18 March 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division II (MD 15) Gozo Stadium
Munxar Falcons FC: 2
St Lawrence Spurs FC : 3
3’ (1-0) Ryan Meilak
13’ (1-1) Mark Dingli
65’ (2-1) Aron Buttigieg
82’ (2-2) Victor John Saliba
90’ (2-3) penalty Adebayo Ademilua
Munxar F:
D. Spiteri, J.K. Farrugia, C. Gafa, P. Parnis, A. Buttigieg, G. Attard, R. Meilak, S. Farrugia, H.F. Solis, M. Debrincat, G. Cauchi.
St Lawrence S:
J. Xiberras, M. Dingli, A. Ademilua, N. Haber, G. Portelli, T. Grech, V.J. Saiba, L. Portelli, J.M. Portelli, J. Saliba, J. Axiak.
In the first match from the last Match-day of the BOV Gozo Football League of the second division, St Lawrence Spurs turned a defeat into a 3-2 win over Munxar Falcons with the decisive goal scored on the stroke of regular time from a penalty. The two sides were aiming to end the campaign on a positive note as Munxar were aiming to take the third spot alone on the final table, while St Lawrence, who didn’t have any possibility to improve their fifth place on the final table, had an objective to obtained a win to boost their confidence for their last commitments of the season in the Knock Out competition for the category.
The match played at the Gozo Stadium was quite balanced and a draw would have been a just result. St Lawrence enjoyed territorial supremacy for longer periods but Munxar defended well and was also dangerous in their actions within St Lawrence’s territory. Munxar were twice in the lead but on the two occasions, the Spurs had a determined reaction and recovered the score. As the match was heading towards a draw, St Lawrence was awarded a penalty seconds before the end of regular time so that they capitalised and left the field of play with the full points.
Timeline:
St Lawrence Spurs saw more of the ball during the first half but Munxar were well deployed and operated their offensive play mainly through breaks by their prolific striker Henry Fabian Solis. The Falcons scored an early goal but conceded St Lawrence’s reaction so that the first half ended in a just draw.
3’ (1-0) Munxar opened the score when Henry Fabian Solis passed from the left flank and from his cross Ryan Meilak fired in goal from close distance with a first timer.
5’ The Spurs replied with a header by Adebayo Ademilua from a corner kick by Jurgen Mario Portelli but the ball ended wide.
13’ (1-1) St Lawrence levelled the score when Tristan Grech delivered a cross from the left flank that arrived to an unmarked Mark Dingli and the latter placed in goal with a low shot.
42’ The Spurs went closest to turning the result in their favour before halftime through a cross-shot by Jurgen Mario Portelli that was saved in two attempts by Munxar’s veteran keeper Damien Spiteri.
HT (1-1)
Second Half
The match continued to be well contested during the second period and with very few scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field. Munxar managed to take the lead as they did during the first half but during the final stages, St Lawrence produced a strong reaction and scored the goals to turn the result in their favour.
3’ St Lawrence missed a good opportunity to go ahead when Mark Dingli delivered an inviting low cross inside Munxar’s area but Luke Portelli hit badly from a close distance and goalie Damien Spiteri saved without difficulty.
20’ (2-1) Munxar regained the lead when Aaron Buttigieg took the ball on the left-hand side of St Lawrence’s area and placed in goal with a curling shot.
25’ The Spurs missed an open scoring opportunity when Victor John Saliba incredibly headed wide following a cross from the right by Mark Dingli.
37’ (2-2) St Lawrence clinched the equaliser that arrived through a header by Victor John Saliba following a corner kick by Jurgen Mario Portelli.
44’ Munxar’s Henry Fabian Solis could have scored the third goal for his side entered St Lawrence’s area by goalie Joel Xiberras had good timing and took away the ball from the striker in two attempts.
45’ (2-3) penalty St Lawrence was awarded a penalty for a foul by George Cauchi on Jurgen Mario Portelli and Adebayo Ademilua scored the decisive goal of the encounter with his shot from the penalty spot.
FT (MF 2 – SLS 3)
Referee: Patrick Falzon
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