Oratory retain hopes to avoid the drop with a dramatic win

5 April 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 19) Gozo Stadium

Ghajnsielem FC : 1

Oratory Youths Ajax FC : 2

40’ (1-0) penalty Bruno Da Cruz

73’ (1-1) Rafael Conrado Prudente

90+4’ (1-2) o.g. Eriks De Souza Santos Pereira

Ghajnsielem:

G. Parnis, M. Ciangura, Al. Xuereb, B. Da Cruz, N.I. Belhadj, Ant. Xuereb, G. Emmanuel, E. De Souza Santos Pereira, W. Hili, E. Grozdanov (K. Hili 68), C.H. Da Silva Barbosa.

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, P. Rapa (O. Curmi 84), K. Farrugia, J. Buttigieg, L.B. Coca, A. Azzopardi, R.C. Prudente, R. Saliba, H. Muscat (A. Sultana 75), L.G. Santos Silva, R. Almeida Lopes.

Oratory Youths obtained three precious points from a 2-1 win over Ghajnsielem so that they moved away from the bottom of the table and re-opened the chances to retain their first division status for another season.

The match between Ghajnsielem and Oratory was well contested.  For most of the encounter, Ghajnsielem seemed in a position to obtain the point they needed to make sure that they would mathematically ally avoid the bottom place on the table, but Oratory had a determined reaction to come out of a difficult phase of the match and managed to turn a defeat into a win, with the decisive goals scored in the last action of the encounter.

The outcome of this encounter, therefore, rewards Oratory’s character who did not throw the towel despite the desperate situation, and at the same time, it punishes Ghajnsielem for some overconfidence expressed during the second period where they could have consolidated the lead which they earned with a goal scored before the end of the first half.  With this result, the relegation issue remains open for four teams who are all struggling for points in the remaining two Match-Days of the championship.

Photo: Anthony Cassar

Timeline:

Ghajnsielem seemed in a better shape during the opening stages and produced some potential opportunities which could have created more danger.  The Youths started to share play as time passed by and the match became more interesting.  However, the Blacks managed to take the break with a one-goal lead scored from a penalty a few minutes away from the end of the first half.

11’ Ghajnsielem’s Bruno Da Cruz had a shot from outside that was neutralised easily by Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli.

13’ The same Bruno Da Cruz once again had a weak shot and goalie Angelo Brignoli saved without difficulty.

14’ Oratory’s goalie was at the right place to block an attempt from outside the area by Naim Ibrahim Belhadj, after receiving from Bruno Da Cruz.

15’ Ghajnsielem kept insisting with shots from outside the area but Bruno Da Cruz saw his strike that was saved in two attempts by Oratory’s keeper Angelo Brignoli.

16’ Oratory had their first attempt towards Ghajnsielem’s goal through a header by Rafael Conrado Prudente but the ball ended wide.

18’ Ghajnsielem’s Henrique Da Silva Barbosa had a good shot that was saved in two attempts by Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli. 

19’ (protests for penalty) Oratory protested for a penalty when Rian Almeida Lopes tried to pass inside Ghajnsielem’s area but ended on the floor.

26’ (crossbar) Ghajnsielem’s goalie Gabriel Parnis saved with the aid of the crossbar a corner kick by Andre Azzopardi and from the resultant melee the defence managed to clear the danger as Oratory’s strikers failed to capitalise on the situation.

36’ (goal disallowed) Oratory’s Rafael Conrado Prudente had a header that ended in the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

39’ (1-0) penalty Ghajnsielem were awarded a penalty for a foul by Luis Gabriel Santos Silva on Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa and  Bruno Da Cruz fired in goal his shot from the penalty spot.

45’ (crossbar) Oratory had an immediate reaction and was dangerous when a free kick by Andre Azzopardi arrived at Luis Gabriel Santos Silva but the latter saw his header hit the crossbar.

HT (1-0)

Second Half

Oratory came out for the second period determined to recover the deficit while Ghajnsielem tried to protect their one-goal lead and they rarely threatened Oratory’s rear guard.  Oratory managed to achieve their objective with the decisive goal that was scored with the last move before the final whistle.

6’ (crossbar) Oratory went very close to scoring but a shot from a long distance by Ryan Saliba was stopped by the crossbar.

10’ The Youths could have created more danger when Rafael Conrado Prudente delivered an inviting cross from the left flank but the shot on the run by Joshua Buttigieg missed the target.

12’ Ghajnsielem replied with an attempt from a freekick by Bruno Da Cruz but the ball got deflected by the defence to a corner.

14’ (protests for penalty) Oratory protested for a penalty when Rian Almeida Lopes ended up on the floor inside the area as he tried to pass Ghajnsielem’s defence but ended up being cautioned for simulation.

23’ Ghajnsielem’s goalie Gabriel Parnis neutralised without difficulty a shot by Andre Azzopardi.

25’ Oratory’s Rian Almeida Lopes had a good effort that got a deflection and the ball ended in a corner.

28’ (1-1) Oratory scored the equaliser when Andre Azzopardi’s free kick arrived to Rafael Conrado Prudente who headed in a goal from close distance.

34’ Oratory kept insisting and was dangerous through a shot by Paul Rapa that was neutralised by Ghajnsielem’s goalie Gabriel Parnis.

45+4’ (1-2) Oratory clinched the win when Leonardo Bruno Coca released Rian Almeida Lopes on the left-hand side of the area and Ghajnsielem’s central defender Eriks De Souza Santos Pereira hit badly in an attempt to clear Almeida’s low cross-shot from the goalmouth and committed an own goal.

FT (GHJ 1 – OY 2)

Referee: Slawomir Olucha

Asst. Referees: Paul Apap, Raymond Tabone

Photo: Anthony Cassar