15 April 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I: P/O (MD 20) Gozo Stadium
Sannat Lions FC: 2
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 1
37’ (1-0) Lucas Silva Gomes
56’ (2-0) penalty Lucas Silva Gomes
68’ (2-1) Lucas Farrugia
70’ (red card) Deison Arvey Cuero (SL)
Sannat L:
L. Buttigieg, A. Sultana, A. Takatori, T. Agius, D.A. Cuero, N. Grima (P. Said), C.A. Sanchez Gonzales (A. Attard), D. Borg, L. Silva Gomes, C. Dingli, A. Azzopardi.
Victoria H:
K. Barbara (L. Gatt), G. Borg, O. Cremona, J. Azzopardi, L. Farrugia, J. Pace, N. Inguanez, S. Sillato (A. Camilleri), A. Debrincat, C. Caruana, E. Xiberras.
Relegated side Sannat Lions obtained a 2-1 win over Victoria Hotspurs in the last match of the championship for the two sides. Before this match, Victoria and Sannat already knew their respective final placing on the Play-Out table as Sannat were already mathematically relegated while Victoria Hotspurs knew that they ended the season in the penultimate match and will therefore have to defend their first division status for the next season through the Play-off against Xaghra United who was the runners-up of the second division campaign.
For this match, the Hotspurs had a number of regular players missing as a precaution against injuries and suspensions prior to the important Play-Off match. However, the match turned out to be quite interesting as both teams were aiming to leave the pitch with a win. Sannat clinched the victory as they capitalised better from their occasions and scored a goal in each half, but almost compromised the positive performance by conceding Victoria’s goal and also by having a player sent off for the last twenty minutes of the encounter.
Timeline:
Play during the first half took place mainly in the midfield as the two sides found it difficult to create serious attempts towards the respective goals so the two goalkeepers were not called to make difficult interventions. Sannat however capitalised from a mistake by Victoria’s defence and took the lead but the Hotspurs had an immediate reaction and the first half could have ended in a draw.
11’ The Hotspurs created the first shot towards goal that arrived through a strike from outside the area by Oliver Cremona that ended just over the crossbar.
18’ Victoria could have created more danger when Lucas Farrugia passed to Andrea Debrincat but the low shot by the latter was well saved by goalie Luke Buttigieg.
20’ Sannat replied through a low shot from the edge o the area by Nicholas Grima after receiving from Christian Dingli but the ball ended just wide.
27’ Victoria’s goalie Kyle Barbara was well placed and neutralised a low shot by Lucas Silva Gomes following a short corner action.
37’ (1-0) Sannat opened the score when Victoria’s defence cleared badly in front of their goalmouth and the ball hit Camilo Andres Sanchez Gomez and ended to an unmarked Lucas Silva Gomes who concluded easily in goal from close distance.
40’ (crossbar) Victoria could have levelled the score but a good shot by Etienne Xiberras was stopped by the crossbar.
41’ The Hotspurs missed an open scoring opportunity when Sannat’s goalie Luke Buttigieg partially saved a strike by Andrea Debrincat and from the rebound Christoph Caruana concluded incredibly high with an open goal at his mercy.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
After the break, Sannat seemed in command of play as they also managed to increase their lead but mid-way through the second period Victoria reduced the score and for the rest of the encounter they tried to save the result.
8’ Sannat went close to double the score when Daniel Borg unmarked Deison Arvey Cuero inside Victoria’s area but the latter saw his attempt that was blocked by substitute goalkeeper Liam Gatt.
11’ (2-0) penalty Sannat were awarded a penalty for a foul by goalie Liam Gatt on Deison Arvey Cuero who entered alone inside Victoria’s area. Sannat’s Lucas Silva Gomes made no mistake from the penalty spot and doubled the lead for his side.
19’ Sannat missed a good opportunity to score another goal when Lucas Silva Gomes passed through Victoria’s defence from the left-hand side of the area but his final shot from a good position missed the target.
23’ (2-1) The Hotspurs re-opened their chances to save the result as they reduced the deficit through a low drive from the edge of the area by Lucas Farrugia following a personal action.
25’ (red card) Sannat were reduced to ten players as Deison Arvey Cuero was shown a straight red card for violent conduct towards an opponent.
33’ The Hotspurs were denied from scoring the equaliser when goalie Luke Buttigieg turned to a corner header by Andrea Debrincat following a corner kick by Justin Azzopardi.
45+3’ The Hotspurs missed the last opportunity to level the score when Lucas Farrugia took the ball from Sannat’s defence but the attempt from an angled position by Christoph Caruana missed the target.
FT (SL 2 – VH 1)
Referee: Jason Portelli
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