20 January 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 7) Kercem Stadium
Sannat Lions FC: 4
Munxar Falcons FC : 0
19’ (1-0) Boubacar Kanta
57’ (red card) Daniel Borg (SL)
61’ (2-0) penalty Boubacar Kanta
73’ (3-0) Cyriel Buttigieg
80’ (4-0) Boubacar Kanta
Sannat L:
K. Attard, K. Xuereb, G. Debrincat (C. Dingli 84), E. Gauci, N. Grima (M. Gauci 59), D. Borg, T. Agius (J. Xerri 75), M. Mifsud, A. Azzopardi, C. Buttigieg, B. Kanta.
Munxar F:
J. Micallef, K. Borg, P. Parnis, K. Farrugia (D. Bajada 81), I. Belhadj, N. Mifsud (L. Meilak 70), M. Zammit (S. Spiteri 81), V.G. Soarez Souza, M. Camilleri Psaila (K. Mizzi 56), E. Galea (S. Muscat 56), O. Spiteri.
In the main match from Match-Day 7 of the campaign, Sannat Lions obtained a 4-0 win over Munxar Falcons and with the points obtained, they moved over the same Munxar at the top of the table. This was Munxar’s first defeat in the league after six consecutive positive results and it was also the second consecutive match without a win. Thus, the Falcons dropped all of their lead which they had over the other contenders Sannat Lions and Victoria Hotspurs, and ended Match-Day 7 trailing their rivals by two points.
The win for Sannat was deserved as they were determined to take revenge for the defeat conceded in the match against the same Munxar of the first round. Sannat were well organised at their defence, neutralised Munxar’s play and as time passed by they became more effective with counter breaks by creating more scoring opportunities. Sannat maintained composure when they were reduced to ten players during the opening stages of the second period and capitalised from more space at Munxar’s defence by scoring three goals to put the score beyond Munxar’s reach.
In this match, Munxar was disappointed as they failed to retain the standard of play expressed in the matches of the first round. Munxar were coming from an unexpected draw in their previous match. In this crucial encounter the Falcons, who were playing without the service of Nathaniel Mercieca for the second consecutive match due to an injury, did not manage to produce danger within Sannat’s territory. Munxar lost confidence and committed mistakes in their defence, which compromised the possibility of saving the result.
Timeline:
During the first minutes of the encounter, Munxar gave the impression that they were aiming to take command of play but Sannat protected their area and often threatened Munxar’s rearguard with counter breaks so that the latter took the break with a one-goal lead.
5’ (post) Munxar went very close to take the lead in their first offensive action as Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza defended the ball inside Sannat’s area despite the pressure from his opponents and from the resultant melee the ball arrived to an unmarked Neil Mifsud who saw his attempt that was stopped by the post.
11’ Sannat replied with a cross-shot by Mario Mifsud that ended wide.
19’ (1-0) Sannat opened the score when Boubacar Kanta passed through Munxar’s defence with personal action and fired in goal as he arrived face to face with the goalkeeper.
Munxar seemed shocked and their immediate reaction was sterile.
29’ Sannat were again dangerous when Boubacar Kanta entered Munxar’s area but missed the opportunity to conclude towards goal but the ball arrived to Sannat’s Cyriel Buttigieg who saw his shot from outside the area that ended away from goal.
39’ (protests for red card) Sannat produced a counter break but their striker ended up on the floor among protests from Sannat requesting a caution to Munxar’s defender who was already on one yellow card.
45+1’ Sannat could have doubled their lead but a header from a good position by Boubacar Kanta ended wide.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
Munxar continued to find it difficult to create danger while Sannat, who ended up playing with a player less at an early stage of the second period, were in control of play and more dangerous with counter breaks.
3’ Munxar could have created more danger but Keth Farrugia failed to intercept a back pass by Sannat’s defence so that goalie Kyle Attard left his position in time and cleared the danger.
11’ Sannat replied with a strike from outside the area by Aaron Azzopardi that ended high.
12’ (red card) Sannat Lions were reduced to ten players when Daniel Borg was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul in the midfield.
14’ (protests for penalty) Munxar protested for a penalty alleging handling when Sannat’s defence cleared the ball from their area following a free kick.
16’ (2-0) penalty Sannat were awarded a penalty for a foul by Paul Parnis on Boubacar Kanta and the same striker converted from the penalty spot.
22’ Munxar had a shot from long distance by substitute Samwel Muscat but the ball ended away from goal.
28’ (3-0) Sannat practically made sure of the win when they scored the third goal that arrived through an initiative by Cyriel Buttigieg who ran away from the right flank, exchanged the ball with Boubaca Kanta, entered Munxar’s area and surprised the goalkeeper with a low shot.
34’ Sannat were again dangerous when Gabriel Debrincat passed from the left flank with a personal action but his attempt from an angled position was saved in two attempts by goalie Joel Micallef.
35’ (4-0) Sannat sealed the win with another goal when Boubacar Kanta passed around various defenders inside Munxar’s area and concluded in goal with a low shot so that the striker also marked his positive performance with a personal hat-trick.
44’ Munxar had an opportunity to score a consolation goal but an attempt from a free kick by Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza ended high.
45+2’ Munxar’s Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza went again close to score at least a goal for his side but his attempt from a good position was well saved by Sannat’s goalie Kyle Attard.
FT (SL 4 – MF 0)
Referee: Kankaras Igor
Assistant Referees: Ranald Portelli, Milos Solakovic
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