2 December 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 3) Kercem Stadium
St Lawrence Spurs FC: 2
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 4
17’ (0-1) Lucas Farrugia
21’ (1-1) Victor John Saliba
45’ (1-2) Lucas Farrugia
49’ (2-2) James Grima
66’ (2-3) Wellington Valentim De Sousa
71’ (2-4) Wellington Valentim De Sousa
St. Lawrence S:
J. Xiberras, J.K. Farrugia (J. Formosa 76), N. Haber, C. Grima, A. Carvalho, J. Grima, V.J. Saliba, C. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, J. Saliba, D.P. Rapa (J.M. Portelli 70).
Victoria H:
R. Sammut, L. Grima, L. Farrugia (A. Camilleri 72), L. Atzori (J. Grech 55), S. Attard, J. Buttigieg (O. Cremona 85), D. Farrugia, S.F. Bajada (C. Caruana 85), D. Mercieca, J.G. Vella, W. Valentim De Sousa.
Victoria Hotspurs confirmed their superiority in the category and registered their third consecutive win from the first three matches of the campaign by defeating St Lawrence Spurs 4-2. With the points obtained the Hotspurs became sole leaders and opened a two-point lead over their closest rivals.
The match between Victoria Hotspurs and St Lawrence Spurs turned out to be an interesting encounter for the first hour of play as St Lawrence made it very difficult for their opponents to open a comfortable lead at an early stage. St Lawrence, who are currently at the bottom of the table without a point from three matches, surprised the Hotspurs and for some time they seemed heading to register a surprise result. The Saints recovered the score on two occasions but they ran out of breath during the final stages and did not manage to save the result. The Citizens obtained the deserved win as they increased their efforts during the final stages and made sure of the win by scoring the two goals that decided the issue.
Timeline:
Victoria Hotspurs tried to put pressure on their opponents from the first minutes of play but they found it difficult to create danger from the manoeuvre so the Spurs gained confidence in their defence and remained in contention to obtain a positive result.
8’ The Hotspurs went close to score when an effort by Dylan Mercieca from a corner kick by Shaun Attard was partially saved by goalie Joel Xiberras and from the rebound, the same goalkeeper blocked another corner the attempt by Daniel Farrugia.
13’ The Hotspurs missed another good scoring opportunity when Shaun Attard delivered an inviting ball with a corner kick and St Lawrence’s defence almost committed an own goal in the attempt to clear the danger. From the resultant corner action, taken again by Shaun Attard, the header by Lawrence Grima ended high.
17’ (0-1) The Hotspurs opened the score when St Lawrence’s defence failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a corner kick by Shaun Attard ad Lucas Farrugia took advantage and concluded in goal from a close distance.
18’ Victoria could have doubled their lead but a good effort by Wellington Valentim De Sousa ended just wide with the goalkeeper beaten.
21’ (1-1) St Lawrence surprised their opponents and levelled the score when Ayesller Carvalho delivered the ball towards the far post from a free kick, Christian Grima prolonged towards the goalmouth and Victor John Saliba was at the right place to push the ball in the net.
39’ St Lawrence’s goalie was at the right place and partially saved a good shot by Lucas Farrugia and from the rebound, the attempt by Lorenzo Atzori was cleared to a corner by defender Christian Grima.
45’ (1-2) The Hotspurs regained the lead when Wellington Valentim De Sousa passed inside St Lawrence’s area from the right flank and his low cross Lorenzo Atzori hit badly but Lucas Farrugia made up for the mistake and netted from a close distance
HT (1-2)
Second Half
St Lawrence came out for the second period more determined and managed to score the second equaliser so that the match became much more exciting. However, as time passed by the Hotspurs regained territorial supremacy and increased their efforts to obtain the win.
4’ (2-2) The Saints recovered the deficit through a shot from long distance by James Grima that surprised Victoria’s goalie Richard Sammut who found himself out of his position.
10’ The Hotspurs could have created more danger when Lorenzo Atzori entered St Lawrence’s area but his attempt from a good position ended wide.
14’ (crossbar) Victoria went again close to score the third goal but a header by Wellington Valentim De Sousa from a corner action was stopped by the crossbar.
21’ (2-3) The Hotspurs were rewarded for their efforts and put their heads in front for the third time when substitute Joey Grech delivered an inviting low cross from the right and Wellington Valentim De Sousa concluded with a tap-in.
24’ St Lawrence replied with an attempt directly from a free kick by Ayesller Carvalho but the ball got a deflection by the wall and play resumed from a corner.
26’ (2-4) Victoria increased their lead with a goal that arrived through a fine shot by Wellington Valentim De Sousa following a personal action from the right flank.
36’ St Lawrence went very close to re-open the issue when a shot from outside the area by James Grima almost surprised Victoria’s goalie but the latter managed to recover and saved the danger to a corner.
45’ Victoria’s goalie Richard Sammut denied St Lawrence from reducing the gap when he blocked a good shot by Christian Azzopardi who was alone inside the area.
FT (SLS 2 – VH 4)
Referee: Rapjan Xhyra
Asst. Referees: Nikola Dordevic, Kyle Cilia
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