2 February 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 13) Gozo Stadium
Nadur Youngsters FC : 3
SK Victoria Wanderers FC : 1
29’ (0-1) o.g. Ian Xuereb
35’ (1-1) Rafael Conrado Prudente
38’ (2-1) Rafael Conrado Prudente
47’ (3-1) Joseph Xerri
Nadur Y:
S. Sultana, I. De Jesus De Santana, D.P. Dall’Oca, R.C. Prudente (M. Mercieca 80), J. Zammit (L. Buttigieg 89), J. Xerri (M. Gauci 87), B. Said, O.P. Bugeja, I. Xuereb, G. Muscat, O.G. Fernandes.
SK Victoria W:
S. Camilleri, W. Soares Da Silva, C.S. Souza Da Silva, M. Cordina, I.H. Da Silva Costa, E. Zammit, D.G. Emmanuel, S. Harland, A. Touarha, O. Fenech (J.W. Meilak 78), L. Fenech.
Reigning champions Nadur Youngsters came from behind to earn three very important points from a 3-1 win over SK Victoria Wanderers and took command of the standings just before the end of the second round.
This was an important match for the two sides as they both needed the win for different ambitions. Nadur were aiming to complete their recovery from a difficult start in the campaign, which practically started from their fourth match and so far they registered eight consecutive wins which lifted them from the lower places on the table to sole leaders. On the other hand, the Wanderers needed a positive result to move away from the red zone.
The two sides had some regular players missing due to suspensions and injuries but Nadur gave a debut to Rafael Conrado Prudente who had experience in Gozitan football in previous seasons with Qala Saints and Oratory Youths.
The match turned out to be quite interesting during the first period as Victoria seemed in a position to be worthy challengers to their more quoted opponents and put their heads in front, but Nadur showed all their experience and produced a strong reaction so that they took the break with a one-goal lead. Nadur increased the score just after the resumption and held to the driving seat until the end of the encounter.
Timeline:
The Wanderers had a better start and during the opening half hour of play, they dictated matters and created various scoring opportunities. However, the Wanderers only managed to score on one occasion so they allowed Nadur to produce a reaction in the last part of the first half where the latter turned the score in their favour.
2’ Nadur produced the first attempt towards the goal of the encounter that arrived through a shot from a long distance by De Jesus De Santana but the ball ended wide.
5’ Victoria went very close to scoring an early goal but a header by Weder Soares Da Silva, following a cross by Caique Souza Da Silva ended just wide.
7’ The Wanderers could have produced more danger when Caique Souza Da Silva entered Nadur’s area with a personal action but central defender De Jesus De Santana made an excellent recovery and denied the striker from concluding towards goal.
15’ Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana was well placed and neutralised a good shot by Caique Souza Da Silva.
29’ (0-1) The Wanderers opened the score when Caique Souza Da Silva delivered a cross from the right flank and Ian Xuereb headed badly and committed an own goal in an attempt to clear the danger.
33’ The Wanderers were again dangerous through a strike by Owen Fenech but the ball ended just over the crossbar.
35’ (1-1) Nadur levelled the score when the Wanderers failed to clear the ball from their area, Joseph Zammit the possession and left the ball to debutant Rafael Conrado Prudente who netted easily in goal with a low drive among protests alleging that the scorer was in an offside position.
37’ Nadur increased their efforts and were dangerous through a shot by Pires Dall’Oca but the ball ended wide.
38’ (2-1) Nadur turned the result in their favour when a cross by Pires Dall’Oca was headed inside Victoria’s area by Joseph Zammit and Rafael Conrado Prudente concluded in goal with a shot from an ideal position.
44’ The Wanderers went close to recover the score through a low shot by Caique Souza Da Silva but the ball got a deflection and ended in a corner.
HT (2-1)
Second Half
Nadur had an excellent start to the second period as they extended their lead so that they re-organised themselves to defend their two-goal. Nadur however took advantage of spaces left at Victoria’s defence and were often dangerous through counter breaks while the Citizens seemed demoralised and failed to capitalise from some chances that they had to re-open the issue so that Nadur’s win was never in contention.
2’ (3-1) Nadur increased their lead when Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes delivered a cross from the left flank and Joseph Xerri headed in goal from close distance.
6’ (protests for penalty) SK Victoria Wanderers protested for a penalty, alleging handling when Nadur’s defence cleared the ball from their area following a free kick
14’ Nadur threatened Victoria’s rearguard through a lob from outside the area by Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes but the ball ended over the crossbar.
17’ Nadur could have added another goal when Gianluca Muscat’s cross from the right arrived to Joseph Xerri but the latter saw his attempt that ended away from goal.
22’ Nadur’s Joseph Xerri passed through Victoria’s defence with a personal action but his low shot was cleared from the goalmouth by Victoria’s defence.
24’ The Wanderers replied with an attempt by Sam Harland but Nadur’s defence blocked the danger to a corner.
28’ The Wanderers went very close to reduce the gap but a close-range shot by Da Silva Costa from a good position was saved by goalie Steve Sultana.
39’ The Citizens went closest to re-open the issue when a shot from a free kick by Caique Souza Da Silva got a deflection, the ball arrived to an unmarked Weder Soares Da Silva but the latter saw his attempt that was partially saved by the goalkeeper and the defence cleared the danger to a corner.
45’ Victoria had their last scoring opportunity when a shot by Emerson Zammit but the ball got a deflection by the defender and ended away from the goal.
FT (NY 3 – SKVW 1)
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Asst. Referees: David Castillo, Paul Apap
0 Comments