5 April 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 20) Gozo Stadium
Oratory Youths FC : 3
Ghajnsielem FC : 3
22’ (0-1) Esneider Antonio Daza Carranza
37’ (1-1) penalty Nicolas Matias Venegas Miranda
41’ (1-2) Lautaro Jose’ Luis Pizzo
51’ (1-3) Naum Ibrahim Belhadj
63’ (2-3) Rian Almeida Lopes
67’ (3-3) Deison Arvey Cuero
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, S. Attard, R. Portelli, I. Zarb, G. Ellis, J. Xerri, D. Saliba, N.M. Venegas Miranda, J.I. Offorzor, R. Almeida Lopes, D.A. Cuero.
Ghajnsielem:
G. Parnis, H. Muscat (W. Hili 46), A. Xuereb, L.J.L. Pizzo, K. Hili (M.A. Scicluna 46), M.V. Claudino Ramos (Choco) (J. Vella 55), E.A. Daza Carranza, J. Tabone, K.L. Nunes Santos (J. Grech 80),N.I. Belhadj, D. Hili (M. Camilleri 46).
Għajnsielem and Oratory Youths each earned a point from a six-goal draw, and with this result, Ghajnsielem finished their league commitments second to last. They will now have to play a Play-Off against Sannat Lions, who finished second in the Second Division, to defend their place in the top division for another season. On the other hand, Oratory managed to achieve their second positive result of the season, although they still ended the campaign at the bottom of the table and are relegated to the Second Division.
This match, between the bottom two teams in the standings, was crucial for Ghajnsielem, who still had a mathematical chance to avoid the Play-Off by beating Oratory by more than thirteen goals. However, Oratory remained committed and determined to take something from this match despite their position. As a result, the encounter turned out to be an exciting one, and in the final stages, the win could have gone either way. Ghajnsielem dominated for long stretches and held a two-goal lead early in the second half but failed to manage the score, allowing their opponents back into the match to snatch a draw.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
The first half was lively, with Ghajnsielem being the more dangerous side.
5’ Ghajnsielem had the first serious attempt with a shot from Alberto Xuereb that was deflected by the Oratory defence for a corner.
13’ Oratory responded with a free kick shot from Deison Cuero that went wide.
20’ Ghajnsielem came close to scoring when from a free kick, Lautaro Pizzo played the ball into the box to Naim Ibrahim Belhadj, whose header was saved with difficulty by goalkeeper Angelo Brignoli.
22’ (0-1) Ghajnsielem took the lead when Daza Carranza entered the box, beat a defender, and scored with a low shot past the goalkeeper.
26’ Another shot from Ghajnsielem’s Kaio Nunes Santos sailed over the bar.
34’ Oratory’s goalkeeper Angelo Brignoli, denied Ghajnsielem a second goal with a block on another attempt from Nunes Santos.
35’ Ghajnsielem missed another good chance when Belhadj passed to Carranza, but the Colombian forward shot wide from a good position.
37’ (1-1) Oratory equalized through a penalty, awarded for a foul by Hayden Muscat on Nicolas Venegas Miranda. The latter converted from the spot.
41’ (1-2) Ghajnsielem regained the lead from a long-range free kick by Hayden Muscat. The Oratory defence cleared poorly, allowing Lautaro Pizzo to pounce and score with a low shot that bounced off the post and crossed the line.
42’ Brignoli was again called into action, saving a shot from Alberto Xuereb.
HT (1-2)
Second Half:
Ghajnsielem had a brilliant start to the second half and looked like they could claim the win when they extended their lead. However, Oratory were not demoralized, managed to pull themselves back into the game, and held on for a positive result till the end.
6’ (1-3) Ghajnsielem scored again when Kaio Nunes Santos set up Naim Ibrahim Belhadj, who beat a defender and finished centrally into the net.
18’ (2-3) Oratory reduced the deficit when Rian Almeida Lopes received the ball in the box from a cross on the left and beat the goalkeeper with a shot into the corner.
20’ Ghajnsielem replied with a free kick shot by Carranza that was cleared off the line by Brignoli.
27’ (3-3).. Oratory equalized from a corner taken by Lopes; Venegas Miranda headed it inside the box, and Deison Arvey Cuero finished from close range.
24’ Ghajnsielem threatened again with a free kick shot from Kaio Nunes Santos that hit the crossbar.
34’ Oratory’s Brignoli made another important save, pushing a shot from Nunes Santos out for a corner.
39’ Ghajnsielem appealed for a penalty when Daza Carranza went down in the box after trying to dribble past a defender, but the referee waved play on.
FT (OY 3 – GHJ 3)
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Asst. Referees: Darko Stankovic, Paul Apap
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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