to connect to an inviting cross by Leiner Garcia Panesso.
42’ Victoria’s defence denied their opponents from scoring when a shot from close distance by a substitute
Joel Xuereb was blocked by the defence.
44’ The same Joel Xuereb had another good attempt that was saved with difficulty by Victoria’s goalie
Omar Xuereb.
45+1’ Victoria’s Joseph George Vella had a shot directly from a free kick that was saved with difficulty to
a corner by Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb.
45+2’ (1-0) From the resultant corner kick taken by Joseph George Vella, Victoria’s Aud-Gustine James
Obaje surprised Xaghra’s defence and headed in the goal.

FT (SKVW 1 – XU 0)
Referee: Reuben Spiteri Delicata