9 October 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 5) Gozo Stadium
Ghajnsielem FC: 2
Oratory Youths FC: 2
30’ (0-1) Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
62’ (red card) Luis Gabriel Santos Silva (OY)
63’ (1-1) Bruno Da Cruz
67’ (2-1) Kenny Hili
87’ (2-2) Keith Saliba
Ghajnsielem:
L. Buttigieg, Al. Xuereb, L.H. Santana Motta, N.I. Belhadj, K. Hili (M. Ciangura 80), B. Da Cruz,
A. Xuereb, G. Emmanuel, W. Hili (M.A. Scicluna 70), C.H. Da Silva Barbosa, D. Hili (I. Belhadj
84).
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, A. Sultana, P. Rapa (K. Saliiba 82), J. Buttigieg, L.B. Coca, O. Curmi, A. Azzopardi,
A.G. Castro Martins, H. Muscat, L.G. Santos Silva, R. Almeida Lopes.
Ghajnsielem and Oratory Youths shared four goals in a well-contested encounter but the two
sides left the field of play unsatisfied with the point obtained as they both achieved their main
objective. Oratory, who registered their fourth consecutive positive result, needed a win to join
the top teams on the table while Ghajnsielem were aiming to obtain a win to avoid the bottom
place on the table.
Oratory were favourites to obtain the win and during the first half, they lived u to their
expectations and took the break with a deserved one-goal lead. Ghajnsielem tried to increase
their efforts during the second period while Oratory failed to increase their lead so the match
became nervous and after the hour mark Oratory ended up with a player. The Blacks took
immediate advantage and turned the result in their favour by scoring two goals in the space of
a few minutes. Oratory however managed to regain composure despite playing with a player less
and saved the result with a goal scored a few minutes from the final whistle. The outcome of the
encounter is a just result as the two sides tried their best to obtain the win.
Timeline:
Oratory tried to take command of play from the first minutes of play and created some
opportunities which could have put them in the lead but the Blacks resisted well and operated
some dangerous break but which were often wasted before the final pass. As time passed by
Oratory managed to impose their superiority and paved the way to the win with a goal-scored
on the half-hour mark.
9’ Oratory created their first serious attempt through a curling shot from the right flank by
Joshua Buttigieg but the ball ended wide.
18’ The Youths missed a good scoring opportunity when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
delivered an inviting low cross from the right flank but Rian Almeida Lopes incredibly lifted over
the crossbar with a shot on the run from a close distance.
24’ Oratory’s Joshua Buttigieg took the ball from Ghajnsielem’s defence but his attempt
towards the far post was saved to a corner by goalie Luke Buttigieg
30’ (0-1) Oratory opened the score when Leonardo Bruno Coca took the ball from
Ghajnsielem’s defence on the left flank and from his pass Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
placed in goal with a low drive.
35’ The Youths could have doubled their lead when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins released
Rian Almeida Lopes inside Ghajnsielem’s area but the latter saw his curling shot aimed
towards the far post that ended inches wide.
40’ Ghajnsielem had their best opportunity to level the score when the ball arrived to an
unmarked Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa following a low cross from the left flank by
Kenny Hili but the Brazilian striker saw his attempt from a good position that was blocked by
Oratory’s defence.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
After the resumption play became more contested as Oratory were seeking to consolidate their
led while Ghajnsielem struggled to produce a reaction in an attempt to recover the deficit. The
match for some time was also nervous and Oratory ended up playing with a player less just after
the hour mark so they also allowed their opponents to come from behind and to believe that
they could obtain their second. However, the Youths staged a strong comeback during the final
stages and their efforts were rewarded with the equaliser.
17’ (red card) Oratory were reduced to ten players when central defender Luis Gabriel Santos
Silva received a second yellow card for a foul on Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa.
18’ (1-1) Ghajnsielem capitalised from the resultant free-kick as the shot by Bruno Da Cruz
ended in the upper corner of the net and out of the reach of the goalkeeper.
22’ (2-1) The Blacks kept insisting and turned the result in their favour when Claudio Henrique
Da Silva Barbosa released Kenney Hili with a pass-through Oratory’s defence and the latter
entered the area and fired in the goal with a fine shot.
29’ (crossbar) Oratory went very close to score the equaliser when Andre Azzopardi delivered in
front of Ghajnsielem’s goalmouth from a free kick, Anthony Sultana’s attempt got a deflection
and the ball hit the crossbar, but the goalkeeper managed to clear the danger with the aid of the
defence with some difficulty.
42’ (2-2) Oratory increased their efforts during the final minutes despite playing with a player
less and saved the result when Ghajnsielem’s rear guard was surprised following a cross from
the left flank by Andre Azzopardi and substitute Keith Saliba took advantage and headed in
a goal from an ideal position.
FT (GHJ 2 – OY 2)
Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Patrick Falzon, Anthony Paul Vella
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