13 April 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 14) Gozo Stadium
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 2
Sannat Lions FC : 0
56’ (1-0) Wellington Valentim De Souza
81’ (2-0) Lorenzo Atzori
Victoria H:
K. Barbara, L. Grima, L. Farrugia, L. Atzori, S. Attard, C. Grima, J. Grima (O. Cremona 46), C. Caruana (J.G. Vella 76), J. Tabone, E. Xiberras (G. Borg 76), W. Valentim De Sousa.
Sannat L:
K. Attard, J.W. Meilak, K. Xuereb, E. Gauci, N. Grima, T. Agius, C. Dingli (D. Borg 68), M. Mifsud, A. Azzopardi, C. Buttigieg, B. Kanta.
Victoria Hotspurs, who are already mathematically champions of the second division continued to express their superiority in the category with a 2-0 win over Sannat Lions. This match did not provide any particular motivation to the Hotspurs as they have clinched all the honours of the second division and they were playing their second last competitive match of the season. However, Victoria Hotspurs seemed determined to end the season on a positive note and prevailed over Sannat with another offensive display where they held command of play for most of the encounter. Victoria’s win matured with two goals scored during the second period but they never seemed in a position that they may leave the pitch empty-handed.
On the other hand, this was an important match for Sannat as they needed at least a point to join Munxar Falcons at the runners-up position and moreover, they were aiming to register their first win over the Hotspurs this season, as they only managed to register two draws from their previous six encounters in all the competitions this season. In the end, Sannat, who started the campaign among the favourites to challenge for promotion, missed their main objective and at this point, they may also fail to gain the runners-up position to win the right to contest the Play-Off for a place in the top flight.
Timeline:
Victoria Hotspurs took command of play from the first minutes of the encounter but they found it difficult to create serious scoring opportunities as Sannat’s defence was well deployed and Victoria’s strikers were very often erratic in their final pass and their finishing so that the actions on goal were very rare.
24’ (post) The Hotspurs went very close to opening the score when Lucas Farrugia won the ball inside Sannat’s area and passed to an unmarked Lorenzo Atzori who had his close ranged attempt blocked on the fatal line by Kyle Xuereb and the ball hit the post before the defence cleared the danger from their area.
29’ Victoria’s skipper Shaun Attard had a good shot from outside the area that was saved in two attempts by Sannat’s goalie Kyle Attard.
31’ Sannat had their best opportunity to open the score when Aaron Azzopardi delivered the ball inside Victoria’s area from a free kick but the header by Nicholas Grima ended high.
34’ Sannat’s goalie Kyle Attard was well placed to block a low shot by Lucas Farrugia and from the rebound Etienne Xiberras saw his shot blocked in front of the goalmouth by the defence.
38’ The Citizens were again dangerous through a shot from a good position by Wellington Valentim De Souza but the ball ended high.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
The Hotspurs continued to dominate pay after the resumption and increased their efforts in an attempt to break the deadlock. Victoria opened the score at an early stage and for the remaining minutes, they controlled Sannat’s reaction and scored a second goal that put their minds at rest from another win in the campaign.
11’ (1-0) The Citizens opened the score when Shaun Attard delivered the ball in front of Sannat’s goal from a free kick and Wellington Valentim De Souza surprised the defence and headed in goal from close distance.
14’ The same Wellington Valentim De Souza could have doubled their lead when he passed inside Sannat’s area but his low drive aimed towards the opposite corner shaved the post and ended wide.
18’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous when Wellington Valentim De Souza released Lorenzo Atzori but the latter saw his low shot that ended just wide.
24’ Sannat goalie Kyle Attard was again called to make a difficult save to block a good shot from inside the area by Lorenzo Atzori.
28’ The same goalkeeper made another important intervention when he saved two attempts of a strike from outside the area by Lorenzo Atzori.
30’ Sannat could have capitalised better when Boubacar Kanta headed towards the goalmouth from a corner kick by Aaron Azzopardi but Tristen Agius headed badly from close distance and the defence cleared the danger.
33’ Victoria’s Wellington Valentim De Souza entered Sannat’s area with a personal action but goalie Kyle Attard had good timing and took the ball from the striker with an effective intervention.
35’ Sannat had their best chance to score the equaliser through a header by Boubacar Kanta following a cross from the right by Eric Gauci but goalie Kyle Barbara saved the danger.
36’ (2-0) The Hotspurs punished their opponents for the missed chance and made sure of the win by scoring the second goal that arrived through a shot on the run by Lorenzo Atzori following a cross from the left flank by Wellington Valentim De Souza.
40’ Victoria were again dangerous through a close-ranged shot by Wellington Valentim De Souza that was saved to a corner by Sannat’s keeper Kyle Attard.
45+2’ Victoria’s goalie Kyle Barbara denied Sannat from scoring a consolation goal when he saved in two attempts a good shot by Boubacar Kanta.
FT (VH 2 – SL 0)
Referee: Jude Amin Utulu
Assistant Referees: Denis Kadri, Paula Buttigieg
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