10 December 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 8) Gozo Stadium
Qala Saints FC: 4
Xaghra United FC : 0
29’ (1-0) penalty Lucas Matheus Dos Santos
50’ (2-0) Jordi Parnis
60’ (red card) Savio Galea (XU)
61’ (3-0) penalty Igor Nedeljkovic
72’ (4-0) Lucas Matheus Dos Santos
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez, Jsph. Buttigieg, J.V. Ferrari Silva, L.B. Da Silva, M. Buttigieg, C. Vella (J. Xerri 83), L.M. Dos Santos (M. Vella 87), E. Buttigieg (N.C. Njoku 74), J. Parnis, I. Nedeljkovic (S. Curmi 83).
Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, S. Galea, L. Almeida Da Silva, C. Gauci, M. Bezzina (J. Xuereb 83), C. Camilleri (D. Azopardi 62), D. Mesa Pineros (J. Xerri 83), F.J. Xuereb, C.A. Diaz Arias (J. Bajada 6), H. Da Silva Wilker, M.P. Camilleri.
In the last match from Match-Day 8 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, leaders Qala Saints earned three points from a 4-0 win over Xaghra United. With this win the Maroons retained their one-point lead over their closest rivals but extended their lead over the other teams who are aiming to be among the challengers for the title.
This was an important match for the two sides as Qala had the pressure to obtain the win to retain their current status in Gozitan football, while Xaghra was aiming to obtain a positive result with the ambition to keep away from the relegation zone. The match was quite balanced during the opening stages as Xaghra seemed in a position to be a challenger for the points at stake. However, Qala made good use of their experience and took full command of play as soon as they opened the score. Qala dominated pay throughout the second period and made sure of the win by scoring three goals without any reply. Xaghra also ended the match on a negative note as they had to play the last minutes of the match with a player.
Timeline:
The match was well contested during the first half hour of play but as soon as Qala took the lead they increased their efforts and dominated to the last part of the first half.
15’ Xaghra had their first serious attempt towards a goal through a direct free kick by Chris Camilleri but Qala’s goalie Owen Attard was well-placed and saved the danger.
22’ (post) Qala replied with a good action where Lucas Matheus Dis Santos released Igor Nedeljkovic inside Xaghra’s area but the latter saw his low drive stopped by the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
28’ (1-0) penalty Qal were awarded a penalty that arrived when Lucas Matheus Dis Santos passed through Xaghra’s defence with a personal action but was floored inside the area by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and the same Brazilian striker netted his shot from the penalty spot with the ball hitting the post before crossing the fatal line.
42’ Qala were again dangerous through an attempt directly from a free kick by Igor Nedeljkovic but the ball ended just over the crossbar.
45+1’ (goal disallowed) The Maroons produced a dangerous action through Nicholas Inguanez who passed from the left flank and his cross attempt by Jordi Parnis hit the crossbar and from the rebound, Igor Nedeljkovic headed in the net but the action was disallowed for the irregular position of Jordi Parnis.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
The match was quite interesting during the opening minutes of the second half as Xaghra seemed determined to produce a reaction. However, Qala resisted well and doubled their lead in their first offensive action of the second period and scored a third goal just after the hour mark. Xaghra, who ended up playing with a player less, were demoralised and the Maroons controlled play for the rest of the encounter with the least possible effort.
1’ 40 seconds Xaghra were dangerous through a shot from a long distance by Daniel mesa Pineros following a personal action but the ball ended away from goal.
2’ Qala’s goalie Owen Attard made a difficult save to deny Xaghra from scoring the equaliser when he turned to a corner a shot from a good position by Michael Bezzina.
5’ (2-0) Xaghra were punished for the missed scoring opportunities as Qala scored their second goal when Igor Nedejkovic released Jordi Parnis who arrived on the ball before Xaghra’s goalie and netted from close distance.
11’ Qala’s Igor Nedeljkovic could have created more danger when he entered the area with a personal action but his final shot was weak and goalie Lorjean Xuereb saved without difficulty.
15’ (3-0) (red card) penalty Qala was awarded a penalty for a foul by Savio Galea on Igor Nedeljkovic. Xaghra’s defender Savio Galea was sent off for a second bookable offence and Igor Nedeljkovic’s shot ended in the net despite the attempt of the goalkeeper to block the danger.
19’ Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb was well placed and managed to block a close-range attempt by Jordi Parnis and from the rebound, the defence recovered well and cleared the ball from the danger area.
27’ (4-0) The Maroons scored their fourth goal when Joao Vitor Ferrari Silva released Lucas Matheus Dos Santos with a through pass from the midfield and the latter entered the area, turned around the goalkeeper and placed easily into an open goal.
33’ Qala went close to score another goal but an attempt from close distance by substitute Nathan Chukwudi Njoku ended away from goal.
FT (QS 4 – XU 0)
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara
Assistant Referees: Kurt Saliba, Anthony Paul Vella
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