10 November 2024
BOV GFA Cup (Q/finals) Kercem Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 1
Kercem Ajax FC: 1
Kercem A win 4-3 on penalties
25’ (0-1) Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos
72’ (1-1) Joshua Buttigieg
87’ (red card) Stefan Cassar (XT)
101’ (red card) Antonio Xuereb (KA)
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, Jsm. Vella, J.M. Vella (Jshu. Buttigieg 59), D. Bugeja, R. Buttigieg (J. Farrugia 33; Josi. Buttigieg 90), G. Hili, S. Cassar, C.D. Frances, B.A. Parada, C. Abela, E. De Sousa Santos.
Kercem A:
D. Spiteri, A. Azzopardi, J. Theuma, R. Saliba, C. Vella, A. Mizzi, A. Xuereb, A. Debrincat, K.L. Nunes Santos, S. Azzopardi, C. Velez Da Silva (D. Depasquale 73).
In the last match from the Quarterfinals of the BOV GFA Cup, second-division side Kercem Ajax earned qualification to the semifinals of the competition by defeating first-division side Xewkija Tigers on penalties.
The match between Xewkija and Kercem ended up being the most contested encounter of this stage of the competition as Kercem Ajax have been dominating the competition of the lower category since the beginning of the season, while Xewkija Tigers were looking to consolidate their success of the previous weekend where they defeated Qala Saints in a match from the quarter-finals of the GFA 1st Division Knock Out competition. With this result, Kercem confirmed their positive run as they are still undefeated in all competitions since the beginning of the 2024/2025 football season, while Xewkija showed that they cannot find consistency in their play and are practically compromised.
The match throughout the regular time and the extra time could have gone either way as Kercem had a better start but as time passed by Xewkija came more into the picture and produced a strong reaction after the break to score a deserved equaliser. The two sides ended the encounter with a player and it was not a surprise that the qualification had to be decided through a penalty shoot-out. Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri ended up the protagonist of this match by saving two penalty shots by Xewkija’s players so that that Ajax cruised to the next round of the competition with a 4-3 win on penalties.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Play during the first half took place mainly in the midfield with few serious scoring opportunities from either side. However, Ajax put their heads in front with a goal that arrived midway through the opening period so that they took the driving seat and neutralised Xewkija’s reaction with authority until the break.
2’ Kercem could have scored an early goal but a header by Samuel Azzopardi from a corner action was cleared to another corner by central defender Eduardo De Sousa Santos.
4’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was well placed and blocked with some difficulty a strike by Christian Vella after receiving from Andrea Debrincat.
25’ (0-1) Kercem took the lead when Andre Azzopardi delivered the ball inside Xewkija’s area from a free kick and Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos surprised the defence and netted with a header towards the far post.
36’ Xewkija replied with a personal initiative by Claudio Daniel Frances who passed inside Kercem’s area but his shot from an angled position was saved in two attempts by goalie Daniel Spiteri.
41’ Xewkija could have created more danger when Stefan Cassar released Denzil Bugeja inside Kercem’s area but the latter hit badly and the ball got flection and ended wide.
44’ Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri made an important intervention to stop a cross by Stefan Cassar which was aimed to an unmarked Julian Farrugia who came on the field of play as a substitute.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
The match became much more exciting after the break as Xewkija increased their efforts in an attempt to recover the deficit while Kercem retained their composure and continued to threaten Xewkija’s rearguard with effective breaks. After Xewkija’s equaliser, the qualification could have been either way.
2’ Kercem were dangerous in the first serious action of the second period when Samuel Azzopardi passed with a personal initiative through Xewkija’s area but the shot by Cesar Velez Da Silva missed the target.
9’ Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri was well placed and saved without difficulty an attempt from a free kick by Claudio Daniel Frances.
12’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner a good shot by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos.
24’ Xewkija could have capitalised better when Julian Farrugia received the ball inside Kercem’s area but the striker hit badly and the ball ended wide.
27’ (1-1) Xewkija managed to clinch the equaliser when Stefan Cassar delivered a cross from the left flank and substitute Joshua Buttigieg concluded in goal with a shot from close distance towards the upper corner.
33’ Xewkija were again dangerous but a hot by Brian Alejandro Parada was deflected to a corner by the defence.
34’ Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri denied Xewkija from scoring with two difficult interventions to block consecutive shots by Stefan Cassar and Julian Farrugia.
35’ The same goalkeeper made another important save as he left his position in time to block an initiative by Brian Alejandro Parada who was released by Joshua Buttigieg.
39’ Kercem missed an opportunity to regain the lead when Andrew Mizzi delivered a low cross towards the goalmouth from the right flank but Samuel Azzopardi failed to connect due to the pressure from his direct opponent.
42’ (red card) Xewkija were reduced to ten players when Stefan Cassar was sent off after receiving the second caution for a foul in the midfield on Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos.
43’ Kercem’s substitute Damian Depasquale had a shot from outside the area but the ball ended over the crossbar.
90+1’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin kept his side in contention when he saved to a corner with difficulty a strike from a good position by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos.
90mins. (1-1)
Extra Time:
1st Half
5’ Kercem went again very close to take the lead for the second time in this match but a shot from a good position by Andrew Mizzi ended high.
6’ Xewkija replied with two consecutive shots as an effort from a free kick by Claudio Daniel Frances was partially saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri and from the rebound Xewkija’s substitute Josiah Buttigieg saw his shot that ended wide.
8’ Xewkija’s goalie was again called to make a difficult save to turn to a corner a shot aimed towards goal by Damian Depasquale.
11’ (red card) Kercem were also reduced to ten players when Antonio Xuereb was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on the goalkeeper.
2nd Half
6’ Xewkija should have created more danger but a shot from close distance by Denzil Bugeja ended away from goal.
6’ Kercem replied with an effort by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos, after receiving from Andrew Mizzi, but the ball ended away from the goal.
8’ Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri was in the right place and neutralised without difficulty a shot from a free kick by Xewkija’s Claudio Daniel Frances.
Penalties:
Xewkija T:
Brian Alejandro Parada (scored), Claudio Daniel Frances (saved), Josmar Vella (saved), Joshua Buttigieg (scored), Eduardo De Sousa Santos (scored)
Kercem A:
Andrew Mizzi (scored), Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos (wide), Andrea Debrincat (scored), Andre Azzopardi (scored), Christian Vella (scored)
FT a.e.t. (XT 1 – KA 1)
Kercem A win 4-3 on penalties
Referee: Vladimir Rizoski
Asst. Referees: Wayne Spiteri, Paula Buttigieg
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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