Kercem save the result with two late goals

17 March 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 17) Gozo Stadium

Kercem Ajax FC: 2

Oratory Youths FC: 2

32’ (0-1) Rafael Conrado Prudente

51’ (0-2) penalty Rafael Conrado Prudente

80’ (1-2) penalty Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira

90+3’ (2-2) Andrew Mizzi

Kercem A:

G. Bugeja, I. Barbosa Da Silva, J. Theuma, O.G. Fernandes, C. Attard (O.P. Bugeja 66), K.L. Nunes Santos, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, A. Mizzi, G. Cardona, K. Formosa, S. Azzopardi.

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, P. Rapa, K. Farrugia, J. Buttigieg (K. Saliba 85), L.B. Coca, A. Azzopardi,  R.C. Prudente, R. Saliba, H. Muscat, L.G. Santos Silva, R. Almeida Lopes.

The direct clash from the lower part of the table between bottom-placed Oratory Youths and Kercem Ajax, who are just outside the relegation zone, ended in a 2-2 draw so that the Youths remain in serious relegation trouble while Kercem defended their position on the table with a lead over two other teams behind them.

For most of the time of the encounter, Oratory seemed heading towards a win which could have pulled Kercem in the red zone but the Youths failed to protect a two-goal lead and conceded Kercem’s reaction during the final stages of the encounter who managed to recover the deficit and left the field of play with a precious point.

Photo: Anthony Cassar

Timeline:

Play during the first half was well contested as the two sides seemed determined to obtain the full points at stake.  However, Oratory capitalised better on their chances and took the break with a one-goal lead.

5’ Oratory was dangerous through a low shot by Leonardo Bruno Coca that was neutralised by Kercem’s goalie Gaetano Bugeja.

6’ Kercem replied with an attempt by Karl Formosa but the ball ended away from goal.

23’ (crossbar) Kercem went close to take the lead but an attempt from a free kick by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes was stopped by the crossbar.

25’ (crossbar) Oratory replied with a fine header by Luis Gabriel Santos Silva from a corner kick by Leonardo Bruno Coca but the ball hit the crossbar.

30’ Kercem’s Pablo Vinicius De Mores Ferreira passed to Karl Formosa but the latter saw his shot from a good position that ended wide.

31’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli partially saved a shot by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes but the strikers missed the opportunity to conclude from the rebound.

32’ (0-1) Oratory opened the score when  Kercem’s defence headed badly within their territory outside their area, Rian Almeida Lopes headed the ball and Rafael Conrado Prudente fired in goal with a strike from a long distance that surprised Kercem’s keeper.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

Kercem continued to find it difficult to create danger mainly because Oratory doubled their lead during the opening stages of the first half, but Ajax increased their efforts during the final stages and managed to recover the two-goal deficit before the final whistle.

4’ (0-2) penalty Oratory were awarded a penalty for a foul by Christian Attard on Rian Almeida Lopes and Rafael Conrado Prudente made no mistake with his shot from the penalty spot.

14’ Oratory could have created more danger when Rafael Conrado Prudente ran towards Kercem’s area but was denied from concluding the goal with a decisive intervention by central defender Samuel Azzopardi.

20’ Kercem’s Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira had an attempt from a free kick that was saved to a corner by goalie Angelo Brignoli

22’ The Ajax kept insisting and Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira released Kiao Lucas Nunes Santos but the latter saw his effort blocked by Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli and the defence cleared the danger from their area.

24’ Kercem were again dangerous through a cross-shot by Iuri Barbosa Da Silva that ended on the roof of the net.

27’ Kercem’s Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira passed from the right flank but his shot from a good position missed the target.

28’ The Ajax were again dangerous when Gabriel Cardona passed through Oratory’s defence with a personal action but his shot was blocked to a corner by the defence.

32’ (protests for goal) Oratory almost increased their lead when a direct corner kick by Andre Azzopardi was cleared with difficulty from the goalmouth by goalie Gaetano Bugeja among protests from the Youths claiming that the ball had crossed the fatal line.

34’ (1-2) penalty Kercem were awarded a penalty for a foul by Hayden Muscat on Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos and Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreria converted from the penalty spot.

40’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was well placed and saved without difficulty a good shot by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes.

42’ Kercem had a good opportunity to level the score but a shot by Gabriel Cardona from close distance was blocked by Oratory’s defence on the fatal line and from the rebound the effort by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira was saved by the goalkeeper.

45+3’ (2-2) Kercem scored a dramatic equaliser through a header by Andrew Mizzi following a corner kick by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira that surprised Oratory’s defence and the goalkeeper.

FT (KA 2 – OY 2)

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Asst. Referees: Mitchell Scerri, David Cilia

Photo: Anthony Cassar