25 October 2024
BOV GFA Cup (Prel Rd) Kercem Stadium
Kercem Ajax FC : 6
St Lawrence Spurs FC : 0
28’ (1-0) Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos
39’ (2-0) Cesar Velez Da Silva
44’ (3-0) Andre Azzopardi
49’ (4-0) Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos
65’ (5-0) Andrew Mizzi
67’ (6-0) Cesar Velez Da Silva
Kercem A:
D. Spiteri (G. Mercieca 70), D. Cassar, A. Azzopardi, J. Theuma, C. Cutajar (A. Mizzi 54), R. Saliba (A. Debrincat 54), C. Vella (T. Markovic 70), A. Xuereb, K.L. Nunes Santos, S. Azzopardi, C. Velez Da Silva (L. Sultana 70).
St Lawrence S:
J. Xiberras, J.K. Farrugia (V.J. Saliba 46), N. Haber, E. Bugeja (C. Azzopardi 54), J.M. Portelli (D. Atzori 54), J. Grima (J. Xuereb 54), S. Farrugia, C. Farrugia (D.P. Rapa 63), E.R. Okpokwu, J. Saliba, Ju. Attard.
In the first match from the preliminary round of the BOV GFA Cup, Kercem Ajax continued to express their excellent start to the season with a 6-0 win over St Lawrence Spurs to earn a place in the quarter-final stage of the second most important competition in Gozitan football.
This was a match between the two sides who are currently occupying the top of the table of the second division league, and therefore the encounter was expected to establish the real potential of Kercem and St Lawrence in the category. This was also the second match between Kercem and St Lawrence as they both played against each other in the semi-final match of the 2nd Division Challenge Cup at the beginning of the season, where Ajax registered a 7-0 win. In the end the outcome of this encounter from the Preliminary Round of the BOV GFA Cup confirmed that the Spurs cannot match Kercem at this stage as the latter are currently dominating the competitions in the lower category. During this part of the season, Kercem is expressing a strong deployment, made up of a mix of experienced and young players, which produces effective play with several scoring opportunities, so it is not surprising that Ajax are winning their matches with large margins. In the quarter-final stage of this competition, Kercem will be facing the winner of the match from the preliminary round between first-division sides Xewkija Tigers and Ghajnsielem.
Timeline:
St Lawrence seemed more motivated during the first part of the encounter and during the opening twenty minutes of play they managed to be strong challengers to Kercem. However, the Ajax retained their composure and as time passed by they took command of play and ended the first half with a comfortable three-goal lead.
2’ St Lawrence almost surprised their more quoted opponents but a header by Jake Saliba following a corner kick by James Grima was well saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri.
14’ (goal disallowed) Kercem managed to pass through St Lawrence’s defence for the first time in the match with a move by Cesar Velez Da Silva who netted with a fine shot but the goal was disallowed for an offside.
20’ Kercem were again dangerous from a good break but the shot by Ryan Saliba was blocked by the defence and from the resultant melee, Kercem’s striker failed to conclude towards goal.
28’ (1-0) Kercem opened the score when Andre Azzopardi’s corner kick was headed in goal by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos despite the pressure of other players in front of the goalmouth.
39’ (2-0) The Ajax kept insisting and doubled the score when Cesar Velez Da Silva took the ball from St Lawrence’s defence, avoided his direct opponents and netted with a low drive.
43’ (3-0) penalty St Lawrence continued to suffer pressure and added another goal when they were awarded a penalty for handling by Eman Bugeja and Andre Azzopardi converted his shot from the penalty spot.
HT (3-0)
Second Half
Kercem maintained their momentum from the beginning of the second period while St Lawrence seemed demoralised so that the Ajax made sure of the win by adding three more goals so that the match lost much of its interest during the last part of the encounter.
1’ St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras denied Kercem from adding another goal when he left his position in time to save an effort by Carlos Cutajar who passed through the defence.
2’ The same goalkeeper was well placed and made another important intervention to block a good shot from an ideal position by Jason Theuma.
4’ (4-0) The Ajax increased their lead with a goal that arrived through a good shot by Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos.
20’ (5-0) Kercem continued to put pressure on St Lawrence’s defence and scored the fifth goal when Andrew Mizzi, who came in as a substitute during the second period, arrived on the ball before St Lawrence’s goalie and fired towards goal despite a desperate attempt by the defence to clear the danger.
22’ (6-0) The Ajax kept insisting and added another goal through a fine strike from outside the area by Cesar Velez Da Silva that surprised St Lawrence’s goalie.
FT (KA 6 – SLS 0)
Referee: Anthony Paul Vella
Asst. Referees: Patrick Falzon, Jules Ngangue
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