5 October 2024
BOV GFA Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 1) Gozo Stadium
St Lawrence Spurs FC : 3
Zebbug Rovers FC: 2
3’ (0-1) Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwunke
6’ (1-1) Eduin Junior Padilla Pedrozo
45+1’ (1-2) Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwunke
58’ (2-2) o.g. Gabriel Saliba
74’ (red card) Oliver Cremona (ZR)
82’ (3-2) penalty Eman Bugeja
St Lawrence S:
P. Cremona, N. Haber, E. Bugeja, E.J. Padilla Pedrozo (M. Dingli 46), J. Grima, V.J. Saliba, C. Farrugia, D. Micallef (S. Farrugia 59), D. Atzori (C. Azzopardi 77), J. Saliba (J.M. Portelli 59), Ju. Attard (O. Grech 77).
Zebbug R:
G. Saliba, M. Ciangura, M. Formosa (P.P. Camilleri 77), O. Cremona, B. Camilleri (C. Debono 52), H. Paulin, P. Spiteri, J. Buttigieg, N.J. Cini, L. Portelli, A. Ofulue Chukwuwnke.
St Lawrence Spurs turned a defeat into a 3-2 win in the first match of the BOV Gozo Football League 2024/2025 for the second division. In this opening match of the campaign for the two sides, Zebbug were twice in the lead but the Spurs showed character and managed to neutralise the deficit on the two occasions. In this match, the two sides showed that they both have the potential to challenge for a mid-table position.
The turning point of the well-contested encounter arrived when Zebbug were reduced to ten players as the score was on a 2-2 draw and with more than half an hour of play left for the end of the match the Spurs took advantage and scored the goal that decided the issue from a penalty that arrived a few minutes away from the final whistle.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
The two teams came out with the intention to take command of play but both sides neutralised each other as they scored a goal each during the first part of the encounter. As time passed by the two defensive departments settled down and the actions on goal became rare until the Rovers scored their second goal seconds away from the break.
1’ (post) The Spurs could have opened the score in their first attempt towards Zebbug’s goal but the shot by Eduin Junior Padilla Pedrozo shaved the post.
3’ (1-0) Zebbug opened the score when Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke netted following a personal action.
6’ (1-1) St Lawrence had an immediate reaction and levelled the score through Eduin Junior Padilla Pedozo who placed behind Zebbug’s goalie following a fine move.
23’ (post) St Lawrence went very close to turning the result in their favour but a good effort from an angled position by Eduin Junior Padilla Pedrozo following a personal action hit the post.
31’ Zebbug replied with an effort from outside the area by Nathan John Cin but the ball ended away from goal.
45+1’ (1-2) Zebbug regained the lead when Andrew Ofulue Chukwuwinke entered St L: Lawrence’s area from the left flank and netted with a fine shot towards the far post.
HT (1-1)
Second Half
The match continued to be well contested after the break as St Lawrence tried to recover the score while Zebbug were aiming to defend their lead. The match became much more exciting as the Spurs levelled the score but Zebbug compromised their chances to obtain a positive result when they ended up with a player less on the field of play fifteen minutes from the end of regular time and the Spurs capitalised and managed to score the goal that decided the issue.
10’ Zebbug went close to increasing their lead but a header by Harry Paulin following a cross from the right flank by Paul Spiteri ended wide.
13’ (2-2) St Lawrence scored their second equaliser when James Grima passed onside Zebbug’s area from the left flank and his low cross-shot surprised Zebbug’s goalie Gabriel Saliba who committed an own goal in an attempt to block the danger.
29’ (red card) Zebbug were reduced to ten players when Oliver Cremona was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul in the midfield.
36’ (3-2) penalty St Lawrence was awarded a penalty when Victor John Saliba ended on the floor inside the area following a challenge with his direct opponent and Eman Bugeja converted his shot from the penalty spot.
45+4’ St Lawrence’s goalie Paul Cremona ended up the hero for his side when he denied Zebbug from scoring the equaliser as he turned with difficulty to a corner an attempt directly from a free kick by Harry Paulin.
FT (SLS 3 – ZR 2)
Referee: George Anthony Zammit
Asst. Referees: Raymond Tabone, Gabriel Oladipupo Ibukunoluwa
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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