16 February 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 15) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 3
Oratory Youths FC : 1
5’ (1-0) Brian Alejandro Parada
45’ (1-1) Nicolas Matias Venegas Miranda
56’ (2-1) penalty Brian Alejandro Parada
81’ (3-1) Brian Alejandro Parada
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, J. Axiak (J. Vella 54), Js. Vella, D. Bugeja, Jsih. Buttigieg, Jshu. Buhttigieg
(E. Refalo 87), G. Hili, M. Bonnici (C.D. Frances 46), S. Cassar, B.A. Parada, E. De
Sousa Santos.
Oratory Y:
J. Vella, C. Cardona (R. Portelli 90+1), I. Zarb, D.A. Cuero (C. Saliba 88), D. Saliba, G.
Ellis, N.M. Venegas Miranda, A. Refalo, S. Attard (J. Xerri 67), J.I. Offorzor, R. Almeida
Lopes (R. Curmi 88).
In the first match from the third and final round of the BOV Gozo Football League of the
first division, Xewkija Tigers registered a 3-1 win over bottom-placed Oratory Youths to
consolidate their position outside the red zone. With this result, Xewkija recovered from
a difficult patch where they dropped important points and compromised their hopes to be
among the challengers for the title.
For this match,h Xewkija had some regular players missing due to suspensions and
injuries but they still managed to hold command of play for most of the encounter and
ended up obtaining three deserved points. Xewkija’s protagonist in this match was
once again their Argentinian striker Brian Alejandro Parada scored a hat-trick and
took the lead in the Top-Scorers table for the top flight.
Oratory tried hard to be worthy opponents in their attempt to win the first point in the
campaign and produced their best performance of the season. However, the Youths
lack experience and end up, like in previous matches, committing mistakes during
crucial moments which determine the outcome. In this match, Oratory once again
showed great determination particularly during the first half as they recovered from an
early shock and managed to take the break on level terms with their opponents. The
Youths tried hard to obtain a win during eh second half but they were punished by
Xewkija who scored the goals that decided the issue.
Timeline:
Xewkija came out for the first half with the win d blowing in their favour and for most of
the time they dictated matters and created some good scoring opportunities. Xewkija
took the lead from an early goal and missed their chances to increase their lead so
they allowed Oratory to produce a reaction who scored a deserved equaliser just before
half-time.
5’ (1-0) Xewkija opened the score with a goal that arrived directly from a free kick by
Brian Alejandro Parada surprised Oratory’s goalie.
14’ Xewkija could have added another goal when Parada released Joshua Buttigieg
inside Oratory’s area but the latter saw his attempt that was blocked by the defence.
17’ Oratory’s goalkeeper Jonathan Vella was in the right place and saved an attempt
from a free kick by Stefan Cassar.
20’ (crossbar) Xewkija went very close to score a second goal but a header from close
distanced by Brian Alejandro Parada following a cross by Gennaro Hili was stopped by
the crossbar.
22’ Oratory replied with a shot by Delan Saliba but the ball missed the target.
25’ Oratory had their first serious scoring opportunity when Deison Arvey Cuero passed
with a personal initiative but his final shot was well blocked by Xewkija’s goalie Nikola
Kosanin.
30’ Xewkija could have created more danger when Denzil Bugeja delivered the ball
inside Oratory’s area from a free kick but the header by Joshua Buttigieg ended away
from goal.
45’ (1-1) Oratory levelled the score when Deison Arvey Cuero passed from the right-hand side and from his low inviting cross Nicolas Matias Venegas Miranda netted with
a tap-in.
HT (1-1)
Second Half
The match became much more interesting after the break as Xewkija regained the
initiative in an attempt to take the lead while the Oratory continued to be well-organised at
their defence and threatened their opponents with counterbreaks. Xewkija went ahead
for the second time in this match before the hour mark, scored a third goal and
managed to neutralise Oratory’s efforts until the end of the encounter.
6’ Oratory operated a dangerous move through an initiative by Deison Cuero but his
attempt got a deflection by the defence and the ball ended away from Xewkija’s goal.
9’ (crossbar – penalty) Xewkija won a free kick just outside Oratory’s area and was
dangerous as the shot by substitute Claudio Daniel Frances hit the crossbar. Xewkija
regained possession from the rebound and Stefan Cassar’s shot was handled in the
area by Oratory’s Rian Almeida Lopes, with the referee awarding a penalty.
11’ (2-1) penalty Xewkija capitalised from this opportunity as Brian Alejandro Parada
converted his shot from the penalty spot to put his side in the lead.
The oratory’s reaction was sterile.
23’ Xewkija were again dangerous through a shot from a free kick by Brian Alejandro
Parada that ended wide.
29’ Oratory’s goalie Jonathan Vella kept his side in contention as he blocked with
difficulty to a corner a shot from a good position by Brian Alejandro Parada.
35’ Xewkija went very close to increasing their lead when Oratory’s defence failed to clear
the ball from their area but the attempt by Claudio Daniel Frances towards an open goal
was cleared from the goalmouth by Christian Cardona.
36’ (3-1) Xewkija scored their third goal through Brian Alejandro Parada who entered
the area from the right flank and concluded in goal with a strike from a close distance
FT (XT 3 – OY 1)
Referee: Joseph Scerri
Asst. Referees: Patrick Falzon, Anthony Paul Vella
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