26 November 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 3) Kercem Stadium
Zebbug Rovers FC : 1
Munxar Falcons FC : 1
3’ (0-1) Nathaniel Mercieca
40’ (1-1) Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia
Zebbug R:
L. Camilleri, P. Spiteri, O. Saliba, M. Formosa, G. Grech, M.A. Moreno Ampudia, P.P. Camilleri, H. Paulin, L. Portelli, S. Farrugia, J. Azzopardi.
Munxar F:
J. Micallef, K. Borg, P. Parnis (E. Galea 60), E. Bugeja, K. Farrugia, N. Mifsud, L. Meilak (K. Mizzi 70), N. Mercieca, M. Zammit (M. Debrincat 90+4), S. Muscat (O. Spiteri 60), V.G. Soarez Souza.
The first match from Match-Day 3 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the second division between Munxar Falcons and Zebbug Rovers ended in a draw of two goals so that Munxar remain at the top of the table and still undefeated, while the Rovers registered their second consecutive positive result.
This was an important match for the two sides who were both aiming to obtain a win as Munxar were looking to extend their excellent start in the campaign while Zebbug needed the win to reach the same Munxar on the table. As a result, the match turned out to be well contested with various scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field and where the win could have gone either way. In the end, the main protagonists of the encounter were the two goalkeepers who made some very important saves which determined the final score.
Timeline:
Munxar held territorial supremacy for most of the time during the first period and created more scoring opportunities. Zebbug was not demoralised despite conceding an early goal and managed to remain in contention by scoring an equaliser just before halftime.
3’ (0-1) Munxar opened the score through a shot from outside the area, following a personal action, by Nathaniel Mercieca, which ended out of the reach of Zebbug’s goalie.
5’ Zebbug replied with an effort by Harry Paulin that was blocked by Munxar’s goalie Joel Micallef.
10’ Zebbug’s defence risked committing an own goal as Glenn Grech headed badly when his goal was unattended but the ball ended in a corner.
15’ (post) Munxar went very close to doubling their lead when Neil Mifsud entered Zebbug’s area but his low shot was stopped by the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
18’ Munxar’s goalie Joel Micallef was well placed and saved with some difficulty a shot from a good position by Joston Azzopardi.
26’ The same goalkeeper was called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner a shot from close distance by Stefan Farrugia.
31’ Munxar were again dangerous through an attempt from a free kick by Samwel Muscat that was turned to a corner by goalie Leonard Camilleri.
35’ Zebbug’s goalie Leonard Camilleri once again denied Munxar from scoring when he blocked a low shot by Nathaniel Mercieca.
40’ (1-1) Zebbug managed to recover the deficit when Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia arrived on the ball before Munxar’s goalie and concluded into an open goal with a backheel.
HT (1-1)
Second Half
Play during the second period became much more interesting as the two sides increased their efforts in an attempt to take the lead so that the outcome remained uncertain.
2’ (protests for penalty) Munxar protested for a penalty when Matthew Zammit ended up on the floor inside as he tried to pass with a personal action.
6’ Zebbug could have created more danger when Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia entered Munxar’s area from the right flank but his lob over the goalkeeper who was out of his position missed.
9’ Zebbug once again surprised Munxar’s defence through an initiative by Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia who resisted to a strong challenge by the defender and entered the area but his final attempt was blocked to a corner.
20’ Zebbug’s goalie Leonard Camilleri was called to make an important intervention to block an effort by Luke Meilak and from the rebound the attempt by Neil Mifsud was blocked by the defence.
28’ Munxar’s goalie Joel Micallef made the best save of the afternoon to block a shot on the run by Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia who was alone inside the area.
31’ Munxar should have capitalised better when a shot by Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza was partially saved by goalie Leonard Camilleri and from the resultant melee the defence managed to clear with some difficulty.
32’ The Rovers operated an immediate counterbreak through Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia who ran into Munxar’s territory but from his inviting pass, Harry Paulin’s shot was weak and goalie Joel Micallef saved without difficulty.
44’ Munxar went again very close to regain the lead but a close ranged shot by Nathaniel Mercieca was partially saved by goalie Leonard Camilleri, the defence failed to clear the danger but at the end, the shot by Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza was blocked by the same goalkeeper.
45’ The same Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza could have created more danger but his strike from outside the area missed the target.
45+2’ Munxar’s last opportunity to obtain the win arrived through a direct free kick by Nathaniel Mercieca but the ball ended away from goal.
45+3’ Zebbug could have scored the decisive goal when Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia surprised Munxar’s defence and turned around the goalkeeper but concluded badly when the goal was not attended and the ball ended wide.
FT (ZR 1 – MF 1)
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Stefania Bonnici, Sanu Joy
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