6 January 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 6) Kercem Stadium
St Lawrence Spurs FC: 2
Sannat Lions FC : 3
9’ (penalty missed – saved) Ayesller Carvalho (SLS)
18’ (0-1) Nicholas Grima
22’ (0-2) Aaron Azzopardi
41’ (1-2) penalty Ayesller Carvalho
82’ (1-3) Boubacar Kanta
86’ (2-3) Jurgen Mario Portelli
St. Lawrence S:
J. Xiberras, J.K. Farrugia (E. Scerri 73), N. Haber, J.M. Portelli, C. Grima, A. Carvalho, J. Grima, V.J. Saliba, C. Azzopardi (D.P. Rapa 79), D. Micallef, J. Saliba.
Sannat L:
K. Attard, K. Xuereb, G. Debrincat (M. Farrugia 90+3), E. Gauci (G. Portelli 90+6), N. Grima, D. Borg, T. Agius (M. Gauci 73), C. Dingli (P. Said 73), M. Mifsud, A. Azzopardi, B. Kanta.
In the first match from the second round of the BOV Gozo Football League of the second division, Sannat Lions obtained three precious points from a 3-2 win over bottom-placed St Lawrence so that they retained their status as challengers for promotion. With this result, St Lawrence remains without a point from the first six matches despite another positive performance.
Sannat capitalised from their experience in this encounter as they took full advantage of some mistakes by St Lawrence’s defence and managed to defend the lead until the final stages. In this match, the Spurts went very close to obtaining at least a point but they were erratic in their finishing and missed the opportunity to get a deserved reward for their efforts.
Timeline:
The match was well contested from the first minutes of play as the two sides seemed determined to obtain the full points at stake for different reasons. As a result, both St Lawrence and Sannat created some good scoring opportunities but the latter took the break with a one-goal lead.
7’ Sannat went very close to score an early goal when Gabriel Debrincat entered St Lawrence’s area from the left flank but his attempt ended on the side of the net.
9’ (penalty missed – saved) St Lawrence had a golden opportunity to put their nose in front when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Aaron Azzopardi on Ayesller Carvalho but the same Brazilian striker saw his shot from the penalty spot that was well saved by Sannat’s keeper Kyle Attard.
18’ (0-1) Sannat punished their opponents for the missed chance when St Lawrence’s goalie cleared inside his area a free kick by Aaron Azzopardi and the ball arrived to Nicholas Grima who headed easy in goal from an ideal position.
22’ (0-2) The Spurs were shocked and Sannat doubled their lead through a free kick from long distance by Aaron Azzopardi that surprised St Lawrence’s goalie.
26’ St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras was well placed and denied Sannat from adding another goal by blocking a close-range header by Boubacar Kanta following a cross by Nicholas Grima.
41’ (1-2) penalty St Lawrence recovered from a difficult period and re-opened the issue when they were awarded a penalty for handling by Sannat’s Aaron Azzopardi and on this occasion, Ayesller Carvalho made no mistake from the penalty spot.
43’ The Spurs could have levelled the score but a strike from long distance by St Lawrence’s James Grima was turned to a corner with difficulty by Sannat’s goalie Kyle Attard.
HT (1-2)
Second Half
After the resumption, St Lawrence tried to maintain their momentum. Still, Sannat resisted well and re-established the two-goal cushion so that they made it more difficult for their opponents to save the result.
7’ St Lawrence could have created more danger but a header by Jake Saliba from a good position following a free kick by Jurgen Mario Portelli ended wide.
As time passed by during the second period, play took place in the midfield and the two goalkeepers were not called to make any difficult interventions.
31’ Sannat were again dangerous but a good shot by Boubacar Kanta ended wide.
37’ (1-3) Sannat scored their third goal when St Lawrence’s defence failed to clear a thought ball by Gabriel Debrincat and Boubacar Kanta, entered the area and netted with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.
39’ St Lawrence was not demoralised and went close to scoring through an initiative by Jurgen Mario Portelli who passed inside Sannat’s defence but his final shot missed the target.
41’ (2-3) St Lawrence reduced the deficit to just one goal through a first-timer from an angled position by Jurgen Mario Portelli following a cross from the right flank.
45’ Sannat replied with a personal action by Boubacar Kanta who entered St Lawrence’s territory but goalie Joel Xiberras was well placed and blocked the danger.
45+4’ The Spurs could have scored a dramatic equaliser when Jake Saliba passed inside Sannat’s area but saw his attempt that was blocked by the defence and from the rebound the shot on the run by Ayesller Carvalho ended wide.
FT (SLS 2 – SL 3)
Referee: Patrick Falzon
Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Anthony Paul Vella
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