Sannat re-open their chances to retain Division I status

3 March 2023

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I: P/O (MD 16) Gozo Stadium

Oratory Youths FC : 0

Sannat Lions FC : 3

39’ (0-1) Christian Dingli

52’ (0-2) Tristen Agius

66’ (0-3) Deison Arvey Cuero

Oratory Y:

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

Sannat L:

L. Buttigieg, A. Sultana, A. Takatori, T. Agius, D.A. Cuero, C.A. Sanchez Gonzales, D. Borg, L. Silva Gomes, C. Dingli, M. Mifsud, A. Azzopardi.

In the first match from the second round of matches from the Play Out of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first Division bottom placed Sannat Lions obtained three very important points from a 3-0 win over Oratory Youths so that they are now in a position to believe that they may avoid the relegation at the end of the championship.

This was a crucial match for the two sides who are aiming to reach a safe position on the table.  At this stage, the Youths are in third place from the bottom but their lead over the other two teams is not enough to put their minds at rest from the relegation issue.  On the other hand, Sannat has been struggling to move away from the bottom place since the beginning of the championship and is hoping that they may obtain the required points from the remaining four matches of the Play-Out phase.

The match turned out to be quite interesting for the first hour as the Youths were in contention to obtain a positive result.  However, Oratory threw the towel after a few minutes of play in the second period when they missed a good scoring opportunity and from the resultant counter break they ended up conceding Sannat’s second goal.

Sannat deserved the win as they were motivated for this match and maintained a solid defensive deployment throughout the encounter.  Sannat was also very effective in their offensive play and capitalised from their scoring opportunities so that they made sure of the three points before the match’s final moments.

Timeline:

The play took place mainly in the midfield during the first quarter of the match but as time passed by the Youths increased their momentum and seemed determined to make up for the defeat conceded in their previous match.  However, Oratory’s attitude came at the expense to expose their defensive set-up and conceded space to their opponents so that Sannat took advantage and managed to put their head ahead before the end of the first half.

26’ The first serious scoring opportunity arrived through an initiative by Oratory’s Kenny Hili who passed through Sannat’s defence but his low shot ended wide.

32’ Oratory were again dangerous when Jovan Mijuskovic delivered a good cross inside Sannat’s area but the effort by Goncalves Barbosa was blocked to a corner by the defence.

36’ Sannat’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner a header from close distance by Neil Said following a cross by Kenny Hli.

39’ (0-1)  Sannat opened the score when Camilo Andres Sanchez Gonzales released Christian Dingli and the latter entered Oratory’s territory and fired in goal with a fine strike.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

Oratory came out for the second period with the intention to recover the score but they continued to be erratic in their finishing and compromised their chances to save the result by allowing space to their opponents to operate dangerous breaks.

3’ Sannat’s defence was surprised as they found it difficult to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a corner action. At the end, the ball arrived to Antonio Xuereb who had his attempt from a good position that was blocked to another corner.

6’ (post) Oratory went very close to score the equaliser in a prolonged action.  Sannat’s keeper partially saved an attempt from a free kick by Nikola Sutic but the Youths regained possession from the clearance and the final attempt from close distance by Neil Said was saved to another corner.  From the same corner action, Andre Azzopardi headed inside Sannat’s area towards the far post but Antonio Xuereb’s header from a close distance was stopped by the post.

7’ (0-2) Oratory was punished for the missed chance as they conceded the second goal from the counter break of the previous actions when Tristen Agius ran unmarked towards Oratory’s goal from the midfield and netted with a low shot as he arrived at the edge of the area.

21’ (0-3) Oratory was shocked and Sannat added another goal from a counter break by Deison Arvey Cuero who took the ball in the midfield, advanced towards Oratory’s area and placed in goal with a low drive as Oratory’s goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.

41’ Sannat’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was well placed and neutralised a shot from a long distance by Oratory’s substitute Daniel Atzori.

45+1’ Oratory were again dangerous through a shot from outside the area by Nikola Sutic that was saved to a corner with some difficulty by goalie Luke Buttigieg.

45+3’ The Youths missed another opportunity to score a consolation goal as an effort from a good position by Goncalves Barbosa ended wide.

FT (OY 0 – SL 3)

Referee: Daniel Portelli