28 January 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 11) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 2
SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 2
39’ (1-0) Brian Alejandro Parada
47’ (1-1) Junior Conceicao Cabral
85’ (1-2) Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva
89’ (2-2) Brian Alejandro Parada
90+3’ (red card) Dejan Bogdanovic (XT)
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, J. Axiak, Js. Vella (A. Debrincat 86), D. Bogdanovic, M. Mercieca (Ju. Vella 86), J. Buttigieg (H. Bonnici 86), R. Buttigieg (M. Bonnici 72), A. Bozovic, C.D. Frances, D. Bugeja, B.A. Parada.
SK Victoria W:
A. Parnis, A. Galiano Lazarini, K. Mercieca, M.V. Claudino Ramos (Choco), J. Conceicao Cabral, E. Zammit, C.S. Souza Da Silva, N. Grech, G. Farrugia, J. Saliba (A. Touarha 73), L. Fenech (N. Vella 73).
Xewkija Tigers and SK Victoria Wanderers earned a point each from a draw of four goals in the main match of the weekend but the outcome did not satisfy completely either side as they both lost more ground from the top positions on the table.
This match was considered a direct clash for the third spot as both sides were hoping to stay within reasonable reach of the main challengers for the title. With this result, the Wanderers defended their third spot and their one-goal lead over the same Xewkija. With this positive result, the Wanderers extended their good run of three matches without a defeat while Xewkija confirmed their positive recovery expressed from a win in their previous match.
The match lived up to the expectations as the two coaches, Xewkija’s Daniel Bogdanovic and Victoria’s Mark Buttigieg, both deployed two organised sets of players who were very strong at the respective defence, hard working in the midfield and dangerous in attack. The match produced a high level of play where the most influential players of the two sides expressed all their value. The match turned out to be much more exciting during the final minutes as Xewkija scored a very late equaliser but the Wanderers missed some very good scoring opportunities during stoppage time so the outcome remained uncertain until the final whistle.
Timeline:
The two sides came out for this match to produce an offensive play and to put their heads ahead so that play throughout the first half was balanced with good quality football played at the two ends of the field. Xewkija managed to capitalise on one of their chances and ended up taking the break with a one-goal lead.
2’ Xewkija could have scored an early goal when Brian Alejandro Parada headed inside the area towards Claudio Daniel Frances but the latter saw his attempt blocked by Victoria’s goalie Adrian Parnis.
4’ The Wanderers replied with a strike by Junior Conceicao Cabral that was saved to a corner with difficulty by Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin.
10’ The Wanderers could have created more danger but a header by Junior Conceicao Cabral following a free kick by Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos ended wide.
11’ The same Cabral produced a personal action within Xewkija’s territory but his low shot from outside the area ended away from goal.
16’ Xewkija’s Claudio Daniel Frances tried to surprise Victoria’s goalkeeper with a shot from a long distance but the ball ended away from the goal.
20’ Victoria’s Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva passed through Xewkija’s defence with a personal action but his attempt from an angled position was well saved by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
30’ Xewkija were again dangerous when Denzil Bugeja delivered the ball at the edge of Victoria’s area from a corner kick but Matthias Mercieca saw his volley that just missed the target.
36’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was well placed and neutralised without difficulty an attempt from a free kick by Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos.
39’ (1-0) Xewkija opened the score when a cross from the right flank arrived to Brian Alejandro Parada who fired in goal with a first-timer from close distance.
41’ The Wanderers replied with a shot from a free kick by Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos that was saved by Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin.
HT (1-0)
Second Half
The match continued to be played with high intensity after the resumption and became much more contested as the Wanderers levelled the score at an early stage. As a result, the two sides tried to push forward to obtain the win and the outcome remained uncertain.
2’ (1-1) The Wanderers scored the equaliser when Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos passed to Junior Conceicao Cabral who turned around his direct opponent and placed in goal with a low shot.
7’ Xewkija could have regained the lead when Claudio Daniel Frances took the ball from Victoria’s defence and released Brian Alejandro Parada but the latter saw his attempt that was partially saved by Victoria’s keeper Adrian Parnis. Xewkija’s Claudio Daniel Frances took the rebound but his shot from an angled position was stopped by the crossbar and from the same action an overhead kick by Brian Alejandro Parada ended high.
8’ Xewkija’s goalie Nikola Kosanin was called to make another intervention to save a shot from a long distance by Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos.
12’ Xewkija were again dangerous through an initiative by Brian Alejandro Parada but the striker saw his shot that ended over the crossbar.
18’ Victoria threatened Xewkija’s defence with a strike by Junior Conceicao Cabral but goalie Nikola Kosanin had a good reaction and blocked the danger.
As time passed by, play took place in the midfield as the defensive departments neutralised better the respective strikers. However, as the match seemed heading towards a draw of two goals, the two sides scored a goal each during the final stages and continued to create danger until the final whistle.
40’ (1-2) The Wanderers turned the result in their favour through Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva who defended the ball outside Xewkija’s area from the left hand and surprised Xewkija’s goalie with a low shot.
44’ (2-2) Xewkija levelled the score when Dejan Bogdanovic delivered a cross towards the far post from the left-hand side and Brian Alejandro Parada arrived on the ball before the goalkeeper and headed in goal from close distance.
45+1’ Victoria was again dangerous when Caique Silvio Souza Da Silva delivered the ball inside Xewkija’s area from a free kick but Junior Conceicao Cabral hit badly from close distance and the goalkeeper and the defence cleared the danger.
45+2’ The Wanderers went again close to regain the lead when Junior Conceicao Cabral entered the area after receiving from Emerson Zammit but his low drive was blocked to a corner by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
45+3’ (red card) Xewkija were reduced to ten players when Dejan Bogdanovic was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul just outside his area.
45+3’ The Citizens had their last scoring opportunity from the resultant free kick but the attempt by Junior Conceicao Cabral was well saved by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
FT (XT 2 – SKVW 2)
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Asst. Referees: Roberto Vella, Duncan Spencer
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