13 October 2024
BOV GFA Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 5) Gozo Stadium
Ghajnsielem FC : 2
Qala Saints FC : 4
14’ (0-1) Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz
55’ (1-1) Joseph Onyeka Ezigbo
64’ (1-2) Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz
74’ (2-2) penalty Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos (Choco)
83’ (2-3) Christian Mercieca
87’ (2-4) Christian Mercieca
Ghajnsielem:
L. Buttigieg, H. Muscat (T. Sciberrs 67), Al. Xuereb, D.D. Torres Quinones, K. Hili (P. Vella 81), M.V. Claudino Ramos (Choco), I. Belhadj (K. Bajada 67), J. Tabone, J.O. Ezigbo, N.I. Belhadj, D. Hili.
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez, Jsph. Buttigieg, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos, K. Farrugia (A.M. Bustos 57), C. Mercieca, E.E Ruiz, Emm. Buttigieg, G. Cardona (J. Parnis 62), N.C. Njoku (P. Rapa 88), I. Nedeljkovic.
Qala Saints took full advantage of the results of the other matches in Match-Day 5 and obtained three points from a 4-2 win over Ghajnsielem so they are now five points clear from their closest rivals. This was Qala’s fifth win in a row in the campaign which consolidates their ambition to become champions of the Gozitan football for the first time in the club’s history.
This match turned out to be one of the most entertaining matches so far in the championship as Qala continued to express effective play but Ghajnsielem seemed determined to recover from three consecutive defeats and were practically in contention until the last few minutes of regular time. During the first hour of play, Qala tried to impose their superiority but they did not manage to build a comfortable lead so their opponents became dangerous and recovered a one-goal deficit conceded during the opening stages of the encounter. Ghajnsielem also staged a comeback after conceding Qala’s second goal and at some point, the match seemed heading toward a draw the disappointment of some of Qala’s supporters. However, the Maroons lived up to the expectations and scored two late goals in the space of four minutes so that the Blacks did not have time left to save the result. The protagonist for Qala in this win ended up being their young striker Christian Mercieca who netted the two decisive goals of the encounter. With this result, Ghajnsielem remain in second place from the bottom of the table with just one win from their first five matches in the campaign.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Qala as expected came out more aggressive and took the initiative of play from the initial moments of the encounter. The Maroons scored an early goal and continued to dictate matters. Ghajnsielem tried to surprise their more quoted opponents with sporadic breaks but they failed to convert some potential scoring opportunities so they took the break trailing by one goal.
3’ Qala went very close to opening the score when an attempt from a free kick by Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz ended just wide.
11’ Ghajnsielem replied with a low shot by Kenny Hili but the ball ended inches away from the post.
14’ (0-1) Qala broke the deadlock when Gabriel Cardona passed inside Ghajnsielem’s area and from his low pass Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz resisted the intervention by the defence and surprised the goalkeeper with a close-range shot.
22’ Ghajnsielem almost levelled the score but a back-heel by Joseph Onyeka Ezigbo following a pass by Ismael Belhadj got a deflection and the ball ended in a corner.
40’ The Maroons went very close to double the score but a free kick from a long distance by Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz was cleared by goalie Luke Buttigieg and from the rebound, the same goalkeeper blocked a shot from an angled position by Igor Nedeljkovic.
42’ The Blacks had their best opportunity to score the equaliser when the ball arrived at Ismael Belhadj following a shot by Kenney Hili, but his close-range shot was well saved by goalie Owen Attard.
43’ Qala replied with a good shot by Gabriel Cardona but Ghajnsielem’s keeper was placed and blocked the danger.
45+2’ Ghajnsielem had another opportunity to end the first half on a draw but the shot from a free kick by Alberto Xuereb ended high.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
The match after the resumption continued to be well contested as Ghajnsielem increased their efforts and managed to level the score on two occasions while Qala was pushing forward in an attempt to regain the lead.
10’ (1-1) Ghajnsielem scored the equaliser when Qala’s goalie went out of his area in an attempt to clear the ball but lost possession following the pressure by Joseph Onyeka Ezigbo who entered the area and placed in goal with a low drive.
14’ Ghajnsielem were again dangerous through a first-timer from a long distance by Alberto Xuereb following a clearance by the defence but the ball ended wide.
19’ (1-2) Qala recovered from a difficult moment and took the lead for the second time with another goal scored by Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz who surprised Ghajnsielem’s defence with a curling shot after exchanging the ball with substitute Angel Manuel Bustos.
25’ Qala kept insisting and could have created more danger but a curling shot by Christian Mercieca missed the target.
28’ (2-2) penalty Ghajnsielem recovered the deficit when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Nathan Chukwudi Njoku on Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos (Choco) and the same Brazilian midfielder converted his shot from the penalty spot.
31’ (protests for penalty) Ghajnsielem protested for a penalty when Alberto Xuereb ended up on the floor inside Qala’s area as he tried to protect possession despite the challenge from his direct opponent.
38’ (2-3) Qala took the lead for the third time in this match when Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz passed inside Ghajnsielem’s area to Christian Mercieca who followed the action and netted with a tap-in.
42’ (2-4) The Maroons practically sealed the win and put the score beyond the reach of their opponents by scoring the fourth goal through another tap-in by Christian Mercieca who concluded an inviting low pass by Igor Nedeljkovic.
FT (GHJ 2 – QS 4)
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Asst. Referees: Jareth Grima, Paul Apap
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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