2 February 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 13) Gozo Stadium
Xewkija Tigers FC : 2
Xaghra United FC : 3
24’ (0-1) Johan Alberto Castano
67’ (1-1) Brian Alejandro Parada
81’ (1-2) Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo
86’ (2-2) penalty Brian Alejandro Parada
90+3’ (red card) Eduardo De Sousa Santos (XT)
90+4’ (2-3) penalty Chris Camilleri
Xewkija T:
N. Kosanin, Jsm. Vella (J. Farrugia 82), J.M. Vella, D. Bugeja, Josih. Buttigieg (Jsh. Buttigieg 56), R. Buttigieg, G. Hili, S. Cassar, C.D. Frances, B.A. Parada, E. De Sousa Santos.
Xaghra U:
M. Zammit, J. Bajada, L. Farrugia (C. Camilleri 67), M. Bezzina (G. Debono 74), J.A. Castano, M. Mamo, D. Sowatey, F.J. Xuereb, S.F. Bajada (S. Galea 29), C. Galea, J.Y. Suzuki Bicudo.
In the main match from Match-Day 13 of the BOV Gozo Football League of the first division, Xaghra United earned the full points at stake from a five-goal thriller against Xewkija Tigers. This match was a direct clash between two sides who needed the win to remain challengers for the top positions. Thus, with this win, Xaghra remained in contention for the title while Xewkija practically saw their hopes to win the main honour in Gozitan football after eight years fade away.
The outcome of this match practically expresses the performances of the two sides throughout the campaign. Xaghra once again earned another win through their determination as they managed to come out of difficult situations with their vertical offensive play which allowed their strikers to express their qualities by creating danger with attempts on goal. On the other hand, Xewkija once again failed to express the qualities of their strong side and despite a superior ball possession, they ended up giving away important points which compromised their possibility to be more competitive in the campaign.
The match turned out to be well contested where the final result was uncertain and during the final stages the win could have gone either way For most of the time of the encounter, Xewkija dictated matters but they did not manage to convert their territorial supremacy into goals so that they ended up trailing their opponents. Xaghra on the other hand were resilient and organised in their defence. Xaghra’s keeper was also in good form and denied their opponents from scoring on more than one occasion. Xaghra, who is the revelation side of the championship, capitalised on their chances and ended up scoring the decisive goal of the encounter from a penalty that arrived a few seconds away from the end of the match.
Timeline:
Xewkija Tigers saw more of the ball for most of the first half and created some good scoring opportunities but the strikers were often erratic and on other occasions they were denied from scoring with important interventions by Xaghra’s goalie. Xaghra took the lead with a goal that arrived against the run of play but they grew in confidence and managed to protect the result until the break.
8’ Xewkija could have created more danger when Josiah Buttigieg took the ball before Xaghra’s goalie could clear the danger, but Brian Alejandro Parada hit badly and the defence cleared the danger
11’ (post) Xewkija went very close to opening the score when a header by Brian Alejandro Parada from a free kick by Denzil Bugeja hit the post and from the rebound, the same striker had his attempt that ended away from goal.
12’ Xaghra’s goalie Mattia Zammit was called to make a good intervention to block the danger as a shot by Claudio Daniel Frances got a deflection by the defence.
14’ Xewkija were again dangerous but an effort by Brian Alejandro Parada, when he was challenged by two opponents, ended wide.
19’ Xaghra replied with an initiative by Johan Alberto Castano who delivered a cross inside Xewkija’s area but the shot by Lucas Farrugia was well saved by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
24’ (0-1) Xaghra put their heads in front when a cross by Lucas Farrugia arrived to Johan Alberto Castano who came from behind the defence and surprised the goalkeeper with a fine header on the run.
30’ Xewkija replied with an attempt from a free kick by Eduardo De Sousa Santos but the ball ended high.
31’ Xaghra’s goalie Mattia Zammit made one of the best saves of the afternoon when he managed to block a close ranged header by Brian Alejandro Parada following a cross from the left flank by Josiah Buttigieg.
37’ Xewkija went again close to levelling the score but a shot by Brian Alejandro Parada ended over the crossbar.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
Xewkija continued to chase the equaliser from the early stages of the second period but when they levelled the score they conceded Xaghra’s second lead of the encounter. The match continued to be well contested as Xewkija scored a second equaliser but as the match was heading towards a draw, Xewkija conceded a penalty seconds from the final whistle that was converted by Xaghra and the latter left the field of play with the fill points at stake.
7’ Xaghra were dangerous through a cross shot by Lucas Farrugia but the ball ended high.
17’ Xewkija could have created more danger but a low shot by substitute Joshua Buttigieg passed in front of Xaghra’s goal and from the same action Stefan Cassar’s initiative was cleared by the defence.
22’ (1-1) Xewkija’s efforts were rewarded as they levelled the score when a cross by Claudio Daniel Frances arrived to Brian Alejandro Parada who placed the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper with a fine header.
36’ (1-2) Xaghra regained the lead when Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo had a pass aimed to substitute Chris Camilleri that was blocked by the defence and from the same clearance the Brazilian striker fired towards the far corner with a first-time.
39’ Xewkija were denied from scoring the second equaliser with a fine save by goalie Mattia Zammit following an attempt from a free kick by Brian Alejandro Parada.
40’ (2-2) penalty Xewkija managed to level the score when they were awarded a penalty for handling by Marlon Mamo following a shot by Stefan Cassar and Brian Alejandro Parada converted from the penalty spot.
41’ In the following action Xaghra produced a prolonged action within Xewkija’s area but at the end, the low shot by Suzuki Bicudo was neutralised by goalie Nikola Kosanin.
45+3’ (red card) Xewkija were reduced to ten players when Chris Camilleri released Suzuki Bicudo inside Xewkija’s area and the latter ad on the ball before his direct opponent, turned around the goalkeeper and addressed towards an open goal but central defender Eduardo De Sousa Santos handled the ball to deny a goal-scoring opportunity so that the same De Spusa Santos was shown a red card and the referee awarded a penalty.
45+4’ (2-3) penalty From the resultant penalty kick Chris Camilleri defeated the goalkeeper to score the decisive goal of the encounter.
FT (XT 2 – XU 3)
Referee: Daniel Portelli
Asst. Referees: Thomas Debono, Anthony Paul Vella
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