Sannat Lions defend the top spot with a fine win

27 January 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 8) Kercem Stadium

Gharb Rangers FC : 1

Sannat Lions FC : 3

1’ (0-1) Boubacar Kanta

28’ (0-2) Gabriel Debrincat

31’ (1-2) Carlos Cutajar

65’ (1-3) Cyriel Buttigieg

77’ (red card) Ryan Meilak (GR)

Gharb R:

A. Micallef, R. Portelli (D. Vella 87), C. Cutajar, T. Axiak, A. Ofulue Chukwuwinke, S. Sillato, D. Galea, M. Grech (M. Tabone 35), O. Atzori (S. Azzopardi 82), S. Gauci (J. Xerri 82), R. Meilak.

Sannat L:

K. Attard, K. Xuereb, G. Debrincat (P. Said 79), E. Gauci, N. Grima (C. Dingli 72), J. Xerri (T. Agius 64), M. Mifsud, A. Azzopardi, C. Buttigieg, B. Kanta, M. Gauci. 

Sannat Lions obtained a 3-1 win over Gharb Rangers and made sure that they would remain at the top position at the end of Match-Day 8 of the campaign.  In this match, Sannat confirmed the good moment of form as they scored a goal at the very beginning of the encounter and continued to administer play throughout the encounter.

Gharb tried hard to remain in contention but most of the time they were forced to defend their area and they only threatened Sannat’s rear guard with sporadic offensive actions.  Sannat practically put their minds at rest from the win when they scored their third goal arrived midway through the second period so that for the rest of the encounter Gharb seemed demoralised and also played the last minutes of play with a player less so that Sannat reduced their pressure and protected their lead until the final whistle.

Timeline:

Sannat had an excellent start and took the lead when they capitalised from an early mistake by Gharb’s rear guard so they kept insisting and doubled their lead before the half-hour mark.  Gharb managed to reduce the deficit before the break but Sannat were well organised at their defence and they rarely conceded scoring opportunities to their opponents.

1’ (0-1)  Sannat took the lead after just 17 seconds of play when Gharb’s defence failed to clear the ball from the midfield and Sannat’s Boubacar Kanta took advantage, ran alone towards the area and fired in goal as he came face to face with the goalkeeper.

17’ Sannat continued to put pressure on Ghab’s defence and were dangerous through a shot from an angled position by Nicholas Grima but the ball ended wide.

19’ Gharb’s goalie Andre Micallef was called to make an important intervention to block to a corner a close-ranged shot by Boubacar Kanta following a personal action from the left flank.  From the resultant corner action, an overhead kick by the same Boubacar Kanta ended high.

28’ (0-2) Sannat doubled the score when Boubacar Kanta passed outside Gharb’s with a personal action, the defence failed to clear the danger and the ball arrived to an unmarked Gabriel Debrincat who concluded in goal from an ideal position.

31’ (`1-2) Gharb had an immediate reaction and reduced the deficit with a fine shot by Carlos Cutajar following a personal action.

HT (1-2)

Second Half

Gharb tried to increase their efforts after the break in an attempt to level the score but as time passed by Sannat regained control of play and also managed to re-establish the two-goal lead so that during the final stages of the encounter they were practically sure of the three points.

3’ Gharb could have capitalised better when Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke came face to face with Sannat’s goalie with a personal action but the latter kept his position and blocked the danger to a corner.

9’ Gharb were again dangerous through a shot by substitute Michael Tabone but the ball ended away from goal.

12’ Sannat replied with an attempt from a free kick by Aaron Azzopardi but the ball ended over the crossbar.

17’ Sannat were again dangerous through a personal action by Gabriel Debrincat who entered Gharb’s area but his shot from a good position ended on the side of the net.

20’ (1-3) Sannat scored their third goal when Boubacar Kanta headed the ball inside Gharb’s area following some hesitation by Gharb’s defence to clear the danger and Cyriel Buttigieg was at the right place to take the opportunity and netted with a close ranged header.

29’ Sannat could have added another goal when Boubacar Kanta passed again through the defence but from his pass the shot by Aaron Azzopardi ended wide.

31’ Sannat could have created more danger but a shot from a free kick by Aaron Azzopardi missed the target.

32’ (red card) Gharb were reduced to ten players when Ryan Meilak was sent off for retaliation following a foul in the midfield.

FT (GR 1 – SL 3)

Referee: Rapjan Xhyra

Assistant Referees: Derome Agius, Danilo Francalanza