13 September 2026
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 1) Gozo Stadium
SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 2
Xaghra United FC : 1
8’ (0-1) Ibrahim Salis
51’ (1-1) Mustapha Lawal Amodu
64’ (red card) Joao Felipe Affonso Rodriques (XU)
65’ (2-1) Kender Javier Hernandez Villahermosa
SK Victoria W:
A.E. Vella, N. Salim (M.D. Drury 39), N. Camilleri, A.F. Palacios Moreno, G. Nunes Araujo, G. Cardona, M. Martinez Escorcia, M.L. Amodu, E. Zammit (S. Harland 62), K.J. Hernandez Villahermosa (N. Grech 85), L. Fenech.
Xaghra U:
K. Barbara, J. Bajada (F.J. Xuereb 85), N. Inguanez (E. Xiberrs 88), A. Galiano Lazzarini, M. Scarpari, I. Salis, J.P. Oliveira Santos (Pedrinho), J.F. Affonso Rodriques, D. Sowatey, J. Farrugia (L. Farrugia 74), S. Attard.
In the final match of the opening round of the BOV Gozo Football League First Division, SK Victoria Wanderers scored twice in the second half to turn a deficit into a 2-1 win over Xaghra United.
This was a match between two sides considered to be of a similar level and both capable of being competitive in the championship. The contest was therefore hard-fought, with each team enjoying spells of superiority over the other during one half each. The performance of both sides was encouraging, although SK Victoria Wanderers coach Franklyn Cassar and Xaghra United coach Brian Meilak still have room to make better use of the potential within their squads.
Xaghra appeared capable of taking control of the match, but as time went on they looked slightly overconfident and failed to consolidate the lead they had taken in the opening minutes. The Wanderers therefore remained in the contest and recovered well, taking command in the second half and managing to overturn the score. Xaghra compromised their chances of saving the match when they had to play the final stages with one player less.
Timeline
First Half:
Xaghra looked more organised in the early stages and scored an early goal, allowing them to manage the match. SK Victoria grew into the game towards the end of the first half but found it difficult to create a clear scoring opportunity.
3’ Xaghra could have scored an early goal when Ibrahim Salis intercepted a back pass from the defence and continued his run, but his finish went wide.
5’ Xaghra were dangerous again when Ibrahim Salis headed wide from a Pedrinho corner.
8’ (0-1) Xaghra opened the scoring when Joao Felipe broke down the left in a counter-attack and, after entering the area, passed to the unmarked Ibrahim Salis, who finished easily into an empty net.
22’ In another Xaghra move, Pedrinho’s shot went over.
32’ Victoria’s first dangerous move came through Kender Hernandez, who sent the ball towards goal, but defender Alexandre Lazarini cleared for a corner.
40’ Xaghra goalkeeper Kyle Barbara was called into action to save a central shot from Kender Hernandez.
42’ Victoria could have created more danger, but another effort from Kender Hernandez was again saved by goalkeeper Kyle Barbara.
HT (0-1)
Second Half:
SK Victoria Wanderers came out for the second half with greater determination and, after drawing level, took advantage of having an extra player on the pitch to turn the score in their favour.
6’ (1-1) The Wanderers equalised when Matthew Drury, who had come on as a first-half substitute, delivered a cross from the right that beat the defence, and Mustapha Amodu arrived to fire into the roof of the net with a first-time effort.
19’ (red card) Xaghra were reduced to ten players when Joao Felipe was shown a straight red card for retaliation on Matthew Drury.
25’ (2-1) The Wanderers made the most of their numerical advantage and went in front when the Xaghra defence only partially cleared a cross from the left. Kender Hernandez collected the ball and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot into the corner.
36’ Victoria goalkeeper Andriy Etienne Vella was alert to save with some difficulty a close-range header from Murillo Scarpari following a Pedrinho cross.
38’ The Wanderers could have sealed the match when Felipe Palacios entered the area following a personal move, but goalkeeper Kyle Barbara came off his line in time to block the danger.
43’ Xaghra came closest to saving the result when, from a Pedrinho corner, Ibrahim Salis mistimed his header from a good position and the ball went wide.
45+3’ SK Victoria Wanderers again went close to scoring another goal, but a good effort by substitute Sam Harland was well saved by goalkeeper Kyle Barbara.
FT (SKVW 2 – XU 1)
Referee: Daniel Casha
Asst. Referees: Vasil Vasilev, Raymond Tabone
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