9 October 2022
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 6) Gozo Stadium
Nadur Youngsters FC : 0
Kercem Ajax FC : 0
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, M. Tabone, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella (M.P. Camilleri), M. Jr. Barbosa, I. Nedeljkovic, G. Hili, G. Farrugia (J. Xerri), G. Dourado Ferreira (M. Said), G. Muscat, P. Dordevic.
Kercem A:
D. Spiteri, N. Mercieca, L.H. Santana Motta, J. Theuma (C. Attard), B. Da Cruz, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, A. Mizzi, G. Cardona (A. Zammit), K. Formosa, S. Azzopardi, M.V. Da Costa Soares Da Silva.
The main match from Match Day 6 of the GFA BOV Gozo Football League of the first division was between Nadur Youngsters and Kercem Ajax who were both aiming for three points to take the sole leadership on the table. The match however ended in a goalless draw so that Nadur remain at the top of the table with two points more than Kercem but the latter has a game in hand.
The outcome of the encounter was a just result as the two sides showed that they have the potential to be serious challengers for the main honour this season. The match at the end was dominated by the two defensive departments who prevailed over the respective strikers so the actions on goal were quite rare. Although both Nadur and Kercem showed their strength in this direct clash, the two sides also confirmed the difficulties that they already encountered in other matches from the championship. Nadur, who had central defender Lucas Baretto Da Silva missing due to a suspension and striker Joseph Zammit who was not fit to play due to an injury, once again found it extremely difficult to convert their offensive play into good scoring opportunities. Nadur only managed to pile pressure on Kercem’s defence during the final stages of the encounter but they still failed to conclude their play with serious attempts towards a goal. On the other hand, Kercem, who are the only undefeated side in the championship, produced their best patch of play during the first half but they risked compromising the positive performance as they failed to capitalise on their best chances to score. In this match, Kercem ended up defending the positive result instead of aiming to win the full points at stake.
Timeline
Nadur tried to take command of the play but Kercem were well organised in their defence and very effective with their breaks so the match turned out to be an open clash where each side could have taken the lead.
1’ Kercem almost surprised their opponents from the kickoff and after 13 seconds of play, a shot by Pablo Vinicius Ferreira just missed the target.
11’ Kercem were again dangerous through a shot by Bruno Da Cruz following a personal action but the ball ended wide.
12’ Nadur replied through a shot by Predrag Dordevic from an ideal position that was blocked to a corner by central defender Samuel Azzopardi.
13’ Kercem operated a counter break where Gabriel Cardona released Bruno Da Cruz but the latter saw his low shot that was blocked by Nadur’s keeper Steve Sultana.
28’ Nadur conceded another break by their opponents through an initiative by Gabriel Cardona but the striker had his attempt that was blocked in time by the defence.
29’ Nadur replied with a strike from an angled position by Igor Nedeljkovic that ended wide.
34’ Nadur could have capitalised better when Predrag Dordevic took the ball from Kercem’s defence and passed to Igor Nedeljkovic but the latter concluded over the crossbar from an ideal position.
36’ Kercem once again produced danger within Nadur’s area through a personal action by Pablo Vinicius Ferreira but the latter saw his low drive aimed towards the far post that ended just wide.
40’ (protests for penalty) Nadur protested for a penalty following a challenge on the edge of the area by Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri on Igor Nedeljkovic.
43’ Kercem went very close to scoring but a low shot from outside the area by Bruno Da Cruz got a deflection by a defender and the ball ended inches away from goal with the goalkeeper beaten.
45+1’ (protests for penalty) Kercem also protested for a penalty, alleging handling by Nadur’s defender Manwel Tabone on the edge of the area, following a strike by Bruno Da Cruz.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
After the resumption, the match continued to be very contested but the two defensive departments were often in control of the respective strikers so the actions on goal were very rare.
4’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana was called to make an important intervention to deny Kercem from scoring when he blocked with some difficulty a good shot from an angled position by Karl Formosa.
28’ Nadur’s first scoring opportunity during the second period arrived through a lob by Joseph Mario Vella, after receiving from Gianluca Muscat, that ended just over the crossbar.
30’ Nadur could have created more danger but a header by Gustavo Dourado Ferreira, following a cross by Igor Nedeljkovic, ended wide.
FT (NY 0 – KA 0)
Referee: Philip Farrugia
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