19 January 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 11) Gozo Stadium
Qala Saints FC : 3
Xewkija Tigers FC : 4
5’ (penalty missed – post) Igor Nedeljkovic (QS)
11’ (0-1) Brian Alejandro Parada
49’ (0-2) Eduardo De Sousa Santos
60’ (1-2) Igor Nedceljkovic
67’ (1-3) Brian Alejandro Parda
81’ (1-4) penalty Claudio Daniel Frances
84’ (2-4) penalty Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz
90+3’ (3-4) Igor Nedeljkovic
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos (P. Rapa 79), K. Farrugia (J. Parnis
46), C. Mercieca, E.E Ruiz, E. Buttigieg, N.C. Njoku, E. Grozdanov (G. Cardona 46),
L.S. Nascimento Dias Almeida, I. Nedeljkovic.
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, Jsm. Vella, J.M. Vella, D. Bugeja, Josih. Buttigieg, S. Cassar (E. Refalo
90+2), G. Hili, C.D. Frances, K. Mercieca, B.A. Parada (Jsh. Buttigieg 90), E. De Sousa
Santos.
Xewkija Tigers re-opened their chances to be among challengers for the title with a 4-3
win over the current leaders of the top flight Qala Saints in the main match from Match-
Day 11 of the Gozitan championship. This match turned out to be one of the most
exciting matches so far this season as Xewkija needed a win to remain close to the top
of the table while Qala were aiming to obtain a positive result in an attempt to
consolidate their lead. The result of this match not only pushed Xewkija closer to the
same Qala but allowed the other contenders Nadur Youngsters and Xaghra United to
be in contention for the main honour.
Xewkija’s win was well deserved as they showed that they are more experienced in facing such delicate matches. Xewkija dedicated their efforts to neutralise Qala’s
offensive play and were much more dangerous with their breaks so they had
control of the result from an early stage and seemed heading towards a comfortable win
when they had a three-goal lead with less than ten minutes left for the end of the regular
time. The main protagonist in Xewkija’s win was undoubtedly their striker from
Argentina Brian Alejandro Parada. Parada marked his performance with a hat trick and
was noted for an action of fair play, which deserves praise, on 76 minutes when he
renounced his run towards Qala’s area in a potentially dangerous attack as he noticed
that his direct opponent Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dos Santos was seriously injured.
In this match, the hot favourites for the title Qala Saints disappointed as they had the
opportunity to eliminate one team from the race to the title and compromised the result
with some defensive mistakes that showed some inexperience. Qala probably lost
some confidence when they missed an opportunity to take the lead from a penalty
during the opening minutes of the encounter and struggled to remain close to their
opponents. The Maroons however showed a strong character during the final stages of
the encounter as they recovered two of the three-goal deficit and kept pushing until the
final whistle in an attempt to score a dramatic equaliser.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Qala were very aggressive during the first period and held territorial supremacy but
Xewkija were not demoralised and managed to block Qala’s efforts so that the
Maroons found it very difficult to conclude towards goal. The Maroons also missed an
opportunity from the penalty spot and were immediately punished as Xewkija opened
the score following a counterbreak so that the first half ended with Qala trailing their
opponents by one goal.
5’ (penalty missed – post) Qala had a golden opportunity to score an early goal when
they were awarded a penalty for a tackle by Josiah Buttigieg on Igor Nedeljkovic but
the shot from the penalty spot by the same Nedeljkovic was stopped by the post.
10’ Qala could have made up for the mistake from the spot kick when Ezequiel Ruiz
crossed from the left-hand side towards the goalmouth but Kevin Farrugia failed to
connect.
11’ (0-1) Xewkija opened the score in their first action within Qala’s territory as Stefan
Cassar released Brian Alejandro Parada, who resisted the challenge of his direct
opponent, and lobbed into an open net as the goalkeeper left his position in an attempt
to block the danger
14’ Qala replied with an initiative by Nicholas Inguanez who delivered a cross from the
left but the shot by Ezequiel Ruiz just missed the target.
28’ Xewkija could have doubled their lead when Qala’s defence failed to clear the ball
from the midfield and Brian Alejandro Parada took advantage, entered Qala’s territory
but concluded wide when he was alone in front of Qala’s goalie.
32’ Qala were again dangerous but Igor Nedeljkovic had an effort that was blocked to a
corner by the defence, and from the resultant corner kick by Ezequiel Ruiz, Dias De
Almeida lifted the ball over the crossbar from a close distance.
38’ Qala could have created more danger when Igor Nedeljkovic delivered a cross
from the right flank but Christian Mercieca headed badly from a good position and thethe
ball ended away from the goal.
41’ Qala went very close to level the score when a shot by Christian Mercieca got a
deflection but goalie Nikola Kosanin managed to block the ball from entering the net
and from the resultant clearance by the defence Qala’s Ezequiel Ruiz failed to
conclude towards goal
HT (0-1)
Second Half
The match continued to be well contested after the break as Xewkija doubled their lead
but conceded an opportunity to their opponents to re-open the issue. Qala failed to
capitalise on the good moment so that Xewkija extended their lead to three goals so
that they were able to remain in front despite a late comeback by the Maroons.
4’ (0-2) Xewkija doubled the score when an attempt from a free kick by Brian Alejandro
Parada hit the crossbar, and an attempt from the rebound by Stefan Cassar was partially
saved by goalie Owen Attard and Eduardo De Sousa Santos fired towards the roof of
the net from a close distance.
15’ (1-2) Qala managed to re-open the issue when Xewkija’s defence failed to clear the
ball from their area following a cross from the right by substitute Gabriel Cardona and
Igor Nedeljkovic took full advantage and concluded in goal from an unmarked position.
22’ (1-3) Xewkija regained the two-goal lead when Brian Alejandro Parada won the
ball despite a challenge from his direct opponent following a through pass by Stefan
Cassar entered the area and conclude in the net with a low shot towards the far corner.
29’ Qala were dangerous through a strike by Nathan Njoku but goalie Nikola Kosanin
managed to block the danger with some difficulty.
35’ (1-4) penalty Xewkija made sure of the win when they were awarded a penalty for a
foul by goalie Owen Attard on Brian Alejandro Parada and Claudio Daniel Frances
converted his shot from the penalty spot.
38’ (2-4) penalty Qala was awarded a penalty for handling by Josiah Buttigieg and
Ezequiel Eduardo Ruiz reduced the score with his shot from the spot kick.
40’ Xewkija missed an opportunity to add another goal when Brian Alejandro Parada
entered Qala’s territory in a fast break but his final shot missed the target.
45+3’ (3-4) Qala once again reduced the deficit to just one goal when Christian
Mercieca delivered the ball inside Xewkija’s area and Igor Nedeljkovic arrived on the
ball before the goalkeeper and headed into an open goal.
FT (QS 3 – XT 4)
Referee: Slobodan Petrovic
Asst. Referees: Roberto Vella, Kurt Saliba
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