17 November 2024
GFA 1st Division KO (Q/final) Kercem Stadium
Xaghra United FC: 4
Oratory Youths FC : 0
25’ (red card) Luis Gabriel Santos Silva (OY)
27’ (penalty missed -saved) Johan Alberto Castano (XU)
44’ (1-0) Johan Alberto Castano
58’ (2-0) Damir Andelovic
62’ (3-0) Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo
72’ (4-0) Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo
Xaghra U:
M. Zammit (A. Debono 73), S. Galea, M. Bezzina (C. Galea 77), J.A. Castano (G. Debono 77), C. Camilleri (L. Farrugia 45), S. Sultana, D. Andelovic, M. Mamo, F.J. Xuereb, S.F. Bajada (J. Bajada 73), J.Y. Suzuki Bicudo.
Oratory Y:
J. Vella, S. Attard, R. Portelli (R. Curmi 66), I. Zarb, J. Xerri, C. Vella (A. Refalo 29, C. Cardona 66), C. Saliba (J. Grima 83), D. Saliba (O. Xuereb 66), V.G. Soarez Souza, L.G. Santos Silva, R. Almeida Lopes.
Xaghra United made up for the disappointing defeat conceded in their previous match from the BOV GFA Cup with a fine 4-0 win over Oratory Youths in a match from the quarter-final stage of the GFA 1st Division Knock Out competition. With this qualification to the semifinals of the competition, Xaghra not only confirmed their positive run since the beginning of the season but remains in contention to challenge for one of the main honours in Gozitan football. On the other hand, this result continued to extend Oratory’s difficulty to be competitive in the top flight as they are currently at the bottom of the Championship table without a point from five matches and are also eliminate in the other competitions.
In this match, Oratory seemed serious challengers to Xaghra for more than twenty minutes but they compromised the possibility to obtain the qualification when they were reduced to ten players in 25 minutes. Xaghra failed to convert the penalty awarded from the action that left the Youths with a player less on the field but still took advantage of the extra player and dominated play. Xaghra paved the way to the deserved win with a goal scored just before halftime and sealed the win by scoring three more goals after the break.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Oratory seemed more adventurous during the opening minutes but Xaghra were well organised in their defence and kept their area clear from danger. As time passed by Xaghra came out of their defence and took command of play particularly when they ended up with a player more on the field of play, but the strikers were often erratic and only managed to take the lead just before the end of the half.
8’ (protests for penalty) Oratory protested for a penalty when Vitor Gabriel Soarez Souza ended on the floor inside the area in his attempt to take possession following pressure from Xaghra’s goalie Mattia Zammit and a defender.
14’ Xaghra’s Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo had a shot from a good position but the ball ended away from goal.
17’ (protests for penalty) Xaghra also protested for a penalty when Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo ended up on the floor inside Oratory’s area as he tried to pass his direct opponent.
19’ Xaghra’s goalie Mattia Zammit was well placed and neutralised a header by Sean Attard following a free kick by Luis Gabriel Santos Silva.
21’ Xaghra replied with a good shot by Chris Camilleri that was saved by Oratory’s goalie Jonathan Vella.
25’ (red card) Oratory ended up playing with ten players when the referee awarded a penalty, and central defender Luis Gabriel Santos Silva was shown a red card, for handling the ball on the fatal line to stop the ball from entering in goal following a shot by Michael Bezzina.
27’ (penalty missed – saved) From the resultant penalty, the shot from the penalty spot by Xaghra’s Johan Alberto Castano was saved by Oratory’s goalie Jonathan Vella.
29’ Xaghra tried to make up for the missed opportunity but an effort by Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo ended away from goal.
30’ Oratory’s goalie Jonathan Vella was well placed and neutralised a close-ranged header by Xaghra’s Michael Bezzina from a corner action.
44’ (1-0) Xaghra managed to break the deadlock when Chris Camilleri headed towards the goalmouth and Johan Alberto Castano concluded in goal despite the pressure from his direct opponent.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
Xaghra maintained their momentum after the break and continued to dominate over their opponents so that they also made sure of the qualification by scoring two goals during the opening stages of the second period and administered play until the end of the encounter.
14’ (2-0) Xaghra doubled their lead through a goal scored directly from a free kick by Damir Andelovic that surprised the goalkeeper.
17’ (3-0) Oratory continued to find it very difficult to neutralise Xaghra’s pressure and conceded another goal that arrived through a good shot by Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.
27’ (4-0) Xaghra sealed the win by scoring the fourth goal with a fine shot by Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo following a personal action.
FT (XU 4 – OY 0)
Referee: Anthony Paul Vella
Asst. Referees: Paul Apap, Kieran Mallia
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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