21 October 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 1) Kercem Stadium
Gharb Rangers FC : 0
Munxar Falcons FC: 1
42’ (0-1) Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza
64’ (red card) Milos Perisic (GR)
84’ (red card) Samuel Sillato (GR)
84’ (red card) Keith Borg (MF)
Gharb R:
A. Micallef, R. Portelli (G. Sillato 85), C. Cutajar, T. Axiak, F. Xuereb, M. Perisic, M. Tabone, D. Galea, O. Atzori, S. Sillato, R. Meilak (J. Xerri 85).
Munxar F:
J. Micallef, K. Borg, E. Bugeja, K. Farrugia, N. Mifsud, N. Mercieca, M. Zammit, S. Muscat, V.G. Soarez Souza, E. Galea, K. Mizzi.
In the last match from Match-Day 1 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the second division, Munxar Falcons registered a 1-0 win over Gharb Rangers so they started the campaign on a positive note. The match was more contested than expected as the two sides tried hard to obtain the full points at stake. However, both sides showed some limitations in the finishing and the serious actions on goal were quite rare.
The match was decided with a goal scored by Munxar a few minutes away from half-time. After the break the match became rough and the two sets of players made it difficult for the referee to maintain some order, so three players were sent off and play was also suspended for some minutes following interruptions generated from the stand.
Timeline:
The two sides came out with the intention to take command of play but the strikers were often in control of the respective strikers so the actions on goal were quite rare. Gharb could have created more danger from some potential scoring opportunities during the first minutes but Munxar also had their chances and managed to take the break with a one-goal lead.
16’ Munxar had a good shot from outside the area through Samwel Muscat but the ball ended over the crossbar.
24’ Gharb’s goalie Andre Micallef made a good save to turn to a corner a low shot by Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza.
42’ (0-1) Munxar capitalised from a favourable situation when Gharb’s defence failed to clear the ball following a cross by Matthew Zammit and Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza took advantage and placed in goal with a low shot from an angled position.
44’ Gharb replied with a cross shot by Ryan Meilak from the right flank but the ball ended just wide.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
Gharb did not manage to recover from the shock and Munxar took advantage and held command of play from the first minutes of the second period. The match however became very nervous during the second part of the second period and the referee had a difficult task to keep the order.
16’ Munxar’s Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza could have created more danger but his shot from an angled position missed the target.
19’ (red card) Gharb were reduced to ten players when Milos Perisic was shown a red card for elbowing Nathaniel Mercieca in the midfield.
24’ Munxar could have scored their second goal when Nathaniel Mercieca passed through Munxar’s defence from the left-hand side but from his low inviting cross Kenneth Mizzi incredibly concluded wide from close distance.
26’ Gharb’s goalie Andre Micallef was well placed and saved a free kick from a long distance by Eman Bugeja.
28’ The same goalkeeper made an important intervention to save a low shot by Neil Mifsud.
29’ Munxar’s Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza could have concluded better as he arrived in front of Gharb’s keeper, but the striker hit badly and bumped on the extreme defender so that the ball ended away from goal.
34’ (crossbar) Munxar were also unlucky when an attempt directly from a free kick was stopped by the crossbar.
37’ Munxar’s Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza had a good header following a free kick by Nathaniel Mercieca that ended just over the crossbar.
39’ (two red cards) Gharb were reduced to nine players as Samuel Formosa was sent off for a second yellow card and while the player was protesting with the referee Munxar had Keith Borg who was shown a red card for retaliation. The action led to some disorder on the field of play and on the stands so that play only resumed after around four minutes.
45+5’ Gharb’s goalie Andre Micallef denied Munxar from scoring a second goal when he saved to a corner a low shot from close distance by Nathaniel Mercieca.
FT (GR 0 – MF 1)
Referee: George Anthony Vella
Assistant Referees: Milos Krstic, Jules Ngangue
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