24 September 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 3) Gozo Stadium
Kercem Ajax FC: 1
Oratory Youths FC : 3
2’ (0-1) Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
18’ (0-2) penalty Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
60’ (0-3) Leonardo Bruno Coca
74’ (1-3) penalty Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira
Kercem A:
D. Spiteri, D. Cassar, E. Caetano Pena, J. Theuma (G. Cardona 35), O.G. Fernandes, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira (K. Attard 90+4), A. Mizzi, O.P. Bugeja, K. Formosa, S. Azzopardi, E. Peters.
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, A. Sultana, P. Rapa (O. Curmi 71), J. Buttigieg, L.B. Coca, A. Azzopardi, N. Said (K. Saiba 76), A.G. Castro Martins, H. Muscat, L.G. Santos Silva, R. Almeida Lopes (Ju. Attard 86).
Oratory Youths obtained three precious points from a deserved win over Kercem Ajax so they moved away from the bottom places on the table. This was an important match for the two sides who needed a win to avoid staying at the lower part of the table from such an early stage of the championship. The two sides were defeated in their respective opening match of the league but Oratory were coming from a goalless draw while Kercem were full of confidence as they obtained a dramatic win in their previous match.
In this match, Oratory surprised their opponents during the opening minutes where they managed to score their first official goals of the season. The Youths opened a two-goal lead and took the driving seat for the rest of the encounter. Kercem failed to live up to the expectations and for most of the time, they found it extremely difficult to produce a reaction. Kercem’s insistence on shots from outside the area did not produce any benefits as the strikers were often erratic. Ajax seemed in serious difficulty when they conceded the third goal on the hour mark but managed to regain some hope during the final stages when they reduced the deficit with a penalty.
Timeline:
Oratory had an excellent start and opened the score in their first attempt towards the goal so that they gained confidence and continued to be the better side on the field of play for the rest of the first half.
2’ (0-1) Oratory opened the score when Anthony Sultana released Andre Gabriel Castro Martins at the edge of Kercem’s area and the latter concluded in goal with an excellent first-timer that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.
17’ (0-2) penalty Oratory kept insisting and was awarded a penalty for a foul by Jason Theuma on Joshua Buttigieg. The Youths capitalised from this opportunity as Andre Gabriel Castro Martins netted with his shot from the penalty spot.
33’ Oratory missed a good chance when Joshua Buttigieg was alone inside Kercem’s area but his shot missed the target
36’ (protests or penalty) Kercem protested for a penalty for a tackle by Hayden Muscat on Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes on the edge of the area but the referee awarded a free kick.
38’ Oratory could have added another goal but a fine strike from close distance by Andre Gabriel Castro Martins was well saved by Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri.
45’ (crossbar) Kercem were unlucky when an attempt from an angled position by Emmanuel Peters was stopped by the crossbar.
HT (0-2)
Second Half
Kercem’s reaction during the opening minutes of the second half was sterile as Oratory maintained a solid deployment at their defence that made it difficult for the Ajax to create danger. Oratory also managed to score a third goal so that they made sure of the three points from this encounter.
9’ Kercem were dangerous through a shot by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira that ended away from goal.
15’ (0-3) Oratory increased their lead when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins entered the area from the right flank with a personal action and from his low pass Leonardo Bruno Coca netted with a shot on the run
20’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was well placed and saved a free kick by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira.
28’ (1-3) penalty Kercem were awarded a penalty for a foul by Neil Said on Emmanuel Peters and Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira converted his shot from the spot kick.
34’ A free kick by Kercem’s Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira was well saved by the goalie Angelo Brignoli.
36’ Kercem could have capitalised better but a shot from an angled position by Emmanuel Peters ended on the side of the net.
44’ The Youths could have sealed the win by scoring another goal but a fine strike by Andre Gabriel Castro Martins was saved to a corner by goalie Daniel Spiteri.
45+5’ Kercem’s last opportunity to score a second goal arrived through a header by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes but goalie Angelo Brignoli was well placed and neutralised the danger.
FT (KA 1 – OY 3)
Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Vasil Vasilev, Anthony Paul Vella
0 Comments