Nadur defend their top position with a handsome win

by | Apr 20, 2024 | 23/24, GFL 1st Div, Match Report, News

14 April 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 20) Gozo Stadium

Kercem Ajax FC : 0

Nadur Youngsters FC : 5

26’ (0-1) Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio

36’ (0-2) Marcelo Jr Barbosa

52’ (0-3) Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio

58’ (0-4) Marcelo Jr Barbosa

63’ (0-5) Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio

Kercem A:

D. Spiteri, D. Cassar, I. Barbosa Da Silva, O.G. Fernandes (C. Attard 62), K.L. Nunes Santos (C. Zammit 82), P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira (K. Attard 82), A. Mizzi, O.P. Bugeja, G. Cardona, K. Formosa (K. Sciberras 62), S. Azzopardi (T. Markovic 73).

Nadur Y:

S. Sultana (Z. Vella 82), J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos (J. Xerri 82), I. Xuereb, M. Pereira Muniz (B. Said 66), J.M. Vella, J. Zammit, M. Barbosa (M. Said 62), S. Cassar, G. Hili (K. Grima 66), G. Muscat, J.V. De Oliveira Florencio.

Nadur Youngsters maintained their ambition to defend the title for another season as they remain on equal points at the top of the table with Qala Saints with the points obtained from a 5-0 win in the last match from Match-Day 20 of the championship.

Nadur had a difficult start in this match as Kercem were more aggressive during the opening stages particularly because the Ajax needed points to move away from the relegation zone.  However, Nadur resisted well to Kercem’s offensive play and managed to take the lead in their first serious attempt towards Kercem’s goal.  The opening goal gave more confidence to Nadur and at the same time demoralised Kercem so that the Youngsters dominated their opponents in the remaining minutes of the match.  Nadur’s Joao Vitor De Oliveira ended up the protagonist for his side by scoring a hat-trick while Nadur’s prolific striker Marcelo Barbosa consolidated his position as the top scorer of the top flight by scoring the two other goals of the encounter.

Timeline:

Kercem came out in better shape during the opening minutes but Nadur soon recovered and as time passed by they took command of the midfield and started to be more adventurous.  Nadur managed to score two goals in the space of ten minutes and for the remaining minutes of the first half they were in a position to administer a comfortable lead.

4’ Kercem produced the first dangerous action of the encounter but a shot by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos was well saved by Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana.

9’ The same goalkeeper made another important intervention to deny Kercem’s Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira from concluding towards the goal following a clearance by the defence.

12’ Nadur produced their first serious attempt towards Kercem’s goal through a header by Marcelo Pereira Muniz following a cross by Marcelo Barbosa but Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri managed to block the danger and from the resultant melee Nadur’s strikers failed to convert and the defence cleared the danger with some difficulty.

25’ Nadur could have created more danger but a shot by Gennaro Hili after receiving from Stefan Cassar was weak and goalie Daniel Spiteri saved without difficulty.

26’ (0-1) Nadur took the lead when Marcelo Ferreira Muniz passed to Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio and the latter passed his direct opponent before concluding in the net with a fine shot from close distance.

36’ (0-2) Nadur doubled their lead when Stefan Cassar released Marcelo Jr Barbosa and the Brazilian striker fired towards the roof of the net from close distance.

HT (0-2)

Second Half

Kercem tried to produce a reaction after the break but they ended up conceding more space at their defence so Nadur capitalised and punished their opponents with three counterbreaks so that Nadur put the score beyond the reach of Ajax at an early stage of the second period.

7’ (0-3) Nadur operated a counter break where Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio ran towards Kercem’s area in a break and ended on the floor following a challenge by his opponents but the defence failed to clear the danger and the ball ended into an open net.           

13’ (0-4) Nadur scored their fourth goal when Marcelo Pereira Muniz unmarked Marcelo Jr Barbosa inside Kercem’s area and the latter placed easily in goal with a low drive.

18’ (0-5) Nadur’s fifth goal arrived through an initiative by Stefan Cassar who took the ball from Kercem’s defence and his pass Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio netted easily with a low shot         

41’ Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri was well placed and saved a free kick by Joseph Mario Vella.

44’ Nadur had their last opportunity to score another goal but substitute Joseph Xerri saw his low shot aimed towards the far post that ended just wide.

FT (KA 0 – NY 5)

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Asst. Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Raiden Psaila

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