The MFA Boost Diesel FA Trophy – Rd2
Gozo Stadium
Victoria H : 4 (E. Da Silva 17’pen., C. Camilleri 84’, H. Maciel 89’, A. Debrincat 90+1’)
D. Galea, J. Tabone, L. Grima, K. Farrugia (J. Pace), F. Apap, C. Mercieca (C. Camilleri), E. Lattes, J. Camilleri, E. Da Silva (A. Debrincat(, H. Maciel, D. Sowatey.
Birzebbuga SP : 0
C. Caruana, L. Cassar Jackson, J. Micallef, C. Cuatajar (J.C. Vella), R. Buhagiar (A. Cutajar), D. Grima, R. Duca, D. Grech, K. Pisani (R. Celeste), K. Muscat, D. Sohna.
Current leaders of the Gozitan championship Victoria Hotspurs extended their perfect run at the beginning of the new season by obtaining qualification to the third round of the Malta FA Trophy with a 4-0 win over Birzebbuga St Peter’s who play in the second division campaign of the MFA. The Hotspurs held command of play through the encounter an earned the qualification with the least possible effort. The Hotspurs scored a goal during the early stages of the match but although they continued to hold command of play, they only made sure of the victory with three goal scored during the last minutes of the match.
The Hotspurs could have opened the score after just twenty four minutes of play but Emiliano Lattes had his shot from outside the area that ended over the crossbar. In the third minute of play Victoria’s John Camilleri headed wide a corner kick by Henrique Maciel and on 12 minutes the same Camilleri once again headed badly from a good position following a free kick by Maciel. On 17 minutes the Hotspurs were awarded a penalty for handling by Birzebbug’s Ranier Buhagiar following a cross by Henrique Maciel and Elton Da Silva opened the score with his shot from the spot kick. The Hotspurs reduced their pressure on Birzebbuga’s defence but continued to administer play. The Hotspurs went again close to scoring on 40 minutes when Henrique Maciel won a ball from the heart of Birzebbug’s defence but his shot missed the target. On 42 minutes Victoria’s keeper Daniel Galea left his position in time to take the ball at the edge of the area before Keith Muscat could reach a through pass form the midfield.
Play during the second period was more exciting as Birzebbuga shared possession and also threatened Victoria’s rear guard on more than one occasion. The Hotspurs however continued to be the better side and on 49 minutes a good shot by Elton Da Silva was deflected to a corner by Birzebbuga’s defence. From the same corner action, taken by Henrique Maciel, Ferdinando Apap’s header ended high. Victoria’s Elton Da Silva headed towards Chris Mercieca inside Birzebbuga’s area on 59 minutes but defender Lesley Cassar Jackson recovered in time and cleared the danger form the goalmouth. One minute later the visitors went close to scoring but a strike by Didier Sohna ended just wide. On 63 minutes Birzebbuga’s goalie Clive Caruana was called to make two consecutive interventions to keep his side in contention following two shots from close distance by Elton Da Silva and John Camilleri, and less than a minute later Victoria’s Elton Da Silva had a low shot that ended just wide. On 65 minutes Victoria’s goalie Daniel Galea had good timing to leave his position and take the ball from a low cross by Damon Grima to deny Didier Sohna from concluding towards goal. The Hotspurs could have scored their second goal on 70 minutes but Ferdinando Apap incredibly headed wide from close distance an inviting cross by Chris Mercieca. Birzebbuga had their best opportunity to level the score on 81 minutes but substitute Ronnie Celeste incredibly fired over the crossbar from close distance an inviting cross by Keith Muscat. The visitors were punished for the missed opportunity as the Hotspurs doubled the score on 84 minutes through substitute Chris Camilleri who took the ball inside the area after a bad clearance by the defence and lobbed easily over the goalkeeper to place the ball inside an open goal. The Saints were demoralised and on 89 minutes the Hotspurs added another goal when Henrique Maciel passed around a number of Birzebbuga defenders from the right flank, exchange the ball with Emiliano Lattes at the edge of the area and fired in goal with a fine strike that was out of the reach of the goalkeeper. In the first minute of stoppage time Victoria scored their fourth goal when John Camilleri won the ball from the defence at the edge of the area and substitute Andrea Debrincat was at the right place to push the ball into an open goal.
Referee: Daniel Casha
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