28 February 2026
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 12) Kercem Stadium
Zebbug Rovers FC : 3
Gharb Rangers FC : 2
14’ (1-0) Bernard Camilleri
53’ (2-0) Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa
55’ (2-1) Aud-Gustine James Obaje
66’ (3-1) Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa
83’ (3-2) Damian Depasquale
Zebbug R:
F. Portelli, P. Spiteri (L. Galea 82), A. Abela, B. Camilleri, H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, N.J. Cini, J. Sacco (C. Zammit 82), L. Portelli, N. Cassar, I. Belhadj (N.J. Camilleri 60), J. Buttigieg (O. Saliba 60).
Gharb R:
E. Bajada, A. Sultana, S. Sillato (L. Sultana 60), O. Cremona, K. Hili, A.J. Obaje, D. Hili, S. Curmi, J. Pace, D. Farrugia, E. Bugeja (D. Depasqualue 60).
In the most anticipated match from Matchday 12 of the Second Division, Zebbug Rovers claimed a 3–2 victory over Gharb Rangers. With this result, Gharb missed the chance to keep pace with the teams challenging for promotion.
The encounter was fiercely contested, with Zebbug surprising their opponents for more than an hour of play. Gharb insisted until the end: after reducing the deficit, they pushed hard to rescue the result right up to the final whistle. Zebbug, however, confirmed their good form and made up for the last-minute defeat suffered in their previous outing, this time walking off the pitch with all three points.
Timeline
First Half:
Zebbug started aggressively and managed to break the deadlock early, allowing them to control the game with confidence as Gharb struggled to react.
14’ (1–0) Zebbug opened the scoring through Bernard Camilleri, who broke into the box and beat the goalkeeper with a low strike.
35’ Gharb nearly levelled the score, but a header from Sintayehu Curmi from a good position went wide.
44’ Gharb goalkeeper Etienne Bajada produced an important save to deny Zebbug from doubling their lead, blocking a strike by Haraan Goncalves Barbosa.
HT (1–0)
Second Half:
The match became livelier after the break, with chances at both ends and the scoreline changing several times.
8’ (2–0) Zebbug doubled their lead when Haraan Goncalves Barbosa dribbled past the defence, rounded the goalkeeper, and finished into an empty net.
10’ (2–1) Gharb pulled one back when Aud-Gustine James Obaje finished from close range after a cross by Oliver Cremona.
20’ Zebbug goalkeeper Francesco Portelli denied Gharb an equaliser with a difficult save from a Damon Hili free-kick.
21’ (3–1) Zebbug restored their two-goal cushion when Jake Sacco sent the ball to Haraan Goncalves Barbosa, who advanced into the box and fired past the keeper with a rising shot.
35’ Zebbug remained dangerous, with a shot by Jake Sacco finishing over the bar.
38’ (3–2) Gharb reduced the deficit again when a low cross from Damon Hili found Damian Depasquale, who tapped in from close range.
45+1’ Zebbug could have sealed the match, but Haraan Goncalves Barbosa missed the target despite being unmarked in the box.
45+1’ Gharb had their final chance to rescue a draw: a shot by Obaje was saved by Portelli, and from the resulting corner, Depasquale’s header was also pushed out for another corner by the Zebbug goalkeeper.
FT (ZR 3 – GR 2)
Referee: Rapjan Xhyra
Asst. Referees: Mark Azzopardi, Henry Nana Kwasi Adjei
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