Nadur retain the top spot with a handsome win

26 January 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 11) Gozo Stadium

Nadur Youngsters FC : 5

Oratory Youths FC : 0

24’ (1-0) Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dos Santos

36’ (2-0) Brandon Said

52’ (3-0) penalty Marcelo Pereira Muniz

53’ (4-0) Stefan Cassar

56’ (5-0) Brandon Said

Nadur Y:

S. Sultana, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos, I. Xuereb (M. Tabone 63), M. Pereira Muniz (M. Said 63), J.M. Vella, J. Zammit (J. Xerri 71), S. Cassar, G. Hili, K. Grima (G. Muscat 63), B. Said, J.V. De Oliveira Florencio (L. Buttigieg 83).

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, A. Sultana, P. Rapa, J. Buttigieg, L.B. Coca (O. Grech 63), O. Curmi, A. Azzopardi, R.C. Prudente, R. Saliba, L.G. Santos Silva, R. Almeida Lopes.

Nadur Youngsters continued to express superiority in the top flight of Gozitan football with a 5-0 win over Oratory Youths. This was a match between the teams occupying the two ends of the table of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, where the value of each team was expressed in the final score of the encounter.

Nadur had their prolific striker Marcelo Barbosa missing due to an injury for this match against Oratory but his absence was not noted as Nadur still managed to dominate over their opponents and practically made sure of the win with five goals scored during the first hour of play.  Oratory tried hard to repeat the positive performance and the positive result obtained in the match against the same Nadur in the first round of the championship, but they found it very difficult to neutralise Nadur’s offensive play and they were also very weak in their efforts to produce danger towards Nadur’s goal.

Timeline:

Nadur took command of play from the early stages and kept the pressure on Oratory’s defence throughout the first half so that they took the break with a deserved two-goal lead.  Oratory tried hard to surprise their more quoted opponents with sporadic attacks but the Youths failed to capitalise on some good chances and missed the opportunity to remain in contention for a positive result.

4’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was called to make a difficult intervention to turn to a corner a close-ranged header by Brandon Said following a cross by Marcelo Pereira Muniz.

10’  The same goalkeeper had a good reaction to turn to a corner an attempt from a free kick by Gennaro Hili.

13’ Nadur were again dangerous through a free kick by Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio but the ball ended wide.

19’ Oratory almost surprised their opponents when a cross from the left flank by Andre Azzopardi arrived to debutant Rafael Conrado Prudente, who was unmarked inside the area, but the striker’s low shot was weak and goalie Steve Sultana saved without difficulty.

20’ Nadur’s Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio created danger within Oratory’s territory with a personal action but his final shot ended away from goal.

24’ (1-0) Nadur opened the score when Oratory’s defence failed to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a free kick by Gennaro Hili and from the resultant melee Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dos Santos fired in goal.

32’ (crossbar) Oratory replied with a cross-shot from the right flank by Ryan Saliba that almost surprised Nadur’s keeper but the ball, was stopped by the crossbar.

36’ (2-0) Nadur doubled their lead from a counter break where Stefan Cassar released Brandon Said, the latter entered the area, turned around his direct opponent and concluded in goal with a low shot.

38’ Oratory could have creature danger when Joshua Buttigieg ran towards Nadur’s goal but his final shot ended away from goal.

41’ Nadur could have scored another goal when Brandon Said passed Joseph Zammit but the latter saw his attempt end high.

42’ The same Joseph Zammit had another opportunity to score the third goal for his side but his header from a good position following a cross by Marcelo Pereira Muniz ended high.

HT (2-0)

Second Half

Nadur continued to dictate matters after the resumption and practically made sure of the win by scoring three more goals before the hour mark.  The match lost much of the interest during the remaining half hour of play as Oratory continued to find it very difficult to produce danger within Nadur’s territory. 

6’ (3-0) penalty Nadur increased their lead when they were awarded a penalty when a cross from the right flank by Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio was handled by Oliver Curmi and Marcelo Pereira Muniz made no mistake from the penalty spot.

8’ (4-0) Nadur added another goal when Joseph Zammit passed through Oratory’s defence from the right flank and from his low cross Stefan Cassar concluded in goal with a low shot.

11’ (5-0)  Nadur scored their fifth goal when Marcelo Pereira Muniz delivered a cross from the right flank towards the goalmouth, Joseph Zammit arrived on the ball before goalie Angelo Brignoli and Brandon Said netted from close distance.

25’ Nadur could have made it a half a dozen when Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio released substitute Matthias Said in a counter break but the latter hit badly and Oratory’s keeper saved without difficulty

37’ Oratory had their best opportunity to score a consolation goal arrived through an attempt directly from a free kick by Rafael Conrado Prudente that was saved with difficulty by Nadur’s goalie, Steve Sultana.

FT (NY 5 – OY 0)

Referee: Glen Tonna

Assistant Referees: Kurt Saliba, Paul Apap