Sannat take the runners-up position with a fine win

20 April 2024

GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 15) Gozo Stadium

Sannat Lions FC : 3

Zebbug Rovers FC : 1

13’ (0-1) Boubacar Kanta

38’ (2-0) Boubacar Kanta

43’ (2-1) Daniel Mesa Pineros

44’ (3-1) James William Meilak

51’ (red card) Pierre Paul Camilleri (ZR)

Sannat L:

K. Attard, J.W. Meilak, K. Xuereb, E. Gauci, N. Grima, D. Borg (M. Mifsud 54), T. Agius, A. Azzopardi, C. Buttigieg, B. Kanta (C. Dingli 84), M. Gauci (C. Gauci 62).

Zebbug R:

L. Camilleri, P. Spiteri, M. Formosa, K. Mifsud, D. Mesa Pineros, H. Paulin, P.P. Camilleri, C. Gafa (O. Saliba 46), N.J. Cini, L. Portelli (B. Camilleri 72), J. Azzopardi.

Sannat Lions made up for their disappointment this season, as they failed to win at least a trophy and also ended up out of contention for the title at an early stage of the campaign, with a fine win over Zebbug Rovers in the last match of the campaign for the two sides.  With this result, Sannat regained the runners-up position and therefore won the right to play the Promotion/Relegation Play-off against the team that ended up at second place from the bottom of the first division.  On the other hand, Zebbug ended this season on a negative note not only because of the defeat conceded in this match but also because they ended at the bottom place on the final standings.

Sannat’s win was well deserved as they saw more of the ball and created more scoring opportunities.  Sannat practically put their minds at rest from the three points with three goals scored during the first period and continued to administer play throughout the second period, when Zebbug tried to produce a reaction despite the fact that they were reduced to ten players.

Timeline:

The two sides came out with the intention to obtain the win for different reasons as Sannat were seeking to end the campaign at the second place on the table while Zebbug needed points to move away from the bottom of the table.  However, as time passed by Sannat took command of the midfield and started to become more dangerous so that they ended the first half with a deserved two-goal lead.

1’ Zebbug’s Harry Paulin went close to scoring an early goal but his shot from a good position ended wide.

10’ Sannat missed a good scoring opportunity when Boubacar Kanata headed towards the goalmouth following a free kick by Aaron Azzopardi but Manuel Gauci incredibly headed over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.

13’ (1-0) Sannat opened the score through a header by Boubacar Kanta following a cross by Cyriel Buttigieg.

17’ Sannat’s Boubacar Kanta could have increased the lead but his final shot following a personal action ended wide.

23’ Sannat’s goalie Kyle Attard denied Zebbug from scoring the equaliser when he saved with some difficulty two consecutive attempts by Daniel Mesa Pineros and Harry Paulin.

38’ (2-0) Sannat doubled their lead with a goal that arrived through a fine shot towards the roof of the net by Boubacar Kanta.

39’ Zebbug went very close to reduce the deficit but a fine header by Daniel Mesa Pineros following a cross from the right flank by Nathan John Cini was turned to a corner with difficulty by Sannat’s goalie Kyle Attard.

43’ (2-1) Zebbug re-opened the issue when they reduced the score through a close-ranged header by Daniel Mesa Pineros following a cross by Harry Paulin.

44’ (3-1) Sannat re-established their two-goal lead through a shot from inside Zebbug’s area by James William Meilak that surprised the defence and the goalkeeper.

HT (3-1)

Second Half

Sannat tried to maintain their momentum after the break but they were often erratic in their finishing and seemed overconfident when Zebbug ended up playing with a playing less so that they did not manage to increase their lead.  Zebbug showed character as they tried hard to reduce the gap from their opponents although they were at a disadvantage with Sannat they missed their best scoring opportunities and left the field of play empty-handed.

6’ (red card) Zebbug suffered a setback when they ended up playing with ten players as Pierre Paul Camilleri was sent off for a foul in the midfield on Boubacar Kanta.

8’ Zebbug’s Harry Paulin ran away from Sannat’s defenders and entered the area but his shot from a good position ended high.

15’ Sannat missed a good opportunity to score another goal when Boubacar Kanta was alone inside Zebbug’s area but his low shot ended wide.

16’ Zebbug’s goalie Leonard Camilleri was well placed and saved with some difficulty a corner shot from close distance by Sannat’s Boubacar Kanta.

20’ (post) The Rovers went very close to reducing the deficit but a low shot by Daniel Mesa Pineros was stopped by the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

29’ Sannat’s goalie Kyle Attard was called to make a good intervention to save another good shot by Daniel Mesa Pineros.

39’ Sannat replied with a cross-shot by Aaron Azzopardi from the right flank that was saved by Zebbug’s goalie Leonard Camilleri

41’ Sannat went again close to scoring another goal when Eric Gauci released Cyriel Buttigieg who entered Zebbug’s area but the latter saw his low shot that was saved to a corner by goalie Leonard Camilleri.

45+2’ Zebbug had their last opportunity to score a second goal but a shot from outside the area by Matthion Formosa ended just wide.

FT (SL 3 – ZR 1)

Referee: Ranald Portelli

Assistant Referees: Reuben Spiteri Delicata, Kankaras Igor