6 September 2024
BOV GFA Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 1) Gozo Stadium
Ghajnsielem FC: 4
Nadur Youngsters FC : 3
10’ (1-0) Joseph Onyeka Ezigbo
26’ (2-0) Decon Attard
30’ (2-1) Brandon Said
35’ (3-1) Joseph Onyeka Ezigbo
41’ (3-2) Joseph Zammit
88’ (3-3) Brandon Said
90+9’ (4-3) penalty Marcus Vinicius Claudino Ramos
Ghajnsielem:
L. Buttigieg, H. Muscat, T. Sciberras, Al. Xuereb, D.D. Torres Quinones, M,V, Claudino
Ramos (Choco), D. Attard (K. Hili 46), I. Belhadj (W. Hili 71), H.H. Goncalves Barbosa, J.O.
Ezigbo, N.I. Belhadj.
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, I. De Jesus De Santana, G. Muscat (L. Buttigieg 38), D. Pires Dall’Oca, J.
Zammit, J. Xerri, B. Said, O.P. Bugeja G. Farrugia (D. Portelli 88), I. Xuereb, M.P. Camilleri
(S. Xuereb 79).
Ghajnsielem earned the full points at stake from a 4-3 win over champions Nadur Youngsters
in the opening match of the GFA BOV Gozo Football League of the 1st division for the
season 2024/2025. The game turned out to be well-contested where the outcome was
uncertain and was only decided with the decisive goal that arrived from a penalty that was
awarded within the last minute of added time.
The two teams came out for this match to start the championship on a
positive note as Nadur needed to make up for the disappointing defeat conceded the week
before in the final of the GFA Super Cup by starting the defence of the title with a win, while
Ghajnsielem, who were led for the first time by their new coach Darko Stojanovic, were
looking to obtain a positive result in an attempt to avoid repeating a difficult campaign as they
went through during the last season. Ghajnsielem seemed in a better shape for most of the
first half as they seemed more organised and more dangerous in their offensive play, but
they did not manage to capitalise on their good moments since they allowed their
opponents to produce a comeback on two occasions and remained in contention for a
positive result.
The match became much more interesting after the break as Nadur grew in confidence and
kept insisting on saving the result while Ghajnsielem continued to threaten their opponents in
an attempt to increase their lead. The final stages of the encounter were dramatic as Nadur
levelled the score just before the end of regular time but Ghajnsielem were not demoralised
and dominated the seven minutes of added time and obtained the win with a last-gasp goal
which arrived from a penalty kick.
Overall this match showed that Nadur would find it difficult to be competitive as long as they
continue to play with just two foreigners, while Ghajnsielem had a very encouraging start,
where their new signings all had a positive performance, particularly Brazilian striker Haraan
Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa who was a continuous threat to Nadur’s defence and
contributed in no small way to three of the four goals scored by the Blacks.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Nadur came out to take control of the play but Ghajnsielem were well
organised at their defence and much more dangerous in their counter breaks. The Blacks
seemed in a position to take command of the encounter as they had a two-goal lead at two
stages of the first half but Nadur made good use of their experience and reduced the deficit
to remain in contention for a positive result.
10’ (1-0) Ghajnsielem opened the score when a free kick from long distance by Hayden
Muscat arrived to an unmarked Joseph Onyeka Ezigbo who surprised Nadur’s goalkeeper
with a good header.
18’ Nadur replied with a shot from outside the area by Diego Pires Dall’Oca that was
blocked by Ghjnsielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg.
21’ (protests for penalty) Ghajnsielem protested for a penalty when Haraan Hajazan
Goncalves Barbosa ended up on the floor while trying to pass goalie Steve Sultana.
26’ (2-0) The Blacks doubled their lead when Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa entered
Nadur’s territory with personal action and released Decon Attard inside the area so that
The latter was fired in goal from an unmarked position.
27’ Nadur were dangerous through an attempt by Joseph Zammit that was blocked to a
corner by goalie Luke Buttigieg.
30’ (2-1) Nadur reduced the score through a low shot by Brandon Said that surprised
Ghajnsielem’s keeper.
34’ The Youngsters went again close to score but a strike by Diego Pires Dall’Oca following
a personal action ended just wide.
35’ (3-1) The Blacks regained the two-goal lead when Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa
released Joseph Onyeka Ezigbo inside Nadur’s area and the latter made no mistake with
his shot from an ideal position.
38’ Nadur missed a golden scoring opportunity when a close-ranged header by Gabriel
Farrugia following a free kick by Diego Pires Dall’Oca was partially saved by the goalkeeper
and the ball arrived to Bardon Said who incredibly lifted over the crossbar with an open goal
at his mercy.
42’ (3-2) Nadur managed to re-open the issue when substitute Leander Buttigieg delivered
the ball towards the goalmouth following a clearance by Ghajnsielem’s defence from a
corner action and the ball arrived to an unmarked Joseph Zammit who concluded in goal
from close distanced among protests from Ghajnsielem’s players claiming an offside.
HT (3-2)
Second Half
The match became much more interesting after the break as the two sides were motivated to
score for different reasons. However, the two sides were often erratic in the final pass and
failed to capitalise on some potential scoring opportunities so the outcome of the
encounter remained uncertain until the final stages.
1’ Nadur could have created more danger but Brandon Said’s header from a good position
was weak and the ball ended wide.
7’ Ghajnsielem replied with a personal effort by Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa but his
shot missed the target.
23’ Ghajnsielem’s goalie Luke Buttigieg was well placed and neutralised without difficulty a
low shot by Gabriel Farrugia.
35’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana kept his side in contention when he managed to save a
corner a low shot by Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa following a personal action.
44’ (3-3) Nadur levelled the score when Joseph Zammit prolonged with a header towards the
goalmouth following a corner action and Brandon Said netted with a close-range header
from an unmarked position.
45+2’ Ghajnsielem could have regained the lead when Haraan Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa
entered Nadur’s area but his shot from a good position ended wide.
45+7’ (4-3) penalty Ghajnsielem managed to clinch the win when they were awarded a
penalty a few seconds away from the end of the additional time for a tackle by Nadur’s Ian
Xuereb on Ghajnsielem’s Haaran Hajazan Goncalves Barbosa and Marcus Vinicius
Claudino Ramos fired in goal his shot from the penalty spot
FT (GHJ 4 – NY 3)
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Asst. Referees: Duncan Spencer, Andrea Naudi
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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