16 October 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 6) Gozo Stadium
Oratory Youths FC : 2
Xewkija Tigers FC : 2
17’ (0-1) Kevin Farrugia
44’ (1-1) Rian Almeida Lopes
47’ (2-1) Joshua Buttigieg
81’ (2-2) Aleksa Bozovic
Oratory Y:
A. Brignoli, A. Sultana, P. Rapa (K. Saliba 85), J. Buttigieg, L.B. Coca, O. Curmi, A. Azzopardi, N. Said, A.G. Castro Martins, H. Muscat, R. Almeida Lopes.
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, J. Axiak (M. Bonnici 79’), Js. Vella, M. Mercieca, A. Debrincat (J. Buttigieg 60), R. Buttigieg, K. Farrugia, A. Bozovic, D. Andelovic, H. Bonnici (C. Abela 60), S. Tesic.
Oratory Youths and Xewkija Tigers shared four goals in an entertaining encounter where the win could have gone either side. With this result Xewkija missed an opportunity to defend the top position on the table while Oratory failed to join the top teams despite obtaining their fifth consecutive positive result.
Xewkija came out in a better shape as they needed to make up for the disappointing display in their previous match against Qala Saints where they left the field of play empty handed. Xewkija seemed in control of pay for more than half an hour but they only managed to score one goal so that Oratory managed to regain composure and produced a reaction. Oratory seemed timid in the first part of the match as they were playing without Luis Gabriel Santos Silva due to suspension. However, as time passed by the Youths gained confidence and during the second period they produced their best patch of play where they could have put the score beyond the reach of their opponents.
The outcome of the encounter is therefore a just result as both teams had their good moments and the two sides were punished in the same way for some erratic finishing.
Timeline:
Xewkija came out determined to take command of play and during the opening minutes of the encounter they produced pressure on Oratory’s defence. However, Xewkija failed to maintain the momentum after scoring the first goal so that they allowed Oratory to come out of their defence and to level the score before the end of the first half.
4’ Xewkija had their first attempt towards Oratory’s goal through a shot by Matthias Mercieca that ended wide.
15’ (protests for penalty) Xewkija protested for a penalty when Kevin Farrugia passed inside oratory’s area but hit badly and ended on the floor when challenged by a direct opponent, so that the ball ended wide.
17’ (0-1) Xewkija opened the score when Rodney Buttigieg crossed from the right flank and Kevin Farrugia followed the action and headed in goal from close distance.
27’ Xewkija’s defence failed to clear the danger from their area and the ball arrived to Oratory’s Anthony Sultana but his attempt from an ideal position ended just high.
36’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was well placed and neutralised without difficulty a weak low shot by Andre Gabriel Castro Martin.
44’ (1-1) Oratory scored the equaliser when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins received the ball inside Xewkija’s area at an unmarked position and from his pass Rian Almeida Lopes fired in goal with a low shot.
45+2’ (protests for penalty) Oratory protested for a penalty when Andre Gabriel Castro Martin ended on the floor inside Xewkija’s area when he tried to pass with a personal initiative.
HT (1-1)
Second Half
The match became much more contested after the resumption as Oratory turned the result in their favour in their first attempt of the second half while Xewkija increased their efforts in an attempt to recover the score.
2’ (2-1) Oratory turned the result in their favour when they operated a break and Rian Lopes Almeida released Joshua Buttigieg and the latter netted with a low drive which was out of the reach of the goalkeeper.
3’ Xewkija had an immediate reaction but a shot from close distance by Stefan Tesic was saved with difficulty to a corner by goalie Angelo Brignoli.
4’ Xewkija could have created more danger when Matthias Mercieca passed inside Oratory’s area but from his pass both Damir Andelovic and Stefan Tesic failed to hit properly so that the goalkeeper saved without difficulty.
12’ Oratory missed a good opportunity to increase their lead when Andre Gabriel Castro Martins took the ball from Xewkija’s possession in the midfield and entered the area but his attempt towards the far post got a deflection and ended in a corner.
15’ The Youths were again dangerous through a half volley by Andre Gabriel Castro Martins following a cross from the right flank but the ball hit the central defender and ended in another corner.
22’ Xewkija should have created more danger but a shot from a good position by Rodney Buttigieg, after receiving from Damir Andelovic, was blocked by the defence to a corner.
25’ (protests for penalty) Xewkija protested again for a penalty when Stefan Tesic ended on the floor inside the area as he tried to pass with a personal action.
36’ (2-2) Xewkija clinched the equaliser following a prolonged action where the Tigers protested for a penalty, alleging handling, and from the same action Stefan Tesic passed to Aleksa Bozovic who concluded in goal with a low shot.
43’ Oratory’s goalie Angelo Brignoli denied Xewkija from scoring when he blocked to a corner a close ranged attempt by substitute Matthias Bonnici after receiving from Kevin Farrugia.
45+3’ Xewkija had their last opportunity to obtain the win but an attempt directly from a free kick by Damir Andelovic but the ball ended just wide.
45+5’ Oratory also went very close to score the decisive goal but a shot by Andre Gabriel Castro Martins ended wide.
45+6’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin saved the point for his side and denied Andre Castro Martin from obtaining a dramatic win for his side when he saved with difficulty a fine shot by the striker from the edge of the area.
FT (OY 2 – XT 2)
Referee: Joseph Scerri
Assistant Referees: Patrick Falzon, Anthony Paul Vella
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