Hard-earned win for Oratory over St Lawrence

by | Nov 3, 2023 | 23/24, BOV GFA Cup, Match Report, News

31 October 2023

BOV GFA Cup (Prel. Rd) Kercem Stadium

St Lawrence Spurs FC: 2

Oratory Youths FC : 3

3’ (1-0) Jurgen Mario Portelli

25’ (1-1) Rian Almeida Lopes

59’ (1-2) penalty Andre Gabriel Castro Martins

81’ (1-3) o.g. Christian Grima

87’ (2-3) penalty Ayesller Carvalho

St. Lawrence S:

J. Xiberras, A. Ademilua, N. Haber, J.M. Portelli, C. Grima, A. Carvalho, J. Grima, V.J. Saliba, C. Azzopardi, M. Dingli, J. Saliba (D.P. Rapa 71).

Oratory Y:

P. Cremona, A. Sultana, A. Azzopardi,  L.G. Santos Silva, P. Rapa, K. Saliba, J. Buttigieg, O. Grech (H. Muscat 66), N. Said, R. Almeida Lopes, A.G. Castro Martins.

In the last match from the Preliminary Round of the BOV GFA Cup first division side Oratory Youths obtained a 3-2 win over second division side St Lawrence Spurs.  The Youths will be facing SK Victoria Wanderers in the match from the quarter-finals of the competition.

Oratory were favourites to obtain the qualification but they found it more difficult than expected as they ended up trailing their opponents after a few minutes of play and, although they turned the score in their favour before the hour mark, their opponents remained in contention until the final moments.  Overall, Oratory’s win was well deserved as they created many more scoring opportunities, particularly during the second period, and on three separate occasions they had attempts aimed towards an open goal that were cleared off the line with the goalkeeper beaten.

Timeline:

The match turned out to be more contested than expected as St Lawrence surprised their opponents with an early goal so that Oratory were forced to increase their efforts to recover the score. As time passed by Oratory found it difficult to impose their superiority as the Spurs gained confidence despite conceding the equaliser minutes before the hour mark.

3’ (1-0) St Lawrence took the lead when Oratory’s defence was found exposed following a counter cross from the left flank by Ayesller Carvalho and Jurgen Mario Portelli netted with a shot from close distance.

25’ (1-1) Oratory clinched the equaliser when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins released himself from a direct opponent outside the area and from his pass Rain Ameida Lopes placed in goal with a low shot.

38’ St Lawrence was dangerous through a shot by Ayesller Carvalho which was neutralised by Oratory’s keeper Paul Cremona.

41’ Oratory’s Andre Gabriel Castro Martins had a good attempt from an angled position but the ball ended wide.

44’ The Youths could have ended the first half in the lead but an attempt from close distance by Rian Almeida Lopes was well saved by St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras.

HT (1-1)

Second Half

Oratory came out more determined for the second period but for most of the time, they continued to find it difficult to convert their superiority into a good lead.  The Youths managed to turn the result in their favour at an early stage of the second period but they had to wait until the final stages of the encounter to put their minds at rest from the qualification.

12’ Oratory’s Rian Almeida Lopes had a lob aimed towards an open goal when St Lawrence’s goalie left his position in an attempt to block the danger, which was cleared off the goalmouth by central defender Christian Grima to avoid a certain goal.

13’ (1-2) penalty From the resultant clearance, Oratory’s Andre Gabriel Castro Martins took the ball but ended on the floor inside the area ss he tried to pass Jake Saliba.  The referee awarded a penalty and the Portuguese striker converted from the penalty spot to put the Youths ahead.

18’ (crossbar) Oratory’s Andre Gabriel Castro Martins could have increased the lead but a header from a close distance was stopped by the crossbar.

22’ St Lawrence replied with a cross-shot by Mark Dingli from the right flank that ended just wide.

26’ Oratory were denied from scoring another goal when Rian Almeida Lopes entered St Lawrence’s territory with personal action, turned around the goalkeeper on the edge of the area about was cleared off the fatal line to a corner by defender Neville Haber.  From the same corner action, a header by Andre Gabriel Castro Martins ended just wide.

30’ The Spurs threatened Oratory’s defence with a strike from outside the area by Jurgen Mario Portelli that ended just wide.

34’ Oratory had a third attempt that was cleared off the line with the goalkeeper beaten as Andre Gabriel Castro Martins took the ball following a prolonged action inside St Lawrence’s area but his low shot was blocked by Christian Grima. From the resultant melee, another good effort by the same Castro Martins was saved by goalie Joel Xiberras.

36’ (1-3) Oratory managed to increase their lead through an own goal committed by Christian Grima who hit badly in an attempt to clear a shot by Rian Almeida Lopes.

40’ Oratory were again dangerous through a low shot aimed toward the far post by Joshua Buttigieg that ended just wide.

42’ (2-3) penalty St Lawrence reduced the deficit when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Luis Gabriel Santos Silva on Jurgen Mario Portelli and Ayesller Carvalho netted his shot from the penalty spot.

45+4’ The Youths could have sealed the win when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins entered St Lawrence’s territory with a personal action but his attempt was well blocked by goalie Joel Xiberras.

FT (SLS 2 – OY 3)

Referee: Anthony Paul Vella

Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Jules Ngangue

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Written by GozoFA