GFA BOV GFL Division I Gozo Stadium
Nadur Y : 2 (S. Attard 5’, R. Da Silva 71’)
- Muscat, D. Dos Santos (J. Grima), Sh. Attard, Sa. Attard, J. Buttigieg (M. Zerafa), D. Farrugia, D. Stojanovic, M. Stojanovic, C. Antunes, R. Da Silva, B. Said (C. Hili).
Ghajnsielem : 1 (F. Apap 65’)
- Buttigieg, F. Apap, A. Xuereb (K. Hili), R.P. Telles, K. Mercieca, C. Camilleri, E.D. Bilboa Zarate, E.P. Lattes, S. Cassar, J.J. Sandoval Guarin, J. Camilleri (D. Hili).
In the main match from Match-Day 19 of the championship Nadur Youngsters obtained the full points at stake from a victory with the odd goal from three over Ghajnsielem. With this result Nadur took sole leadership on the table and remain in contention for the title with two matches left until the end of the league. On the other hand Ghajnsielem suffered a setback in their ambitions to defend the title won last season and they are now practically out of the tussle for the main honour in Gozitan football this season.
The match as expected pull a large crowd to the Gozo Stadium as the two sides were aiming for the victory while the other contenders for the title Xewkija Tigers were an interested party following the outcome of this encounter. The match lived up to the expectations with offensive play from the two sides and a final result that remained uncertain until the final whistle. Nadur managed to score an early goal and thus they were in a better position to make good use of their experience in matches of this kind of importance. Ghajnsielem struggled to recover the deficit, but despite playing all the second half with a player less on the field they scored the equaliser midway through the second half. However, the Blacks compromised all their efforts as they failed to defend the positive result and ended up conceding the decisive goal few minutes after scoring their goal.
The Youngsters came out in a better shape and surprised their direct challengers for the title with an early goal that arrived in the fifth minute of play. Dewide Dos Santos released Shaun Attard inside Ghajnsielem’s area and the young striker netted with a low shot despite a challenge from an opponent. Ghajnsielem replied on 9 minutes through a strike by Renan Telles that was neutralised by goalie Matthew Muscat and one minute later Nadur’s Shaun Attard entered Ghajnsielem’s territory with a counter break but his low cross addressed to an unmarked Dewide Dos Santos was stopped in time by Ghajnsielemì’s central defender Ferdinando Apap and the defence cleared the danger from the goalmouth. Play became more exciting as the two teams produced ideal opportunities to score. On 19 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Chris Camilleri had a good shot that ended wide and on 27 minutes Edison Bilboa Zarate released Emiliano Lattes inside Nadur’s area but goalie Matthew Muscat was well placed and blocked the danger. Nadur could have scored their second goal on 29 minutes when Shaun Attard received a ball from a through pass by Claudio Antunes but his attempt when he was alone in the area was well saved by goalie Luke Buttigieg. Nadur’s keeper was again called to make a difficult intervention on 31 minutes to save to a corner a low shot by John Camilleri and from the resultant corner kick by Chris Camilleri, Stefan Cassar’s first timer ended just wide. On 42 minutes Ghajnsielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg left his position in time to block an initiative by Brandon Said who arrived in an ideal position to conclude towards goal and one minutes later Ghajnsielem’s John Camilleri concluded wide following a good cross by Stefan Cassar. Ghajnsielem ended the first half with a player less on the field as Chris Camilleri was sent off in the first minute of stoppage time before half time for retaliation. The match went through some nervous moments and in the following action Ghajnsielem’s coach John Cassar was sent off from the bench for protests.
Ghajnsielem were not demoralised and went all out seeking to level the score form the early stages of the second period. The Blacks conceded some space at the defensive department and on more than one occasion Nadur created effective counter breaks. On 47 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Renan Telles entered Nadur’s area but his low shot was saved to a corner by goalie Matthew Muscat. On 51 minutes a close ranged shot by Claudio Antunes following a prolonged action inside Ghajnsielem’s area was blocked in front of Ghajnsielem’s goal by central defender Ferdinando Apap and less than a minute later Brandon Said and Milos Stojanovic both entered Ghajnsielem’s area but the former had his shot blocked by goalie Luke Buttigieg and from the rebound the latter hit badly and the defence cleared the danger from the area. On 53 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Renan Telles had an attempt that ended wide and on 56 minutes Ghajnsielem had a goal disallowed when Kenneth Mercieca and Jhon Jairo Sandoval Guarin push the ball in goal following a free kick by Edison Bilboa Zarate but the assistant referee noted an infringement. Nadur lost a good scoring opportunity on 62 minutes when Brandon Said entered the area following a counter break but his attempt towards goal when the goalkeeper was out of his position ended wide. The Youngsters could have doubled the score again one minute later when Ghajnsielem’s Ferdinando Apap tackled ion time Nadur’s Brandon said at the edge of the area but the ball arrived to an unmarked Shaun Attard who saw his lob towards an open goal ended inches wide. On 64 minutes Ghajnsielem’s Emiliano lattes had a strike that was cleared to a corner by Darko Stojanovic, and one minute later, from a second consecutive corner kick by John Camilleri, Ghajnsielem levelled the score through a header by Ferdinando Apap. Ghajnsielem’s joy was short lived as Nadur regained the lead six minutes later through a header by Ronaldo Da Silva following a corner kick by Dewide Dos Santos. Ghajnsielem replied two minutes later through an effort by Renan tells that was well saved by goalie Matthew Muscat and on 74 minutes Nadur’s Claudio Antunes entered Ghajnsielem’s area following a counter break but goalie Luke Buttigieg kept his side in contention with a fine intervention to turn the ball into a corner. Ghajnsielem failed to capitalise from a free kick on 76 minutes as Emiliano Lattes saw his shot ended away from goal and their last opportunity to save the result arrived in the third minute of stoppage time when Nadur’s substitute Michael Zerafa committed handling just outside the area and was also sent off for a second caution but Ferdinando Apap’s shot from the set-piece was blocked by the wall.
Referee: Feodor Zammit
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