29 September 2024
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 3) Gozo Stadium
Qala Saints FC: 2
Nadur Youngsters FC : 0
53’ (1-0) Angel Manuel Bustos
81’ (2-0) Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dos Santos
Qala S:
O. Attard, Jsph. Buttigieg, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos, K. Farrugia (N. Inguanez 46), C. Mercieca (G. Cardona 75), E.E Ruiz, Emm. Buttigieg, J. Parnis (P. Rapa 88), A.M. Bustos, N.C. Njoku, I. Nedeljkovic.
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, I. De Jesus De Santana, D. Pires Dall’Oca, A.G. Castro Martins, J. Zammit, J. Xerri (M. Gauci 83), B. Said (S. Xuereb 83), O.P. Bugeja, I. Xuereb, G. Muscat, O.G. Fernandes.
In the main match from Match-Day 3 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, Qala Saints obtained a 2-0 win over reigning champions Nadur Youngsters so that they remain leaders on the table with maximum points. This was also Qala’s second win over Nadur this season as the Maroons defeated the Youngsters in the GFA Super Cup final which was the opening match of the 2024/2025 Gozitan football season.
Qala’s win was well deserved as they seemed more organised and created more offensive play. In this match, Qala found it more difficult than in other matches to open the score as the two sides took the break with a goalless draw. However, Qala came out for the second period more determined and expressed their superiority by scoring the two decisive goals that arrived at the beginning and at the end of the period. In this match, Nadur continued to suffer from the difficult start this season and remains at the lower part of the table with just one point from three matches. Nadur had an effective defensive deployment during eh first half and seemed in contention to register a positive result. However, as soon as they conceded the first goal they showed their limitations as they did not manage to produce danger towards Qala’s goal so they ended up conceding a second goal a few minutes before the end of the encounter.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Qala enjoyed territorial supremacy but Nadur defended well and the actions on goal throughout the first half were rare.
7’ The Maroons created their first serious attempt towards Nadur’s goal through a header by Nathan Chukwudi Njoku following a corner kick by Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz but the ball ended wide.
8’ Qala protested with the referee for letting play on when Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz entered the area with a personal action despite a challenge from an opponent but in the end, the striker was denied from concluding towards goal with an intervention by Nadur’s central defender Igor De Jesus De Santana
15’ Qala were again dangerous but a low shot by Angel Manuel Bustos got a deflection by the defence and the ball ended in a corner.
31’ Nadur had their best scoring opportunity of the first half when Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes had a shot from outside the area but the ball ended over the crossbar.
38’ Qala could have created more danger but an effort by Igor Nedeljkovic but the ball missed the target.
HT (0-0)
Second Half
Qala continued to be more offensive than their opponents from the early stages of the second period and managed to put their heads in front at an early stage. The match for the remaining minutes became much more interesting, although with very few scoring opportunities, as Nadur increased their efforts in an attempt to recover the deficit while Qala found more spaces to operate counter breaks in an attempt to put the score beyond the reach of their opponents.
5’ Nadur’s defence failed to clear the ball from their danger area but Qala’s Igor Nedeljkovic and Christian Mercieca failed to capitalise and missed an opportunity to convert from close distance.
8’ (1-0) Qala managed to break the deadlock when Ezekiel Eduardo Ruiz delivered the ball in front of Nadur’s goal from a corner kick and from the resultant melee Angel Manuel Bustos concluded in goal.
19’ The Maroons continued to create better scoring opportunities and went close to doubling their lead through a strike by Igor Nedeljkovic but the ball ended high.
36’ (2-0) Qala made sure of the three points when they doubled their lead with a goal that arrived following a free kick by Ezekiel Eduardo Ruiz that was prolonged inside Nadur’s area and Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dos Santos was at the right place to head over goalie Steve Sultana.
FT (QS 2 – NY 0)
Referee: Vladimir Rizoski
Asst. Referees: Vasil Vasilev, Paul Apap
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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