4 February 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 12) Gozo Stadium
SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 2
Kercem Ajax FC : 3
23’ (1-0) Gabriel Farrugia
40’ (2-0) Junior Conceicao Cabral
45’ (2-1) Andrew Mizzi
46’ (2-2) Owen Peter Bugeja
58’ (2-3) Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes
90+4’ (red card) Nicholas Grech (SKVW)
SK Victoria W:
A. Parnis, A. Galiano Lazarini, K. Mercieca, M.V. Claudino Ramos (Choco), J. Conceicao Cabral, E. Zammit, N. Grech, G. Farrugia, J. Xuereb (A. Touarha 66), N. Vella (J. Saliba 60), L. Fenech.
Kercem A:
G. Bugeja, D. Cassar, I. Barbosa Da Silva, J. Theuma, O.G. Fernandes, K.L. Nunes Santos, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, A. Mizzi, O.P. Bugeja (C. Attard 78), G. Cardona (K. Sciberras 90+4), S. Azzopardi.
In the last match from Match-Day 12 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, Kercem Ajax obtained a 3-2 win over SK Victoria Wanderers and with this result, Ajax pulled with them the same Wanderers and three other teams in a tussle for the safe places on the table.
This was an important match for the two sides who needed a win to establish their status on the standings. Kercem were at second place from the bottom before this match and needed a win to move to just two points behind the Wanderer who are currently occupying the third spot on the table. On the other hand, this match was an opportunity for the Wanderers to extend their lead from the relegation zone, consolidate their position and close their gap from the top position.
The Wanderers were more effective during the first period and for most of the time, they were much more dangerous than their opponents. The Citizens opened a two-goal lead and missed some other good scoring opportunities where they could have put the score beyond the reach of their opponents. However, throughout the encounter, Kercem seemed more motivated and their efforts were rewarded with the three points. Ajax managed to remain in contention by scoring a goal seconds before the break and scored the equaliser within the first minute of play of the second period. As a result, the Wanderers were shocked and Ajax became much more confident so that the latter scored the decisive goal just before the hour mark and administered their lead with authority until the final whistle.
Timeline:
Kercem came out more aggressive and tried to put pressure on Victoria’s defence but the latter managed to resist well and as time passed by they became more dangerous and opened a two-goal lead. Kercem managed to recover near the end of the first half and remained in contention by scoring a goal.
3’ Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis was well placed and saved an attempt from a free kick by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos.
14’ Kercem could have created more danger but a shot on the run by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira ended away from goal.
23 (1-0) The Wanderers opened the score when Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos passed outside Kercem’s area to Gabriel Farrugia and the latter concluded in the corner of the net with a fine strike.
24’ Victoria went again close to scoring through a cross-shot by Luke Fenech but the ball ended wide.
39’ SK Victoria Wanderers should have capitalised better when Junior Conceicao Cabral entered Kercem’s area with a personal action but his final shot was well blocked by the defence.
40’ A shot from a long distance by Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos missed the target.
40’ (2-0) The Citizens doubled the score when Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos delivered a cross from the right flank and Junior Conceicao Cabral headed in goal from an ideal position.
45’ (2-1) Kercem re-opened the issue when Iuri Barbosa Da Silva crossed from the left flank and Andrew Mizzi headed in goal despite the pressure of the direct opponents.
HT (2-1)
Second Half
Kercem maintained their momentum after the resumption and increased their pressure on Victoria’s defence so that they turned the result in their favour before the hour mark. Victoria’s reaction was sterile while Kercem controlled play and actions on goal during the last part of the encounter were rare.
1’ (2-2) Kercem scored the equaliser in their first offensive action that took 55 seconds of the second period when Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes released Owen Peter Bugeja inside Victoria’s area and placed in goal with a low shot.
13’ (2-3) The Wanderers seemed shocked and Kercem took the lead through a shot from outside the area by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes that surprised Victoria’s goalie and ended in the corner of the net.
32’ Kercem could have sealed the win when Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira ran towards Victoria’s goal but his low drive from a good position ended wide.
43’ Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis denied Kercem from scoring a fourth goal when he blocked to a corner a close-ranged attempt by substitute Christian Attard who was released by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos.
45+1’ Kercem missed another opportunity to add another goal when Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira concluded wide from an ideal position.
45+4’ (red card) SK Victoria Wanderers ended with ten players when Nicholas Grech was sent off for denying Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira from entering alone inside the area.
FT (SKVW 2 – KA 3)
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Patrick Falzon
Photos Paul Scicluna
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