22 December 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 9) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 0
Nadur Youngsters FC : 2
41’ (0-1) Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
85’ (0-2) Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, Jsm. Vella, J.M. Vella, D. Bugeja (M. Bonnici 83), Josih. Buttigieg (R. Buttigieg 59), Jshu. Buttigieg, G. Hili, S. Cassar, C.D. Frances (J. Farrugia 71), B.A. Parada, E. De Sousa Santos.
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, I. De Jesus De Santana, M. Mercieca (B. Said 11; L. Buttigieg 90+2), D. Pires Dall’Oca (M. Gauci 90+2), A.G. Castro Martins, J. Zammit, O.P. Bugeja, G. Farrugia (J. Xerri 89), I. Xuereb, G. Muscat, O.G. Fernandes.
Nadur Youngsters scored a goal near the end of each half in the main match from Match-Day 9 against Xewkija Tigers, to earn three important points which puts them in a position to challenge the current leaders of the table.
The match between Nadur and Xewkija was a direct clash between the two sides who were sharing the second place and they both had the pressure to obtain a win to retain a reasonable 5-point gap from the leaders. Nadur seemed more motivated and was in control of the play for most of the ninety minutes. On the other hand, Xewkija were forced to defend with many players and struggled to produce within Nadur’s area.
With this result, Nadur recovered from the difficulties in the campaign and re-opened their chances to be in a position to defend the title which they won in the last season. The main protagonist in this important win for Nadur was the Portuguese striker Andre Gabriel Castro Martins who scored the two goals that decided the issue.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Nadur held more of the initiative for most of the first period but Xewkija were well organised in their defence and made it difficult for their opponents to create danger, so the match did not produce much serious scoring opportunities. Nadur managed to take a deserved lead before the break as Xewjkija tried to produce an immediate reaction before the break.
1’ The match was suspended for around ten minutes as Xewkija’s Josiah Buttigieg and Nadur’s Matthias Mercieca needed medical assistance following a challenge in the midfield during eh first minute of play.
20’ Xewkija had an opportunity through a free kick by Claudio Daniel Frances but the ball ended high.
30’ Nadur had their first serious attempt towards Xewkija’s goal through a free kick by Pires Dall’Oca but the ball ended over the crossbar
41’ (0-1) Nadur opened the score when Owen Peter Bugeja delivered a cross from the left flank and Andre Gabriel Castro Martins netted with a fine header from close distance.
44’ Xewkija had an immediate reaction and went close to level the score but a shot by Denzil Bugeja was weak and from the short clearance by the defence the effort by Brian Alejandro Parad was cleared from the goalmouth by defender Ian Xuereb.
45+10’ Xewkija could have created more danger but a first-timer by Stefan Cassar following a corner action missed the target.
HT (0-1)
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Second Half
Xewkija’s reaction after the break was sterile and at the same time they also conceded some space in their defensive territory so that Nadur took advantage and became more dangerous with counter breaks.
3’ Nadur were dangerous through a strike by Castro Martins but the ball ended just wide.
5’ Xewkija’s first attempt towards Nadur’s goal of the second period arrived through a shot by Claudio Daniel Frances that was saved without difficulty by goalie Steve Sultana.
11’ Nadur went very close to double their lead following a counter break but Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin kept his side in contention by saving two consecutive shots by Castro Martins and Gabriel Farrugia.
16’ Nadur were again dangerous following another counter break but a shot by Pires Dall’Oca after receiving from Castro Martins missed the target.
17’ (post) Nadur were also unlucky when a fine shot by substitute Brandon Said was stopped by the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
19’ The Youngsters missed another good opportunity to extend their lead when Pires Dall’Oca delivered a cross from the right flank but the header by Castro Martins ended wide.
23’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was called to make another decisive intervention when he left his position in time to block an effort by Brandon Said who was released by Joseph Zammit.
24’ Xewkija could have created more danger but substitute Rodney Buttigieg was hit badly from a cross by Joseph Mario Vella, and Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana saved without difficulty.
27’ Nadur went again close to scoring their second goal but a first-timer by Pires Dall’Oca following a cross from the left by Owen Peter Bugeja ended wide.
28’ In another dangerous action by Nadur a lob by Castro Martins when the goalkeeper was out of his position, ended wide.
40’ (0-2) Nadur practically made sure of the win by scoring their second goal that arrived when Brandon Said delivered a cross from the right flank, a header by Gabriel Fernandes hit the crossbar and from the rebound, Andre Gabriel Castro Martins netted with a close range header.
45’ (post) Xewkija could have reduced the score but a header by Stefan Cassar following a cross by substitute Julian Farrugia got the post.
FT (XT 0 – NY 2)
Referee: Andrea Naudi
Asst. Referees: James Muscat, Rapjan Xhyra
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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