Sannat re-open relegation tussle with an important win

3 February 2022

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 13) Gozo Stadium

Victoria Hotspurs FC : 2

Sannat Lions FC : 3

13’ (0-1) o.g. Kyle Barbara

22’ (1-1) Ricardo Silva Faria

29’ (1-2) Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales

47’ (2-2) Lucas Mancuso Santos Ferreira

59’ (2-3) Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales

Victoria H:

K. Barbara, O. Cremona (J. Azzopardi), O.G. Fernandes, B. Said, L. Farrugia (A. Xiberras), N. Inguanez, L. Mancuso Lemos Santos Ferreira, J. Grech, C. Caruana (A. Debrincat), R. Silva Faria, E. Xiberras.

Sannat L:

L. Buttigieg, A. Sultana, A. Takatori, D.A. Cuero, N. Grima, C.A. Sanchez Gonzales (P. Said), D. Borg (O. Grech), L. Silva Gomes, C. Dingli, M. Mifsud, A. Attard.

Sannat Lions obtained a 3-2 win over Victoria Hotspurs in a direct clash between the two teams who are involved in the red zone and with the points obtained they pulled with them the Hotspurs at the bottom place on the table on equal points.

The match lived up to the expectations as the two sides seemed determined to obtain the win.  Sannat however capitalised better from the chances that came their way and had the lead on three occasions during the encounter.  Sannat also managed to resist Victoria’s reaction during the final half-hour of play and defended their one-goal lead until the final whistle.  The ninety minutes of play were thrilling with various scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field and which could have easily ended in a draw as Sannat cleared the ball off the line a few seconds away from the end of the encounter.

Timeline:

Sannat were much more motivated and they managed to express more dangerous play throughout the first half.  The Hotspurs seemed overconfident and found it very difficult to produce a reaction so they took the break trailing by one goal.

1’ Sannat’s Andrew Attard had a good shot that ended wide.

9’ The Hotspurs replied with an effort by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes that was well blocked by Sannat’s rear guard.

13’ (0-1) Sannat opened the score when Victoria’s goalie Kyle Barbara failed to hold the ball following a corner kick by Lucas Silva Gomes and ended up committing an own goal as the ball crossed the fatal line.

16’ Sannat were again dangerous but a strike by Camilo Andres Sanchez Gomes missed the target.

19’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous but an effort from a good position by Ricardo Silva Faria ended over the crossbar.

21’ Sannat continued to operate dangerous breaks and a shot by Lucas Silva Gomes following a personal action ended wide

22’ (1-1) The Hotspurs levelled the score when Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes delivered the ball towards the goalmouth from a corner kick and Ricardo Silva Faria’s header got a deflection and the ball ended out of the reach of Sannat’s goalie.

25’ The Citizens could have capitalised better when Joey Grech delivered an inviting ball towards the goalmouth but Ricardo Silva Faria failed to connect so that the defence cleared the danger.

27’ (post) Sannat missed an open scoring opportunity as Lucas Silva Gomes entered Victoria’s territory with personal action and from his pass, Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales hit badly with an open goal at his mercy and the ball hit the base of the post and the defence cleared the danger.

29’ (1-2) Sannat made up for the missed chance and regained the lead as Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales defended the ball inside Victoria’s area and fired in goal with a fine strike.

33’ The Hotspurs replied with a shot from outside the area by Joey Grech but the ball ended wide.

38’ Victoria’s goalie Kyle Barbara was almost surprised by a lob from a long distance by Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales but the extreme defender recovered his position in time and neutralised the danger in two attempts.

41’ Sannat went close to add another goal but a shot by Lucas Silva Gomes following a personal action was well saved by goalie Kyle Barbara.

HT (1-2)

Second Half

The Hotspurs came out determined to recover the deficit and for most of the second half they held territorial supremacy.  Victoria managed to clinch the second equaliser but they continued to concede space at their defence so that Sannat capitalised and managed to take the lead for the third time before the hour mark.  As a result, the last part of the encounter became much more interesting as the Hotspurs increased their efforts while Sannat gained confidence in their attempt to defend their lead.  

2’ (2-2) Victoria Hotspurs recovered the deficit when Lucas Mancuso Lemos Santos Ferreira took the ball inside Sannat’s area following a free kick by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes and concluded in goal with a shot that surprised Sannat’s goalie.

3’ Sannat replied with an initiative by Lucas Silva Gomes who entered the area from the left flank but from his inviting pass Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales had his attempt blocked by the defence.

14’ (2-3) Sannat put their heads ahead for the third time when Lucas Silva Gomes won the ball in the midfield and Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales took advantage, entered Victoria’s area with a personal run and netted easily as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

23’ Victoria’s Brandon Said had a curling shot from the edge of the area that ended just wide.

25’ Sannat’s Nicholas Grima risked committing an own goal when he hit badly in an attempt to clear a corner kick by Joey Grech but the ball hit the post and the defence cleared the danger.

39’ Victoria’s Ricardo Silva Faria had an effort from an angled position that ended on the side of the net.

45’ The Hotspurs had their last opportunity to save the result when Joey Grech cross from the left flank but two consecutive attempts by Brandon Said were cleared off the line by central defender Arata Takatori with the goalkeeper beaten.

FT (VH 2 – SL 3)

Referee: Jason Portelli