3 March 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 15) Gozo Stadium
Xaghra United FC : 0
Qala Saints FC: 2
74’ (0-1) Nathan Chukwudi Njoku
79’ (0-2) Igor Nedeljkovic
Xaghra U:
L. Xuereb, S. Galea (D. Azzopardi 76), S.F. Bajada, M. Bezzina (C. Camilleri 58), M. Mamo (J. Bajada 76), M. Cordina, F.J. Xuereb (O. Fenech 58), M.A. Morgon Filho, C.A. Diaz Arias, H. Da Silva Wilker, M.P. Camilleri.
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez, Jsph. Buttigieg, L.B. Da Silva, M. Buttigieg, L.M. Dos Santos, E. Buttigieg, J. Parnis (S. Curmi 90+1), C. Mercieca, I. Nedeljkovic, M. Xerri (N.C. Njoku 64)
Qala Saints maintained their pressure on the current leaders Nadur Youngsters with the points obtained from a 2-0 win over Xaghra United who are currently struggling to earn points in an attempt to move away from second place from the bottom.
The two teams had their regular central defender missing, Xaghra’s Leandro. Almeida Da Silva and Qala’s Joao Vitor Ferrari Silva missing due to a suspension. The match between Qala and Xaghra turned out to be well contested where the two sides had scoring opportunities within the first hour of play. However, Qala made good use of their experience during the second period as they managed to increase the pressure on their opponents and ended up earning the full points at stake with two goals scored in the space of five minutes. The turning point of the encounter arrived one minute after Qala scored their opening goal, as Xaghra missed a golden opportunity to level the score and from a possible draw, Xaghra ended up trailing by two goals a few minutes later when the Maroons doubled the score.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Play during the first period was quite balanced with some good scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field. However, the two defensive departments managed to resist and the match remained in a deadlock until the break.
4’ Qala produced the first dangerous action of the encounter but a shot by Christian Mercieca was deflected by the defence and the ball ended in a corner.
12’ Xaghra replied with an effort by Matthias Cordina following a corner action but the ball ended wide.
20’ Xaghra could have created more danger when Henrique Da Silva Wilker produced a counter break but his final shot missed the target.
24’ (protests for penalty) Qala’s Nicholas Inguanez took advantage of some space on the left flank and ed the area but from his pass Christian Merciec’s shot was blocked by the defence among protests for a penalty.
28’ (crossbar) The Maroons were also unlucky when a strike by Martin Buttigieg from a good position was stopped by the crossbar.
32’ Qala kept insisting and a shot Joseph Buttigieg ended over the crossbar.
35’ Xaghra’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb made an important intervention to deny their opponents from scoring when Jordi Parnis delivered a good cross from the right and Christian Mercieca came from behind the defence but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper.
41’ Xaghra had their best opportunity to end the first half in the lead when they produced a prolonged action inside Qala’s area but at the end, the shot by Michael Paul Camilleri was blocked by goalie Owen Attard.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
The match continued to be well contested after the break but as time passed by Qala expressed more experience and became more dangerous than their opponents so they managed to achieve their objective by scoring two goals in the space of four minutes.
1’ Xaghra could have surprised their opponents after 35 seconds of play when Marco Antonio Morgon Filho produced a personal action from the left flank and his low pass Michael Bezzina’s attempt was blocked by Qala’s defender Nicholas Inguanez.
10’ (goal disallowed) Qala replied with a dangerous action within Xaghra’s area but Jordi Parnis passed to Igor Nedeljkovic instead of concluding the action so that the latter guided the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed for an offside.
17’ Qala’s Lucas Baretto Da Silva had a good shot that was well saved by Xaghra’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb.
24’ The same goalkeeper was again called to make important interventions to block a shot by Igoe Nedeljkovic and the attempt by Christian Mercieca from the rebound.
26’ Qala’s Christian Mercieca had a curling shot aimed towards the far post that ended wide.
29’ (0-1) Qala managed to take the lead when an attempt from a free kick by Lucas Mattheus Da Silva was partially saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and from the rebound substitute Nathan Chukwudi Njoku headed in goal.
32’ (post) Xaghra could have levelled the score in the following action when the ball arrived to an unmarked Johann Bajada, who entered the field of play a minute before, but his attempt was stopped by the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
34’ (0-2) Xaghra were punished for the missed chance as Qala added a second goal when Christian Mercieca unmarked Igor Nedeljkovic following a break and the latter netted with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.
36’ Xaghra were again could have reopened the issue but a shot b dangerous through shot by Marco Antonio Morgan Filho was saved by goalie Owen Attard.
38’ Qala could have added another goal when a strike by Lucas Baretto Da Silva was saved to a corner by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and from the same corner action the goalkeeper cleared badly and Lucas Mattheus Dos Santos headed towards an open goal but Xaghra’s substitute Daniel Azzopardi recovered in time and cleared the ball from the goalmouth to avoid a certain goal.
39’ Xaghra could have reduced the deficit but a shot from a good position by Marco Antonio Morgon Filho ended away from goal.
45+4’ Qala were denied from scoring a third goal when Xaghra’s defender Daniel Azzopardi cleared off the fatal line a shot by Christian Mercieca that surprised goalie Lorjean Xuereb.
FT (XU 0 – QS 2)
Referee: Slawomir Olucha
Asst. Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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