21 April 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 21) Gozo Stadium
Nadur Youngsters FC : 4
SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 0
19’ (1-0) Stefan Cassar
40’ (2-0) penalty Marcelo Barbosa
69’ (3-0) Stefan Cassar
90+2’ (4-0) Joseph Xerri
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos, I. Xuereb, M. Pereira Muniz (B. Said 80), J.M. Vella, J. Zammit, M. Barbosa (M. Said 77), S. Cassar (J. Xerri 88), G. Hili, K. Grima (K. Hili 88), J.V. De Oliveira Florencio.
SK Victoria W:
A. Parnis, A. Refalo, K. Mercieca (A. Touarha 46), M.V. Claudino Ramos (Choco) (M. Gafa 70), J. Conceicao Cabral, E. Zammit (K. Lupi Spencer 46), C.S. Souza Da Silva (J. Xuereb 62), N. Grech, G. Farrugia (N. Camilleri 70), J. Saliba, N. Vella.
Nadur Youngsters took full advantage of the points dropped by their rivals Qala Saints and obtained the three points they needed in the last match of the championship from a 4-0 win over SK Victoria Wanderers who were already sure of the third place in the final standings. Nadur dominated the match against SK Victoria Wanderers and earned the full points at stake by scoring two goals in each half.
Nadur therefore ended the championship as sole leaders with two points more than Qala Saints and were crowned champions for the third time in a row, the fourth title in the last five years (since one championship was cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions) and for the 15th time in their club history.
Nadur’s success this season was hard-earned as they had a strong challenge from Qala Saints and the league could have needed a decider to determine the winner. In the end, Nadur showed more experience than their rivals as the Youngsters managed to keep at the top positions throughout the championship, recovered each time that they suffered unexpected setbacks and above all did not miss out on the golden opportunity during the crucial last Match-Day and managed to obtain a convincing win which made all the difference. The honour for Nadur Youngsters is also a deserved reward for the efforts of the administration who had various changes from the previous season, which also included a change of the technical staff where their new coach Elton Vella managed to lead his competitive team to be challenger in all competitions in local football. Nadur ended the championship with the best defensive department by conceding just 16 goals in 21 matches and the best attack where they scored 55 goals by eleven different players. Their striker Marcelo Barbosa ended up the top scorer of the first division league for the third consecutive season with 22 goals.
After the match, Nadur Youngsters were presented with medals and the trophy as champions of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division by Ms Charmaine Borg, Manager of the Bank of Valletta for Gozo, and the President of the Gozo Football Association Dr Samuel Azzopardi together with other GFA officials among the celebrations by Ndur’s players, staff and supporters.
Timeline:
Nadur were very aggressive throughout the first period and paved the way to the win by taking a two-goal lead. The Wanderers were forced to defend with many players and as a result, their offensive play was weak and they created danger to Nadur’s defence.
3’ Nadur could have scored an early goal but a header by Marcelo Pereira Muniz following a cross by Marcelo Barbosa ended wide.
11’ The Youngsters were again dangerous through a shot by Stefan Cassar from a good position but the ball ended wide.
13’ Nadur‘s Marcelo Barbosa went very close to put his side in the lead but his attempt towards the far post missed the target.
19’ (1-0) Nadur opened the score when Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio released Stefan Cassar who entered the area and netted with a low shot as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.
21’ Nadur were again dangerous when Marcelo Barbosa passed to Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio but the latter saw his attempt that was well saved by Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis.
27’ The Wanderers replied with a strike by Joseph Saliba following a personal action but the ball ended over the crossbar.
30’ Nadur’s Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio had a good shot from an angled position that ended wide.
31’ The Youngsters went again close to scoring another goal when Stefan Cassar passed to Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio but the latter saw his attempt that was blocked with a difficult intervention by Victoria’s goalie and the defence cleared the danger from the area.
32’ Nadur’s Marcelo Barbosa had a good shot following a personal action but the ball ended high.
33’ Victoria continued to concede pressure from their opponents and the Youngsters went again close to adding another goal when Marcelo Barbosa released Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio who saw his low drive aimed towards the far post that was stopped by the post and from the rebound Marcelo Barbosa’s shot ended on the side of the net.
39’ (2-0) penalty Nadur doubled their lead when Marcelo Barbosa once again passed to Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio inside Victoria’s area, the latter had his close-ranged attempt that was partially saved by goalie Adrian Parnis and from the rebound, the same goalkeeper committed a foul on Marcelo Pereira Muniz so that the referee ordered a penalty which was converted by Marcelo Jr Barbosa.
45+1’ Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis denied Nadur from scoring another goal when he managed to block an effort by Marcelo Barbosa after receiving from Marcelo Pereira Muniz.
HT (2-0)
Second Half
For the second period, Nadur came out with the intention to administer their lead so that the Wanderers came out of their defence on more occasions but they failed to capitalise on some potential scoring opportunities. The Youngsters however continued to enjoy supremacy, scored a third goal that put their minds at rest from the title and sealed the positive performance with a fourth goal during stoppage time.
2’ Victoria’s goalie was well placed and blocked a good effort by Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio following an initiative by Stefan Cassar.
13’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana made an important intervention to save a corner an attempt from a free kick by Victoria’s Ciaque Silvio Souza Da Silva.
14’ The Wanderers went again close to reduce the deficit but a header by Junior Conceicao Cabral following a cross by Marcos Vinicius Claudino Ramos ended high.
24’ (3-0) Nadur practically starts their celebrations of the title with the third goal that arrived through a close-ranged timer by Stefan Cassar following a cross from the right flank by Joseph Zammit.
29’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana was in the right place and neutralised without difficulty an overhead kick by Victoria’s substitute Kyle Lupi Spencer.
39’ Nadur went very close to scoring another goal when Joao Vitor De Oliveira Florencio passed inside Victoria’s area but from his inviting pass, substitute Brandon Said had his attempt cleared off the fatal line by Victoria’s defender Adam Refalo.
44’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana denied the Citizens a consolation goal when he first turned to a corner and effort by Junior Conceicao Cabral and he also managed to save the attempt directly from the corner kick by substitute Melchiore Gafa.
45+2’ (4-0) Nadur’s celebrations during the final moments were complemented by the fourth goal as Victoria’s defence failed to clear the ball from the danger area and substitute Joseph Xerri took advantage and netted from close distance.
FT (NY 4 – SKVW 0)
Referee: Darryl Agius
Asst. Referees: David Castillo, Paul Apap
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