Qala maintain the perfect start with a win over Oratory

12 September 2024

BOV GFA Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 2) Gozo Stadium

Oratory Youths FC : 0

Qala Saints FC: 4

34’ (0-1) Kevin Farrugia

65’ (0-2) Ezekiel Eduardo Ruiz

83’ (0-3) Igor Nedeljkovic

90’ (0-4) Igor Nedeljkovic

Oratory Y:

A. Brignoli, C. Cardona (C. Vella 67), S. Attard, I. Zarb, K. Saliba (D. Saliba 71), C. Caruana (G. Ellis 85),  A. Refalo (R. Portelli 85), V.G. Soarez Souza, L.G. Santos Silva, M.V. Do Prado (J. Xerri 85), R. Almeida Lopes.

Qala S:

O. Attard, N. Inguanez (G. Cardona 62), Jsph. Buttigieg (S. Curmi 82), J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos, K. Farrugia (P. Rapa 71), C. Mercieca, E.E Ruiz, E. Buttigieg, J. Parnis, N.C. Njoku (A.M. Bustos 71), I. Nedeljkovic.

Qala Saints registered their second consecutive win from as many matches in the championship by defeating Oratory Youths with a 4-0 score.  Qala continued to express effective play which puts them among the hot favourites to challenge for the main honour.

In this match, Qala held territorial supremacy throughout the 90 minutes and the outcome was practically decided midway through the second half when the Maroons extended their lead.  Qala are making very good use of their experience as they manage to handle some difficult moments without losing their concentration so that they get rewarded for their strong organisation and their insistence in attack.

Oratory came for this encounter to make up for the heavy defeat conceded in their opening match of the championship but they only managed to resist for the first half hour of play.  As time passed by the Youths became demoralised and were also punished by their more quoted opponents with two late goals.

Photo: Anthony Cassar

Timeline:

Qala as expected took command of play from the first minutes of the encounter but Oratory were organised at their defence and made it very difficult for their opponents to create danger.  The Maroons however kept insisting and managed to take the lead just after the half-hour mark so that they were released from the pressure and started to control Oratory’s sterile reaction with authority.

6’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was called to make a good save to block a shot by Igor Nedeljkovic following a personal action.

18’ The same goalkeeper made another important intervention to save a close-range header by Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dios Santos following a free kick by Ezekiel Eduardo Ruiz.

31’ Qala’s Igor Nedeljkovic was denied from scoring by Oratory’s goalie who managed to block a close-range attempt by the Serbian striker following a cross from the left flank by Ezekiel Eduardo Ruiz.

34’ (0-1) Qala’s efforts were rewarded as they put their heads in front with a goal that arrived through a low shot from outside the area by Kevin Farrugia that ended out of the reach of Oratory’s goalie.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

Oratory tried to produce a reaction during the second period but Qala was determined to keep control of the play so Oratory found it very difficult to create pressure on Qala’s defence.  As time passed by the 

2’ Oratory had their first serious attempt towards Qala’s goal that arrived through a fine strike from long distance by Matheus Vinicius Do Prado that was blocked with some difficulty by Qala’s goalie Owen Attard.

4’ Qala replied with a personal action by Igor Nedeljkovic but the attempt by the striker was partially saved by Oratory’s keeper Angelo Brignoli.  From the resultant action, the ball arrived to Ezekiel Eduardo Ruiz who had his low shot from outside the area that was well saved by goalie Brignoli.

20’ (0-2) The Maroons doubled their lead following an initiative by Igor Nedeljkovic, who entered Oratory’s area from the right flank, and from his low pass, Ezekiel Eduardo Ruiz concluded in goal with a low drive as the goalkeeper was already beaten.

22’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli denied Qala from adding another goal when he turned to a corner with difficult a fine shot by Igor Nedeljkovic.

30’ (post) Qala went very close to increasing their lead when Igor Nedeljkovic entered Oratory’s area but his low shot was stopped by the base of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

38’ (0-3) Qala’s Igor Nedeljkovic managed to find a way to put his name among the scorers and added another goal for his side with a shot on the run from close distance following a cross from the right flank by substitute Gabriel Cardona..

45’ (0-4) The same Igor Nedeljkovic sealed the win by scoring the fourth goal that arrived through a tap-in following an inviting pass by Jordi Parnis.

FT (OY 0 – QS 4)

Referee: Emanuel Grech

Asst. Referees: Slawomir Olucha,

Photo: Anthony Cassar