20 October 2023
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 7) Gozo Stadium
Ghajnsielem FC ; 2
Kercem Ajax FC ; 1
11’ (0-1) Emmanuel Peters
37’ (red card) Christian Attard (KA)
41’ (1-1) Bruno Da Cruz
83’ (2-1) Luiz Henrique Santana Motta
Ghajnsielem:
L. Buttigieg, Al. Xuereb (T. Sciberras 84), L.H. Santana Motta, K. Hili (D. Attard 46), B. Da Cruz, Ant. Xuereb, G. Emmanuel, W. Hili, M.A. Scicluna, C.H. Da Silva Barbosa, D. Hili (P. Vella 72).
Kercem A:
D. Spiteri, J. Tabone, J. Theuma, C. Attard, P. Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira, A. Mizzi, O.P. Bugeja, G. Cardona, K. Formosa, S. Azzopardi, E. Peters.
Ghajnsielem lifted their hopes to be among the teams who would keep away from the red zone in the championship with an important 2-1 win over Kercem Ajax. With the points obtained Ghajnsielem moved over the same Kercem on the table and the latter ended the first round at the last place.
This was a well-contested encounter where the outcome was uncertain until the final moments. Kercem, who had Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes and Ewerthon Caetano Pena missing due to a suspension, came out with the intention of obtaining a win to make up for their disappointing results in the previous matches of the first round. Kercem had an encouraging start and scored a goal after a few minutes of play. However, Kercem failed to consolidate their lead with another goal so they found themselves in a vulnerable situation when they were reduced to ten players eight minutes from the break. This episode turned out to be a turning point of the encounter as Ghajnielem took immediate advantage of the extra player and levelled the score.
Play became much more balanced after the break as Kercem tried to regain the lead while Ghajnsielem increased their efforts and managed to turn the result in their favour by scoring the decisive goal when there was not much time left for their opponents to stage a reaction.
Timeline:
Kercem came out determined to take command of play from the first minutes of play and they managed to implement their plan as they produced pressure on Ghajnsielem’s rear guard. The Blacks became demoralised after conceding an early goal and failed to produce an immediate reaction but they gained confidence as soon as the Ajax were reduced to ten players so that they also managed to recover the score and to take the break on a draw.
11’ (0-1) Kercem opened the score in their first serious action within Ghajnsielem’s area as the defence failed to clear a corner kick by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira and the ball fell to an unmarked Emmanuel Peters who fired in goal from an ideal position.
20’ The Ajax could have scored a second goal when Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira entered Ghajnsielem’s area but the goalie Luke Buttigieg was well placed and blocked the danger despite the fact that the Brazilian striker was alone inside the area.
21’ Kercem operated another dangerous action through a personal initiative by Gabriel Cardona, who entered the area from the right flank but his low drive towards the far post ended wide.
22’ Ghajnsielem continued to find it difficult to neutralise Kercem’s play and Ajax could have concluded better when Pablo Vinicius De Morares Ferreira entered Ghajnsielem’s area from the left flank but from his inviting cross, Gabriel Cardona missed the opportunity to connect.
23’ The blacks replied with a shot from outside the area by Kenny Hili but the ball ended high.
28’ Kercem’s Karl Formosa also tried to surprise the goalkeeper with a low shot from outside the area but the ball ended just wide.
30’ Ghajnsielem had an attempt from a long distance by Alberto Xuereb that missed the target.
37’ (red card) Kercem were reduced to ten players when Christian Attard was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul in the midfield on Bruno Da Cruz.
41’ (1-1) Ghajnsielem took immediate advantage of the extra player on the field of play and scored the equaliser through a fine shot from outside the area by Bruno Da Cruz that ended out of the reach of Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri.
43’ (protest for penalty) Ghajnsielem protested for a penalty as Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa tried to pass inside Kercem’s area but ended on the floor following a challenge by Owen Peter Bugeja.
45’ Kercem’s central defender Samuel Azzopardi denied Ghajnsielem from taking the lead when he cleared from the goal mouth an attempt by Godwin Emmanuel, who entered the area and turned around the goalkeeper before concluding with a low shot towards an open goal.
HT (1-1)
Second Half
Kercem tried to regain command of play after the break despite playing with a player less but they ended up conceding space for the counter breaks of their opponents so that the outcome remained uncertain.
3’ Kercem created a good action as Gabriel Cardona passed through Ghajnsielem’s defence but the striker saw his low shot that was well saved by goalie Luke Buttigieg.
7’ (protests for penalty) Ghajnsielem protested for a penalty for a second time when Kercem’s defence cleared badly, the goalkeeper was out of his position but he attempt by Claudio Henrique Da Silva Barbosa was blocked in front of an open goal by central defender Samuel Azzopardi among protests that the defender committed handling.
10’ Ghajnsielem could have created more danger but a shot from a good position by Damon Hili missed the target.
11’ Kercem’s goalie Daniel Spiteri was called to make a good save to neutralise a low shot by Godwin Emmanuel.
15’ The Ajax were again dangerous with a personal action by Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira who passed through Ghajnsielem’s defence but his curling shot got a deflection and the play resume with a corner kick.
27’ (protests for penalty) Kercem Ajax also protested for a penalty when Pablo Vinicius De Moraes Ferreira ended up on the floor inside the area as he tried to pass with personal action.
38’ (2-1) Ghajnsielem turned the result in their favour when Bruno da Cruz delivered the ball in front of Kercem’s goal from a long-range free kick and Luiz Henrique Santana Motta headed in a goal from close distance.
FT (GHJ 2 – KA 1)
Referee: Daniel Casha
Assistant Referees: Andrea Naudi, Raiden Psaila
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