Nadur held to a draw by Xaghra

2 February 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD12) Gozo Stadium

Xaghra United FC : 1

Nadur Youngsters FC : 1

28’ (0-1) Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio

84’ (1-1) Marco Antonio Morgon Filho

Xaghra U:

L. Xuereb, J. Bajada (M.P. Camilleri 56), L. Almeida Da Silva, S.F. Bajada (O. Fenech 44), M. Bezzina (C. Camilleri 56), M. Mamo (Jr. Xuereb 90+1), M. Cordina, F.J. Xuereb, M.A. Morgon Filho, C.A. Diaz Arias, H. Da Silva Wilker.

Nadur Y:

S. Sultana, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos, I. Xuereb, M. Pereira Muniz, J.M. Vella (M. Said 85), J. Zammit, S. Cassar, G. Hili, K. Grima, B. Said (M.J. Barbosa 55), J.V. De Oliveira Florencio.

Reigning champions and current leaders of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division Nadur Youngsters were surprisingly held to a draw by relegation strugglers Xaghra United so that the former allowed the other teams to rejoin the race for the title.  This was Nadur’s second upset in their matches against Xaghra this season as Xaghra obtained a win in the match against Nadur of the first round.

In this match Nadur were favourites to obtain a win since they were coming from a very good run of performances and they were expected to take revenge for the defeat conceded in the match against Xaghra of the first round.  However, Nadur did not live up to the expectations as they failed to achieve their objective.  Nadur, who started the match without Marcelo Barbosa due to an injury, held territorial supremacy for long stretches but they did not manage to convert their play into open scoring opportunities and as time passed by they became frustrated so that their opponents remained in contention and left the field of play with a deserved point.  With this result, Xaghra extended their lead over the team occupying the bottom place on the table and retained their chances to move definitively away from the red zone in the remaining matches of the championship.

Timeline:

Nadur took command of the play from the early stages but Xaghra were not surprised as they were well organised in their defence and made it very difficult for Nadur’s strikers to conclude towards the goal.  Xaghra were very cautious and gave up their chances to operate offensive play to maintain a solid defence so the actions on goal during the first half were very rare.

28’ (0-1) Nadur opened the score when they capitalised from a mistake within Xaghra’s area as Matthias Cordina controlled badly a cross from the right by Ian Xuereb and Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio took advantage and placed easily in goal with a low shot.

37’ (protests for penalty) Xaghra protested for a penalty when Marco Antonio Morgon Filho ended up on the floor inside Nadur’s area as he tried to pass with a personal action.

43’ Nadur’s Marcelo Pereira Muniz had a shot from outside the area following a personal action but the ball ended high.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

The match during eh second period became much more interesting as Nadur increased their efforts and started to conclude their play with more attempts towards goal, while Xaghra operated some sporadic breaks in an attempt to surprise the more quoted opponents.

2’ Xaghra’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb was called to make a good save following a shot from outside the area by Nadur’s Stefan Cassar.

6’ The same goalkeeper was well placed to save an attempt from a free kick by Gennaro Hili.

17’ Nadur’s Marcelo Barbosa, who came on the field as a substitute during the second period, released Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio but the latter hit badly from close distance and the ball ended on the side of the net.

18’ Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb made another effective intervention to save without difficulty a shot from outside the area by Marcelo Pereira Muniz.

20’ Xaghra could have created more danger but a shot from a good position by Chris Camilleri, who came in as a substitute during the second period, ended away from goal.

25’ Nadur’s Marcelo Pereira Muniz had a good shot that was saved to a corner by Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb.

31’ (protests for penalty) Nadur’s Marcelo Barbosa was shown the yellow card for simulation as he ended up on the floor inside the area when he tried to pass with personal action.

36’ Xaghra’s Chris Camilleri had an attempt from a free kick that ended away from goal.

39’ (1-1) Xaghra managed to score the equaliser following a prolonged action within Nadur’s territory that ended with substitute Michael Paul Camilleri delivering a low pass from the right-hand side of the area and Marco Antonio Morgon Filho took the ball and surprised the keeper with a fine strike.

45+3’ Nadur could have regained the lead but an attempt from a good position by Stefan Cassar ended wide.

FT (XU 1 – Nadur Y 1)

Referee: Reuben Spiteri Delicata

Asst. Referees: Raiden Psaila, Ryan Caruana