Oratory leave it late to obtain a deserved win

30 January 2023

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 12) Gozo Stadium

Oratory Youths FC: 2

Sannat Lions FC : 0

85’ (1-0) Kenny Hili

90+4’ (2-0) Kenny Hili

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, J. Tabone, J. De Souza Ferreira, H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, A. Xuereb, A. Azzopardi (O. Xuereb), N. Sutic, N. Said (K. Farrugia), Ju. Attard (H. Muscat), D. Atzori (K. Hili), J Mijuskovic.

Sannat L:

L. Buttigieg, A. Sultana, T. Agius, D.A. Cuero, N. Grima (J. Cassar), C.A. Sanchez Gonzales, D. Borg, A. Takatori, M. Mifsud, A. Attard (O. Grech), A. Azzopardi.

Oratory Youths extended their lead over the other two teams in the relegation zone with three points obtained from a 2-0 win over bottom-placed Sannat Lions.  This was an important clash from the red zone as both Oratory and Sannat needed a win.  The two sides were also coming from some positive performances where the Youths registered the double over Ghajnsielem, while Sannat showed improvement with the signing of new players during January despite the fact that they failed to win any points.

For this match Sannat had influential midfielder Lucas Silva Gomes missing due to a suspension but they managed to share play for most of the first half.  Oratory however practically took control of play after the break and in the end, they managed to obtain the full points at stake with two goals that arrived during the final stages of the encounter.  The hero for the Youths was Kenny Hili, who came on the field of play from the substitute bench before the hour mark and ended up scoring the goals that decided the issue.

Timeline:

Oratory seemed more aggressive during the opening stages of the encounter but Sannat were well deployed at their defence and managed to keep their area clear from danger.  Sannat, on the other hand, managed to produce some offensive breaks but the strikers were well controlled by Oratory’s rear guard and as a result, serious goal-scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field were quite rare.

4’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was well placed and saved without difficulty a low shot from outside the area by Sannat’s Andrew Attard.

15’ Oratory replied with a cross-shot from the left by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa following a personal action that missed the target.

20’ (protests for penalty) Oratory protested for a penalty when the same Goncalves Barbosa ended up on the floor inside Sannat’s area when he tried to pass by his direct opponent.

31’ Oratory’s Neil Said almost surprised Sannat’s goalkeeper with a cross-shot from the right flank but the ball ended wide.

34’ Oratory had their best scoring opportunity of the first half when a strike from close distance by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa was blocked by Sannat’s keeper Luke Buttigieg and the ball was cleared from the goalmouth by central defender Arata Takatori.

43’ The Youths went again close to opening the score when Jovan Mijuskovic delivered a cross from the right flank but Haraan Goncalves Barbosa saw his header that ended inches away from the post.

HT (0-0)

Second Half

Oratory increased their efforts from the first minutes of play of the second period and managed to put more pressure on Sannat’s defence so that the latter were often in difficulty keeping their territory clear of danger.  As time passed by the match became more exciting as the two sides remained in contention for the win.

2’ Sannat’s keeper Luke Buttigieg was well placed and neutralised without difficulty a header by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa following a cross from the right.

3’ (protests for penalty) The Youths protested for a penalty when Neil Said ended up on the floor inside Sannat’s area following a challenge by his direct opponent.

10’ Oratory were again dangerous through a low shot by Nikola Sutic following a prolonged action that was well blocked by goalie Luke Buttigieg.

13’ Sannat replied with an effort by Deison Arvey Cuero after receiving from Sanchez Gonzales that was well saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

17’ Sannat’s keeper denied Oratory from opening the score when he saved with difficulty to a corner a good shot by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa following a personal action.

21’ Oratory kept insisting but they also continued to be erratic n their finishing particularly when Haraan Goncalves Barbosa was incredibly headed wide with an open goal at his mercy following an inviting cross by Jovan Mijuskovic.

23’ Oratory were almost punished for the missed chances as Sannat operated a counter break but the attempt by Deison Arvey Cuero was saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

29’ Sannat should have created more danger when Nicholas Grima delivered an inviting cross from the right flank but Camilo Sanchez Gonzales missed the opportunity to conclude from an ideal position so that the defence blocked the danger into a corner.

33’ Oratory were again dangerous but a low shot by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa was blocked by goalie Luke Buttigieg and the defence cleared the ball from the danger area with some difficulty.

34’ Sannat’s goalie was called to make another important intervention to block another attempt by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa following a personal action.

40’ (1-0) Oratory managed to break the deadlock when Haraan Goncalves Barbosa took the ball inside Sannat’s area and from his low pass substitute Kenny Hili concluded in goal with a low shot.

45+4’ (2-0) The Youths sealed the win with a second goal that arrived seconds from the final whistle when Haraan Goncalves Barbosa entered Sannat’s territory with a counter break and from his pass, Kenny Hili deposited the ball easily into an open goal.

FT (OY 2 – SL 0)

Referee: Daniel Portelli