1 December 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 6) Gozo Stadium
Xaghra United FC: 1
Ghajnsielem FC: 4
22’ (0-1) Luiz Henrique Santana Motta
53’ (0-2) Godwin Emmanuel
64’ (0-3) Godwin Emmanuel
74’ (1-3) Henrique Da Silva Wilker
82’ (1-4) Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa
84’ (penalty missed –post) Camilo Andres Diaz Arias (XU)
Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, J. Bajada (L. Sultana 77), S. Galea, M. Bezzina (C. Gauci 67), D Azzopardi, M. Mamo (M.P. Camilleri 67), D. Mesa Pineros (G. Debono 88), M. Cordina (C. Camilleri 58), F.J. Xuereb, C.A. Diaz Arias, H. Da Silva Wilker.
Ghajnsielem:
L. Buttigieg, Al. Xuereb, L.H. Santana Motta, K. Hili (D. Grozdanov 77), B. Da Cruz, N.I. Belhadj, Ant. Xuereb, G. Emmanuel, W. Hili, M.A. Scicluna, C.H. Da Silva Barbosa (D. Attard 86).
Ghajnsielem ended the first round on an excellent note as they clinched the fourth place on the table with the points obtained from a convincing 4-1 win over Xaghra United. With this result the Blacks completed an impressive comeback which saw them moving away from the bottom place on the table, when they seemed among the weakest sides in the championship, to earn the best place from the group who are aiming to keep away from the red zone.
This was a match from Match-Day 6 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, which was originally scheduled in October but was postponed since on that day Xaghra had a player who was called to form part of the U/19 National team. The two sides were aiming for a win from this encounter as Xaghra had a one-point lead over the same Ghajnsielem and two other teams. For this match, Xaghra were without central defender Almeida Da Silva due to suspension but had striker Henrique Da Silva Wilker who made a debut.
The match was quite interesting during the first half as Xaghra saw more of the ball but was erratic in their finishing. Ghajnsielem defended well and managed to end the first half with a one-goal lead. After the break, Xaghra tried to increase their offensive play but ended up leaving an exposed defence so Ghajnsielem capitalised and added more goals following counterbreaks.
Timeline:
Play during the first period was contested with various scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field. Xaghra however produced more attempts towards the goal but were punished for the missed chances as Ghajnsielem converted one of their chances and took the break in the lead.
4’ (post) Xaghra went very close to score an early goal when debutant Henrique Da Silva Wilker prolonged to Daniel Mesa Pineros following a free kick but the latter saw his low shot that was stopped by the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
13’ Xaghra were denied a certain goal when a header by Savio Galea from a corner kick by Camilo Andres Diaz Arias was cleared off the fatal line by Mark Anthony Scicluna.
17’ Xaghra’s Camilo Andres Diaz Arias had an attempt directly from a free kick but the ball missed the target.
22’ (0-1) Ghajnsielem broke the deadlock when Alberto Xuereb delivered a cross inside Xaghra’s area from the right flank and Luiz Henrique Santana Motta headed in goal from close distance.
36’ Xaghra could have created more danger but a first-timer by Michael Bezzina from a good position following a cross by Matthias Cordina missed the target.
37’ Ghajnsielem replied in the following action but a low shot from an angled position by Godwin Emmanuel ended wide.
39’ The same striker once again missed an opportunity to double the lead for his side but his attempt from an ideal position ended away from goal.
41’ shot 30 after receiving from Michael Bezzina ended on the side of the net.
42’ Ghansielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was called to make an important intervention to block a strike by Daniel Mesa Pineros following a cross from the left flank by Michael Bezzina.
43’ The same goalkeeper denied Xaghra from scoring the equaliser with a difficult save to block a shot by Henrique Da Silva Wilker.
44’ Xaghra kept insisting and was again dangerous through an attempt by Michael Bezzina that was blocked by goalie Luke Buttigieg.
44’ (goal disallowed) Ghajnsielem operated a counter break where Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa concluded in the net with a low shot but the goal was disallowed for an offside infringement.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
Ghajnsielem came out more confident after the break and during the opening minutes of the second half, they held command of play. Ghajnsielem increased their lead and for the rest of the encounter, they neutralised Xaghra’s efforts to re-open the issue.
6’ Ghajnsielem’s Bruno Da Cruz had an attempt directly from a free kick that ended just over the crossbar.
7’ Xaghra’s Camilo Andres Diaz Arias had a header from a free kick by Matthias Cordina but the ball ended high.
8’ (0-2) the Blacks doubled the score when Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa entered Xaghra’s territory from a counter break and from his cross Godwin Emmanuel concluded in goal with a backheel and despite the pressure of the goalkeeper.
17’ Xaghra could have created more danger when Daniel Mesa Pineros passed to Michael Bezzina outside the area but the latter hit badly and the ball ended away from the goal.
19’ (0-3) Ghajnsielem practically put the score beyond Xaghra’s reach when Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa released Bruno Da Cruz on the right flank and from his low cross Godwin Emmanuel netted with a tap-in.
29’ (1-3) Xaghra reduced the deficit when Savio Galea delivered the ball towards Ghajnsielem’s goalmouth from a corner action and Henrique Da Silva Wilker concluded in goal with a header from close distance.
37’ (1-4) Ghajnsielem re-established the three-goal lead with a goal that arrived through a shot by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa after received from Godwin Emmanuel
39’ (penalty missed – post) penalty Xaghra were awarded a penalty for a foul by Wayne Hili on substitute Luke Sultana but the shot from the penalty spot by Camilo Andres Diaz Arias hit the post.
45’ Xaghra were denied from scoring a second goal but a close ranged shot by substitute Chris Camilleri was blocked by goalie Luke Buttigieg.
FT (XU 1 – GHJ 4)
Referee: Andrea Sciriha
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Raiden Psaila
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