4 October 2024
BOV GFA Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 4) Gozo Stadium
Xaghra United FC : 3
Oratory Youths FC: 1
45+3’ (1-0) Lucas Farrugia
56’ (2-0) Aleksa Brozovic
60’ (3-0) Michael Bezzina
70’ (3-1) Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza
Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, L. Farrugia (C. Camilleri 79), M. Bezzina, J.A. Castano, D. Andelovic, M. Mamo (G. Debono 68), A. Bozovic, F.J. Xuereb, S.F. Bajada (S. Galea 68), J. Vella, J.Y. Suzuki Bicudo (S. Sultana 79).
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, C. Cardona (R. Portelli 9, A. Zammit 71), S. Attard (G. Ellis 87), I. Zarb, C. Caruana (J. Xerrti 71), A. Refalo, C. Vella (D. Saliba 46), V.G. Soarez Souza, L.G. Santos Silva, M.V. Do Prado, R. Almeida Lopes.
Xaghra United secured their third consecutive win with a commanding 3-1 victory over Oratory Youths. With this result, Xaghra’s extended their good moment of form which places them in a strong position as they challenge for the top spot, while Oratory Youths will need to find a way to bounce back and become more competitive as the season progresses.
Despite dominating possession, Xagħra had to wait until the final moments of the first half to break the deadlock, with a crucial goal that set the tone for the rest of the match. After the break, Xagħra continued to display the better play, adding two more goals to confirm their dominance. Oratory Youths, so far struggling throughout the campaign, found it difficult to keep up and suffered their third straight defeat. While they did manage to score their first goal of the season, it wasn’t enough to change the course of the match, leaving them still rooted at the bottom of the table without a point.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Play during the first half was quite balanced as the two teams were determined to obtain the win. As time passed by Xaghra’s efforts became more dangerous and their efforts were rewarded seconds from half time when they managed to capitalise from some hesitation by Oratory’s defence.
5’ (post) Oratory went very close to taking the lead when Mattheus Vinicius Do Prado won the ball from Xaghra’s defence and released himself from the goalkeeper who was out of his position but his low shot aimed towards an open goal was stopped by the post.
15’ Xaghra could have created more danger when Jack Vella entered Oratory’s area front the right flank and from his low cross Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo’s first timer ended over the crossbar.
17’ Xaghra went closer to score as Johan Alberto Castano’s shot from close distance following a low cross from the left flank by Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo was stopped from crossing the fatal line with an important intervention by goalie Angelo Brignoli.
21’ (protests for penalty) Oratory protested for a penalty as Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza ended up on the floor inside Xaghra’s area as he tried to pass his direct opponent.
35’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was well placed and neutralised without difficulty a low shot from outside the area by Julian Yoiti Suzuji Bicudo.
44’ The same goalkeeper made another important intervention to save a low shot by Lucas Farrugia following a clearance by Oratory’s defence.
45+2’ Xaghra were again dangerous through a shot from outside the area by Damir Andelovic that ended over the crossbar.
45+3’ (1-0) Xaghra managed to open the score just before half time when Oratory’s defence cleared badly a cross by Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo and the ball arrived to an unmarked Lucas Farrugia who deposited easily in goal.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
Xaghra maintained their momentum from the early stages of the second half and started to dominate over their opponents so that they scored two more goals by the hour mark and put the score beyond the reach of the opponents.
8’ Xaghra’s Lucas Farrugia went close to adding another goal but his attempt from an angled position was blocked to a corner by goalie Angelo Brignoli.
11’ (2-0) Xaghra doubled their lead when Damir Andelovic delivered the ball inside the area from a long-range free kick. Aleksa Bozovic surprised Oratory’s defence and headed in goal from a close distance.
15’ (3-0) Xaghra added another goal that arrived through a curling shot from an angled position by Michael Bezzina that ended out of the reach of Oratory’s goalie.
25’ (3-1) Oratory managed to reduce the deficit when the Xaghra goalkeeper and the defence hesitated to neutralise the ball at the edge of their area and Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza took possession, resisted the challenge of his direct opponent and placed in goal from close distance.
28’ The Youths could have created more danger following a prolonged action within Xaghra’s territory. Still, in the end, the shot from outside the area by Mattheus Vinicius Do Prado ended wide.
31’ Oratory increased their efforts to re-open the issue and were dangerous when a low shot by Rian Almeida Lopes ended wide.
FT (XU 3 – OY 1)
Referee: Emanuel Grech
Asst. Referees: Slawomir Olucha, Darko Stankovic
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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