5 February 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 13) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 0
Oratory Youths FC : 0
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, J. Vella, M. Mercieca, L.V. Viana Prati, R. Buttigieg, D. Bogdanovic, A. Bozovic, C. Camilleri, D. Andelovic, M. Bonnici (J. Camilleri), C. Abela.
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, J. Tabone, J. De Souza Ferreira, K. Hili (I. Belhadj), K. Farrugia, A. Xuereb, A. Azzopardi, N. Sutic, N. Said (O. Xuereb), H. Muscat, J Mijuskovic.
Oratory Youths and Xewkija Tigers shared the spoils in a goalless draw and with the point obtained the two sides consolidated their respective position on the table as the Youths increased their lead over the other two teams who are in the red zone, while Xewkija moved closer to earn a place in the championship pool for the second phase of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division.
For this match, Oratory had their prolific striker Haraan Goncalves Barbosa who was missing due to a suspension, while Xewkija had their latest January signings in their starting line-up, veteran Chris Camilleri (who played for Ghajnsielem in the first part of the championship and who was also returning with Xewkija after a long time), and Brazilian striker Lucas Vinicius Viana Prati who was making his debut in Gozitan football.
The importance of this match conditioned the two sides as they were more concerned to protect their respective areas so that for most of the encounter play was contested in the midfield where neither side managed to prevail.
Timeline:
The match failed to catch momentum during the first period as the two sides found it difficult to produce offensive manoeuvres so the actions at the two ends of the field were rare.
4’ Oratory had a potential opportunity to score an early goal but Neil Said’s attempt following a through pass by Nikola Sutic was blocked by Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin.
18’ Xewkija’s best scoring opportunity of the first half arrived when Oratory’s defence failed to clear a cross from the left flank by Chris Camilleri and the ball fell to an unmarked Rodney Buttigieg who had his low shot aimed towards the far post that ended just wide.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
The two sides came out for the second period more motivated as both Xewkija and Oratory increased their efforts in an attempt to obtain the win. However, as time passed by the two defensive departments regained command of the respective strikers and the two goalkeepers were not called to make difficult interventions.
2’ (goal disallowed) Oratory almost opened the score when Jovan Mijuskovic delivered a cross inside Xewkija’s area but Nikola Sutic hit badly and the ball arrived to Kenny Hili who deposited the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement,
35’ Xewkija went very close to score but a header by Rodney Buttigieg following a corner action was cleared off the fatal line by Oratory’s central defender Jefferson De Souza Ferreira.
40’ Xewkija could have created more danger but a shot from outside the area by Damir Andelovic ended away from goal.
FT (XT 0 – OY 0)
Referee: Slawomir Olucha
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