11 October 2024
BOV GFA Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 5) Gozo Stadium
Nadur Youngsters FC : 1
Xaghra United FC : 0
72’ (red card) Sam Frank Bajada (XU)
83’ (red card) Michael Bezzina (XU)
90+4’ (1-0) Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, I. De Jesus De Santana, M. Mercieca, D. Pires Dall’Oca, A.G. Castro Martins, J. Zammit, O.P. Bugeja, G. Farrugia (B. Said 75), I. Xuereb, G. Muscat, O.G. Fernandes.
Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, L. Farrugia (S. Galea 81), M. Bezzina, J.A. Castano, D. Andelovic, M. Mamo, A. Bozovic, F.J. Xuereb, S.F. Bajada, J. Vella (C. Camilleri 74), J.Y. Suzuki Bicudo.
In the first match from Match-Day 5 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, Nadur Youngsters registered their first win of the campaign by defeating Xaghra United with a 1-0 score. With these three points, Nadur moved away from the red zone and made up for the disappointing start in the championship. On the other hand with this result, Xaghra dropped their first points in the campaign following a stretch of three consecutive wins so they also missed the opportunity to stay within reach of the leaders Qala Saints.
The match turned out to be well-contested as the two sides tried to take command of the play. However, Xaghra confirmed their good moment of form by neutralising Nadur’s initiative during most of the first half and threatening their opponents with effective breaks. Xaghra were undoubtedly the better side during the opening stages of the second half but compromised much of their chances to obtain their fourth win during the last phase of the encounter as they ended up playing with nine players when two of their players received the second caution. On the other hand, Nadur showed character in this match as they kept insisting despite the difficulties that they encountered and took advantage of the extra players on the field of play to come out from their defence and became more adventurous.
The final moments of the encounter became much more exciting as Xaghra seemed holding to the goalless draw, and also created at least one potential scoring opportunity where they could have obtained the win with nine players, while Nadur kept pushing forward and ended up scoring the decisive goal few seconds from the end of stoppage time.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
For most of the first period play was contested but the defensive department of the two teams prevailed over the respective strikers so that the serious scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field were rare.
9’ Nadur created the first attempt on goal of the encounter through an effort by Matthias Mercieca, following a cross from the right flank by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes, but goalie Lorjean Xuereb was well-placed and blocked the danger.
14’ (protests for penalty) Xaghra protested for a penalty when Lucas Farrugia ended up on the floor inside Nadur’s area as he tried to pass his direct opponent.
23’ Xaghra’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb was called to make two difficult interventions to clear two dangerous crosses shot by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes and Diego Pires Dall’Oca.
33’ Nadur could have capitalised better when Xaghra’s defence cleared badly and the ball arrived to Diego Pires Dall’Oca who concluded badly and his attempt was easily saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.
37’ (protests for penalty) Nadur protested for a penalty as Andre Gabriel Castro Martins and Matthias Mercieca both ended on the floor inside Xaghra’s area as they tried to gain possession inside Xaghra’s area.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
Xaghra were more adventurous from the early stages of the second period as they took advantage of the wind blowing in their favour and kept pressure on Nadur’s defence. Xaghra however were often erratic in their finishing and on other occasions, Nadur’s goalie denied the strikers from scoring with some important interventions. During the final stages, Xaghra suffered a setback as they had two players sent off in the space of ten minutes so the final minutes of play became much more exciting and it was not surprising that the encounter was decided with a goal scored seconds from the end of the encounter.
7’ Xaghra missed a good opportunity to open the score when Johan Alberto Castano defended a good ball inside Nadur’s area but his low shot was well blocked by Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana. From the rebound, the ball arrived to Lucas Farrugia who saw his header that ended high.
11’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana was again called to make another important intervention to block with some difficulty a strike by Xaghra’s Johan Alberto Castano.
13’ Xaghra once again threatened Nadur’s defence through a lob from a long distance by Damir Andelovic, who saw Nadur’s goalie out of his position, but the ball ended wide.
22’ Xaghra tried to surprise their opponents with a long-range free kick but the shot by Julian Yoiti Suzuki missed the target.
24’ Nadur replied with a good attempt by Joseph Zammit following a free kick but Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb was well placed and neutralised the danger.
27’ (red card) Xaghra ended up playing with ten players as Sam Frank Bajda was sent off after receiving the second yellow card for handling the ball in the midfield.
34’ Nadur went very close to taking the lead when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins took a through ball from long distance but his drive aimed towards the far post ended just wide.
38’ (red card) Xaghra were reduced to nine players as Michael Bezzina was sent off for a second bookable offence committed just outside his area on substitute Brandon Said.
39’ Nadur tried to capitalise immediately from the two extra players but the shot from the resultant free kick by Joseph Zammit ended just over the crossbar.
45’ Xaghra missed a good opportunity to score a dramatic goal as Damir Andelovic entered Nadur’s area from the right flank but from his low pass, Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo had his shot that was blocked by the defence.
45+1’ Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb saved the result for his side when he blocked a good header by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes from an unmarked position.
45+3’ Nadur’s keeper Steve Sultana recovered his position in time and managed to neutralise a lob from the midfield by Damir Andelovic.
45+4’ (1-0) Nadur managed to clinch the win when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins received the ball at the edge of Xaghra’s area, released himself from his direct opponent and fired a fine strike that ended out of the reach of Xaghra’s keeper.
FT (NY 1 – XU 0)
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara
Asst. Referees: David Castillo, Paul Apap
Photo: Anthony cassar
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