1 October 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 4) Gozo Stadium
Xaghra United FC : 1
Kercem Ajax FC : 1
17’ (1-0) Michael Bezzina
78’ (1-1) Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira
Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, S. Galea, L. Almeida Da Silva (J. Xuereb 83), M. Bezzina (J. Bajada 80), D. Azzopardi (C. Gauci 80), M. Mamo, D. Mesa Pineros, M. Cordina (C. Camilleri 61), C.A. Diaz Arias, M.P. Camilleri (F.J. Xuereb 61), L. Garcia Panesso.
Kercem A:
D. Spiteri, J. Tabone (D. Cassar 82), E. Caetano Pena, O.G. Fernandes, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, A. Mizzi (J. Theuma 89), O.P. Bugeja, G. Cardona, K. Formosa, S. Azzopardi, E. Peters.
Xaghra United and Kercem Ajax shared two goals in a match between two sides who were aiming to obtain a win in an attempt to make up for a disappointing start in the campaign. This was a just result as the two sides prevailed over the opponents for a half each but the performance of Xaghra and Kercem showed that they both need to improve their level of play to be more competitive.
Xaghra were more offensive in their play during the first half and scored their first goal of the season at an early stage. Xaghra kept control of play for most of the time of the first half but they failed to create serious dangerous scoring opportunities so they took the break with a lead of just one goal. Kercem managed to produce a strong reaction during the second period and put pressure on their opponents. Kercem achieved their objective to score the equaliser but their strikers are still finding it very hard to express their potential so they did not manage to turn the result in their favour.
Timeline:
The two sides came out aggressive but as soon as Xaghra opened the score play took place in the midfield as Kercem struggled to produce a reaction while Xaghra gained confidence and administered their lead by keeping their opponents away from their territory.
3’ Kercem had a good opportunity to open the score but Gabriel Cardona’s attempt from a good position ended over the crossbar.
4’ Xaghra replied with a shot from outside the area by Michael Bezzina that ended just high.
11’ Kercem could have opened the score but a close-range attempt by Karl Formosa was well blocked by Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb.
17’ (1-0) Xaghra opened the score through a strike from outside the area by Michael Bezzina that ended out of the reach of Kercems’s goalie.
42’ Kercem’s best opportunity to level the score arrived through a header by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes following a cross by Owen Peter Bugeja, but the ball ended wide.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
Kercem increased their efforts after the break in an attempt to recover the score but Xaghra continued to be well organised at their defence and threatened Kercem’s rear guard with sporadic breaks so that the outcome of the encounter remained uncertain.
7’ Kercem could have created more danger when Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira passed inside Xaghra’s area but from his pass, Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes hit badly and goalie Lorjean Xuereb saved without difficulty.
8’ The same goalkeeper was well placed and saved a shot from a good position by Kercem’s Pabo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira.
27’ Kercem’s Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes had a shot from outside the area that ended over the crossbar.
31’ Xaghra replied with an attempt from a long distance by Michael Bezzina but the ball ended away from the goal.
33’ (1-1) Kercem were rewarded for their efforts and scored the equaliser when Emmanuel Peters delivered a cross from the right flank and Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira headed in a goal from close distance.
41’ Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb was called to make a good save to block a low shot by Kercem’s Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira who entered the area with personal action.
42’ The same goalkeeper made another important intervention to save in two attempts a strike by Karl Formosa.
43’ Xaghra’s last scoring opportunity arrived through a low shot by substitute Chris Camilleri that was neutralised with some difficulty by Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri.
FT (XU 1 – KA 1)
Referee: Andrea Naudi
Assistant Referees: Randal Portelli, Rapjan Xhyra.
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