26 February 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 14) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 3
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 3
7’ (0-1) Henrique De Souza Maciel
60’ (1-1) Elton Aleksandre Da Silva
63’ (2-1) Matthias Mercieca
67’ (2-2) Robinson Blandon Rendon
87’ (2-3) Christian Vella
90’ (3-3) Emiliano Lattes
Xewkija T:
F. Attard, J Vella, M. Mercieca, R. Buttigieg, O. Xuereb (J. Axiak), M Hrubsa (N. Micallef), E.P. Lattes, J.G. Vella, J. Saliba, E.A. Da Silva, C. Abela.
Victoria H:
D. Spiteri, C. Cardona (O. Cremona), E. Serrano Valero, C. Vella, J. Azzopardi, A. Debrincat (D. Hili), H. De Souza Maciel, J. Pace, A. Azzopardi, O.G. Fernandes (A. Xiberras), R. Blandon Rendon.
Xewkija Tigers and Victoria Hotspurs earned a point each from a draw of six goals so that the Hotspurs retained their lead over the teams involved in the relegation issue while the Tigers moved away from the bottom of the table. The two sides are both struggling to make up for a disappointing season so far as they both found themselves in the lower part of the table after a long period where they were usually among the main protagonists of the championship.
The match turned out into an exciting encounter where the outcome remained uncertain until the final whistle. The Hotspurs may have expressed the better play during the opening half-hour but Xewkija produced a comeback during the final stages of the first half and showed character after the break when they kept insisting to obtain the win. In the end, the final score was just as both sides were rewarded for their efforts to obtain a positive result.
Timeline
The Hotspurs took command of play from the first minutes of play, opened the score and were in a position to administer play with more confidence. Xewkija however recovered from the early shock and started to produce more offensive play near the end of the first half.
4’ The Hotspurs were dangerous through a strike from outside the area by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes that ended just high.
7’ (0-1) Victoria opened the score through a shot directly from a free-kick by Henrique De Souza Maciel that ended out of the reach of the goalkeeper.
8’ The same Maciel went again close to scoring but his low shot ended wide.
17’ Xewkija’s keeper was well placed and neutralised an effort from an angled position by Henrique De Souza Maciel.
18’ Xewkija replied through an effort by Matthias Mercieca who tried to pass inside Victoria’s area but the defence blocked the danger to a corner.
22’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous but an attempt from a free-kick by Robinson Blandon Rendon was blocked by Xewkija’s goalie Franklin Vella.
45+1’ Victoria’s goalie Daniel Spiteri denied Xewkija with a fine save following an attempt from a free-kick by Elton Da Silva.
45+3’ The same goalkeeper was well placed to neutralise an effort with the back heel by Elton da Silva following a cross from the left by Joseph George Vella.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
After the break, the Hotspurs tried to regain supremacy during the first minutes but Xewkija resisted well and as time passed by they started to share play and to create dangerous actions so that the match became much more entertaining with the goals scored by both sides.
12’ Xewkija missed a good opportunity to score the equaliser but Josmar Vella incredibly headed wide from close distance following a cross from the right flank by Jake Saliba.
13’ The Hotspurs could have punished their opponents for the missed chance but Andrea Debrincat concluded over the crossbar from an ideal position after receiving from Henrique Maciel.
14’ (1-1) penalty Xewkija were awarded a penalty for a foul by Justin Azzopardi on Elton Aleksandre Da Silva and the same striker did no mistake with his shot from the spot-kick.
16’ Xewkija were again dangerous but a close-range shot by Rodney Buttigieg after receiving from Elton Da Silva was blocked by Victoria’s goalie Daniel Spiteri.
18’ (2-1) Xewkija turned the result in their favour when Elton Da Silva released Matthias Mercieca and the latter placed in goal with a low drive aimed to the far post.
22’ (2-2) The Hotspurs had an immediate reaction and levelled the score through a header by Robinson Blandon Rendon following a free-kick from a long distance by Henrique Maciel.
24’ The Hotspurs threatened Xewkija’s defence with a strike from outside the area by Robinson Blandon Rendon that ended high.
30’ Victoria went again close to scoring when Robinson Blandon Rendon passed through Xewkija’s rearguard and came face to face with the goalkeeper but the latter had good timing and managed to block the low shot by Victoria’s striker.
34’ Xewkija replied with an effort by Emiliano Lattes from an angled position that ended just wide.
42’ (2-3) The Hotspurs regained the lead when Henrique Maciel released Robinson Blandon Rendon but the latter had his close raged shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper and from the rebound, Victoria’s Christian Vella arrived on the ball and fired in goal with a shot on the run.
45’ (3-3) Xewkija were not demoralised and once again they recovered the deficit through a strike by Emiliano Lattes after receiving from Matthias Mercieca.
FT (XT 3 – VH 3)
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
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