25 January 2026
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 10) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 4
SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 3
33’ (red card) Eduard Nicolas Montenegro Orozco (SKVW)
45+2’ (1-0) Brian Alejandro Parada
65’ (2-0) Stefan Cassar
69’ (3-0) Marcelo Junior Barbosa
76’ (3-1) Andre Lee Cutler
81’ (4-1) Matthias Said
85’ (4-2) Andre Lee Cutler
88’ (4-3) Kurt Grima
Xewkija T:
A. Parnis, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella (J. Farrugia 68), D. Bugeja, M.J. Barbosa, M. Said (G. Hili 85), S. Cassar, A.M. Bustos (J. Buttigieg 85), K. Mercieca (R. Buttigieg 85), B.A. Parada, B. Armando Melo Dos Santos (Brenner).
SK Victoria W:
O. Xuereb, A.L. Cutler, N. Camilleri, E.N. Montenegro Orozco, M. Cordina, M.L. Amodu, E. Zammit, E.D. Alvarez Vielma, A. Touarha (J. Bugeja 70), K. Grima, L. Fenech (O. Fenech 70).
Xewkija Tigers bounced back from their defeat in the previous match by securing three important points with a 4–3 victory over SK Victoria Wanderers, remaining just one point behind the league leaders.
Xewkija’s win was deserved as they enjoyed greater overall supremacy throughout the encounter and created more attempts on goal. However, once again they showed certain defensive shortcomings that could have compromised the final outcome. Their victory took shape when they took full advantage of having an extra player on the pitch, scoring three unanswered goals that allowed them to control the closing stages of the match.
On the other hand, SK Victoria Wanderers paid the price for the sending-off that occurred just after the half-hour mark, as they lost much of their midfield strength and were unable to mount a stronger challenge in search of a positive result. Nevertheless, the Wanderers showed great character in the closing minutes, as despite trailing by three goals they continued to push forward and reduced the deficit when there was little time left, although it proved too late to rescue the result.
Timeline
First Half:
Xewkija started more aggressively despite attacking against the wind, while the Wanderers remained well organised at the back and mainly relied on counter-attacks, resulting in a closely contested opening phase. Towards the end of the first half, Xewkija began to make better use of their numerical advantage and went into the break with a narrow lead.
3’ Xewkija were dangerous when Stefan Cassar delivered a cross from the right, but Brian Parada’s header went wide.
6’ Victoria responded with a free kick by Matthias Cordina, headed on by Ender Vielma inside the area, but Nicolas Orozco failed to apply the finish and goalkeeper Adrian Parnis saved comfortably.
14’ The Wanderers threatened again, but Ender Vielma’s low shot towards the far post went wide.
17’ Xewkija replied through a first-time effort by Brian Parada following a fine cross from the left by Stefan Cassar, but the ball went well off target.
26’ Another Victoria chance saw Mustapha Amodu set up Ender Vielma, whose shot from the Colombian forward went just wide.
27’ At the other end, a shot by Marcelo Barbosa from the edge of the area missed the target.
33’ (Red card) SK Victoria Wanderers were reduced to ten men when Nicolas Orozco was sent off for an elbow on Stefan Cassar as Xewkija were building up play from defence.
38’ (protests for penaty)Victoria appealed for a penalty when a cross by Aaron Touarha was blocked by the defence.
45+1’ Xewkija goalkeeper Adrian Parnis rushed out to deny Andre Cutler after a through pass by Matthias Cordina.
45+2’ (1–0) Xewkija opened the scoring when Brian Parada headed the ball down from a cross by Kenneth Mercieca, recovered possession and anticipated the goalkeeper before heading into an empty net.
HT (1-0)
Second Half:
Xewkija took greater control of the match in the early stages of the second half and became increasingly dangerous, while the Wanderers struggled to create clear-cut chances in their attempt to level the score. Xewkija appeared to have wrapped up the three points with two quick goals midway through the half, but the Wanderers reacted late on to set up a nervy finale, with the result remaining in doubt until the final whistle.
8’ Xewkija wasted a good chance after a poor clearance from a corner fell to Kenneth Mercieca, but his close-range effort was weak and easily saved.
10’ Another Xewkija attack saw Marcelo Barbosa misfire from a good position after a cross by Matthias Said.
11’ Victoria’s goalkeeper was called into action to block a long-range shot by Angel Bustos.
15’ Xewkija threatened again through a shot by Matthias Said that went wide.
19’ Victoria came close to equalising when a cross from Kurt Grima reached the unmarked Mustapha Amodu, but his effort struck the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
22’ (2–0) Xewkija doubled their lead when Marcelo Barbosa kept the ball in play after a long pass and his cross was not cleared, allowing Stefan Cassar to score from close range.
24’ (3–0) Xewkija extended their advantage as substitute Julian Farugia passed to Marcelo Barbosa, who finished with a shot into the corner.
29’ Victoria replied with a long-range attempt by Ender Vielma that went wide.
31’ (3–1) The Wanderers reduced the deficit when a free kick by substitute Owen Fenech was cleared badly by the defence and Andre Cutler headed the ball into the net.
34’ (Disallowed goal) Xewkija thought they had restored a three-goal cushion when Julian Farugia scored, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
36’ (4–1) Xewkija eventually scored their fourth goal as Marcelo Barbosa set up Matthias Said, who finished calmly with a low shot.
37’ Victoria nearly struck again, but Emerson Zammit’s effort on the run went over the bar.
40’ (4–2) The Wanderers pulled another goal back following a counter-attack, with Ender Vielma crossing for Andre Cutler, who surprised both the defence and the goalkeeper with a low finish.
43’ (4–3) Victoria made it a tense finish when Kurt Grima surged down the right on a solo run, and his deflected shot ended up in the net.
FT (XT 4 – SKVW 3)
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Asst. Referees: David Castillo, Rapjan Xhyra
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