21 January 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 10) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 2
Ghajnsielem FC : 0
12’ (1-0) Brian Alejandro Parada
82’ (2-0) Brian Alejandro Parada
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, Js. Vella, D. Bogdanovic, M. Mercieca (M. Bonnici 67), J. Buttigieg (J. Axiak 90+3), R. Buttigieg (S. Xuereb 75), A. Bozovic, C.D. Frances, D. Bugeja, B.A. Parada, C. Abela.
Ghajnsielem:
L. Buttigieg, Al. Xuereb, J.J. Padilla Vasquez, K. Hili, B. Da Cruz, N.I. Belhadj, Ant. Xuereb, G. Emmanuel, W. Hili (K. Bajada 75), C.H. Da Silva Barbosa, D. Hili (D. Attard 62).
Xewkija scored a goal in each half in the last match from Match-Day 10 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division against Ghajsielem and earned three precious points to retain the fourth spot on the table and increase their lead over the teams occupying the red zone.
The win for Xewkija arrived after a difficult long period as they earned only two points from their previous five matches and their last win in the championship was registered at the beginning of October. In this match against Ghajnsielem, the Tigers dictated matters for longer stretches and they produced more open scoring opportunities so that the win could have easily been with a larger margin. The main; protagonist for Xewkija was undoubtedly their Argentinian striker Brian Alejandro Parada who marked his debut in Gozitan football by scoring two goals in the encounter.
In this match, Ghajnsielem struggled to share play with their opponents although they believed that they could earn at least a point from this match for quite a long time. The Blacks failed to capitalise on their best opportunities throughout the 90 minutes and committed some mistakes in their defence so it became very difficult to achieve a positive result.
Timeline:
Play for most of the first half was quite balanced as the two sides tried to produce offensive play. However, Xewkoija managed to capitalise on a mistake by Ghajnsielem’s defence during the early stages and ended the first half in the lead.
5’ Xewkija had their first attempt towards Ghajnsielem’s goal through a strike by debutant Brian Alejandro Parada but the ball ended over the crossbar.
10’ Ghajnsielem replied with a shot by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa but the ball ended high.
12’ (1-0) Xewkija opened the score when Ghajnsielem’s defence gave away the ball from their territory through a wrong back pass and Brian Alejandro Parada took advantage to take possession, avoided the intervention of the goalkeeper outside the area and concluded in goal with a low shot.
15’ Ghajnsielem could have levelled the score but a good shot by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa took a deflection by the defence and the ball ended in a corner.
29’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner an attempt directly from a free kick by Bruno Da Cruz.
40’ Ghajnsielem were again dangerous through a shot by Damon Hili but the ball ended wide.
44’ (crossbar) Xewkija went very close to score another goal when Claudio Daniel Frances released Brian Alejandro Parada, but the latter saw his shot that was stopped by the crossbar.
45’ The Blacks had a good opportunity to level the score before halftime but a shot by Godwin Emmanuel was turned to a corner by Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin and from the resultant corner action the attempt by Naim Ishmael Belhadj ended away from goal.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
The outcome of this encounter during the second period remained uncertain for most of the time as Xewjkija, who practically had full control of play, was very erratic in their finishing so Ghajnsielem remained in contention to obtain a positive result until conceding the second goal that arrived when there were only eight minutes left to the end of the encounter.
2’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin made a good save to block an effort by Alberto Xuereb.
3’ Xewkija failed to capitalise on an opportunity to score another goal when Matthias Mercieca received an inviting ball inside Ghajnsielem’s area but hesitated to conclude and the defence managed to block the danger.
65’ Xewkija’s Claudio Daniel Frances had an attempt from a free kick that ended high.
12’ The Tigers went again very close to add another goal when Brian Alejandro Parada unmarked Matthias Mercieca in front of Ghajnsielem’s goal but the latter once again missed a golden scoring opportunity and the defence cleared the danger to a corner.
18’ Ghajsnielem almost punished Xewkija for the missed chances when Bruno Da Cruz passed through Xewkijs’s territory with a personal action but from his pass, Alberto Xuereb saw his shot from a good position that missed the target.
21’ Ghajnsielem once again threatened Xewkija’s defence with a strike from outside the area by Naim Ishmael Belhadj but the ball ended away from goal.
26’ Xewkija created another open scoring opportunity through a cross by Claudio Daniel Frances that arrived at the far post but the close-ranged header by Josiah Buttigieg missed the target.
29’ Xewkija; ‘s Claudio Daniel Frances passed through Ghajnsielem’s defence but from his inviting pass Brian Alejandro Parada hit badly and the goalkeeper managed to block the danger with the aid of the defence.
36’ Xewkija’s Josiah Buttigieg unmarked Claudio Daniel Frances but the latter saw his good shot that ended wide.
37’ (2-0) Xewkija finally managed to put their minds at rest from the three points by increasing their lead to two goals when Brian Alejandro Parada controlled with ability within Ghajnsielem’s territory a long kick by Xewkija’s keeper, exchanged the ball with Claudio Daniel Frances and concluded easily in goal with a low shot.
39’ Ghajnsielem could have reduced the deficit but an attempt from a free kick by Bruno Da Cruiz ended on the side of the net.
41’ Ghajnsielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was called to make a good save to block an attempt from a free kick by Claudio Daniel Frances.
45+1’ Xewkija’s Brian Alejandro Parada had a good effort from a close distance but the ball ended wide.
45+3’ Xewkija missed an opportunity to seal the win by scoring another goal when Dejan Bogdanovic headed towards the goalmouth from an angled position but Brian Alejandro Parada concluded wide from an ideal position.
FT (XT 2 – GHJ 0)
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Patrick Falzon
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