24 September 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 3) Gozo Stadium
Nadur Youngsters FC : 3
Qala Saints FC : 0
25’ (1-0) Stefan Cassar
30’ (2-0) Joseph Mario Vella
85’ (3-0) Marcelo Jr Barbosa
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos (I. Xuereb 57), M. Tabone, M. Pereira Muniz, J.M. Vella, J. Zammit, M.J. Barbosa, S. Cassar, G. Hili, K. Grima (M. Said 15), G. Muscat.
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez (M. Xerri 46), Jsph. Buttigieg, J.V. Ferrari Silva, L.B. Da Silva, M. Buttigieg, L.M. Dos Santos (J. Xerri 75), E. Buttigieg, J. Parnis, N.C. Njoku (C. Vella 61), I. Nedeljkovic.
Nadur Youngsters maintained an encouraging start this season and obtained a 3-0 win over Qala Saints so that they remain co-leaders on the table. This was the main match of the weekend as champions Nadur were facing Qala Saints who were their main rivals for the title last season. In this match, Nadur produced their best performance so far and the victory was well deserved. Qala tried to be a serious challenger for the win during the first part of the encounter but as soon as Nadur opened the score the Maroons were demoralised and Nadur held full control of the play. Nadur took the break with a two-goal lead and after the break, the champions administered their lead and denied Qala from producing serious danger within their area. The Youngsters sealed the win with a third goal scored a few minutes away from the final whistle.
Timeline:
Qala came out aggressive but as time passed Nadur became more dangerous and took command of play after opening the score
2’ Qala produced the first serious scoring opportunity when Jordi Parnis entered Nadur’s area from the right flank but his low shot was well saved by goalie Owen Attard.
24’ Nadur replied with an initiative by Joseph Zammit who crossed from the left flank but substitute Matthias Said hit badly from a good position and the defence cleared the danger.
25’ (1-0) Nadur opened the score from the following action as Marcelo Barbosa passed outside the area to Stefan Cassar who fired in goal with a first-timer.
30’ (2-0) Qala were shocked and Nadur doubled the score when Marcelo Barbosa released Joseph Mario Vella inside the area and the latter netted with a low drive towards the far corner.
32’ Qala’s keeper Owen Attard saved a corner attempt directly from a free kick by Marcelo Barbosa.
45+2’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana was well placed and neutralised without difficulty a shot from outside the area by Igor Nedeljkovic.
HT (2-0)
Second Half
Nadur continued to hold command of the midfield and continued to be more dangerous than their opponents. Qala got frustrated and found it very difficult to produce a reaction in an attempt to reduce the deficit.
5’ Nadur missed a golden scoring opportunity when Matthias Said delivered an inviting low cross within Qala’s area from the left flank but Marcelo Barbosa was overconfident and his low drive from close distance ended wide.
10’ Qala replied with an attempt directly from a free kick by Igor Nedeljkovic that was saved with difficulty by Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana.
15’ Nadur went very close to adding another goal but Qala’s goalie Owen Attard, who was out of his position, recovered in time and managed to clear a lob from a long distance by Marcelo Barbosa, aimed towards an open goal, to a corner.
18’ Nadur were again dangerous when Marcelo Barbosa passed inside Qala’s area to Stefan Cassar but the latter had his shot on the run that got a deflection by the defence and the danger was blocked to a corner.
27’ (protests for penalty) Nadur protested for a penalty when Qala’s defence tried to clear the ball from the goalmouth following a corner action.
30’ Qala had their best opportunity to re-open the issues through a low shot by Jordi Parnis but goalie Steve Sultana was well-placed and saved the danger.
40’ (3-0) Nadur made sure of the win when Marcelo Jr Barbosa received the ball at the heart of Qala’s defence but managed to release himself from the opponents and placed in goal with a low shot as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.
45+1’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana made the best intervention of the evening when he managed to block a close-ranged attempt by Igor Nedeljkovic who entered Nadur’s area with a personal action.
FT (NY 3 – QS 0)
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Robert Curtis
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