Oratory, Xewkija register the third goalless draw of the weekend

18 February 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 13) Gozo Stadium

Oratory Youths FC : 0

Xewkija Tigers FC : 0

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, P. Rapa (N. Said 68), K. Farrugia, J. Buttigieg, L.B. Coca, A. Azzopardi, O. Curmi, A. Azzopardi (A. Sultana 83), R.C. Prudente, R. Saliba, L.G. Santos Silva, R. Almeida Lopes.

Xewkija T:

N. Kosanin, Js. Vella, D. Bogdanovic, R. Buttigieg,  Ju. Vella (D. Bugeja 46), A. Bozovic, C.D. Frances, S. Xuereb (M. Mercieca 17, A. Debrincat 83), M. Bonnici (H. Bonnici 53), B.A. Parada, C. Abela.

In the last match from Match-Day 13 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, bottom-placed Oratory Youths and Xewkija Tigers, who are occupying the fourth place in the standings, earned a point each from a goalless draw so that the two sides left the field of play disappointed as they did not manage to improve their current status.

The two sides needed the full points at stake from this encounter as Oratory could have reduced their gap from the team above them on the table to two points, while Xewkija could have moved to third place in the standings with a win.  Oratory were more adventurous in their play for most of the encounter but the two sides created potential scoring opportunities so that the win could have gone either way.  The outcome of this match was a just result and confirmed that both Oratory and Xewkija need to register improvement in their performance to achieve their respective objectives.

Timeline:

Oratory came out more determined for this match and for most of the time they held territorial supremacy.  However, Xewkija were well deployed in their defence and denied their opponents from creating clear scoring opportunities so the actions on goal during the first half were rare.

5’ Oratory’s Rian Almeida Lopes passed inside Xewkija’s area but his close ranged attempt was blocked with difficulty by Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin.

21’ Xewkija’s first attempt towards Oratory’s goal arrived through a shot by Brian Alejandro Parada that was well saved by goalie Angelo Brignoli.

33’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was called to make a difficult intervention to turn to a corner a cross-shot from the right by Ryan Saliba.

37’ (post)  Xewkija had their best opportunity to open the score through an overhead kick by Brian Alejandro Parada that defeated the goalkeeper but the ball was stopped by the post.

HT (0-0)

Second Half

Play became much more balanced during the second period with more actions at the two ends of the field of play but the strikers continued to find it difficult to conclude and the score remained unchanged until the end of the encounter.

4’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was in the right place and saved a good effort by Xewkija’s Brian Alejandro Parada.

9’ Oratory should have capitalised better when Joshua Buttigieg delivered an inviting cross inside Xewkija’s area but Rafael Conrado Prudente headed weak so that goalie Nikola Kosanin neutralised the danger without difficulty.

13’ The same goalkeeper was called to make another intervention to block an effort by Oratory’s Joshua Buttigieg.

16’ Xewkija’s keeper denied Oratory from opening the score with a fine save following an attempt directly from a free kick by Luis Gabriel Santos Silva.

17’ The same Santos Silva had another shot directly from a free kick that was once again saved with some difficulty by Xewkija’s goalie.

24’ Oratory were again dangerous through a shot by Rian Almeida Lopes that ended wide.

25’ Xewkija replied with a strike by Claudio Daniel Frances that was saved to a corner by Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli.

31’ Xewkija could have created more danger but a header by Rodney Buttigieg following a cross from the right by Claudio Daniel Frances ended high.

37’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was again called to make a good intervention to save a shot by Xewkija’s substitute Denzil Bugeja.

44’ (protests for penalty) Xewkija protested for a penalty when Oratory’s Kevin Farrugia blocked a cross from the right flank.

45+4’ Xewkija could have obtained a dramatic win when Claudio Daniel Frances released substitute Andrea Debrincat who controlled inside the area but saw his attempt from an ideal position that ended over the crossbar.

FT (OY 0 – XT 0)

Referee: Vladimir Rizoski

Assistant Referees: Anthony Paul Vella, Darko Stankovic