5 April 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 2nd Division (MD 15) Gozo Stadium
Kercem Ajax FC : 7
Zebbug Rovers FC : 0
36’ (1-0) Cesar Velez Da Silva
40’ (2-0) Andre Azzopardi
43’ (3-0) Antonio Xuereb
65’ (4-0) Carlos Cutajar
79’ (5-0) Carlos Cutajar
81’ (6-0) Cesar Velez Da Silva
89’ (7-0) Cesar Velez Da Silva
Kercem A:
D. Spiteri (F. Vella 46), D. Cassar, A. Azzopardi, J. Theuma, R. Saliba, L. Atzori (K. Sciberras 54), A. Mizzi (C. Vella 73), A. Debrincat (C. Cutajar 57), A. Xuereb, L. Sultana (S. Azzopardi 73), C. Velez Da Silva.
Zebbug R:
G. Saliba, P. Spiteri (D. Vella 83), M. Formosa (L. Galea 83), B. Camilleri (O. Saliba 67), H. Paulin, A. Ofulue Chukwuwinke, O. Cremona, P.P. Camilleri, N.J. Cini, M. Ciangura (J. Azzopardi 74), J. Buttigieg.
In the final match of the BOV Gozo Football League Second Division, Kercem Ajax, who were already mathematically confirmed as champions, claimed a 7-0 win over Zebbug Rovers. This not only allowed them to celebrate the title with a positive result but also meant they ended the league with maximum points.
Kercem’s dominance in the Second Division this season was clear from the very first games. They remained consistent until the final match, achieving 15 wins in 15 matches, scoring 64 goals, an average of more than four per game, and conceding only 4 goals, which came in just two matches. In the other 13 matches, Ajax won without conceding a single goal. Thanks to this success, Kercem returned to the top division after just one season in the second tier.
In this match, Kercem showcased their superiority as they did all season. Despite the fact that the result of this game against Zebbug had no impact on the standings, Kercem controlled the match for the full 90 minutes and kept creating chances until the final moments, with the last goal of the game coming just before the final whistle.
Kercem’s Brazilian forward, Cesar Velez Da Silva, was once again a standout player, scoring another hat-trick, his third in the league, to bring his goal tally to 21, finishing as the top scorer in the Second Division.
With this result, Zebbug ended the season second from the bottom, despite at times showing signs that they could have achieved a better position.
At the end of the match, Kercem Ajax players and officials were presented with medals and the league trophy by Ms. Charmaine Borg, Gozo Region Manager of Bank of Valletta, and Gozo Football Association President Dr. Samuel Azzopardi, in front of celebrating Kercem fans at the Gozo Stadium.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline:
Kercem dominated the match from the start, although in the first half they were a bit erratic in their finishing and had to wait until the 36th minute to open the scoring. After the first goal, they increased the pressure and scored two more before halftime.
4’ Kercem could have scored early, but Andrew Mizzi’s attempt was cleared off the goal line by defender Matthion Formosa.
5’ Another chance for Kercem, but Lorenzo Atzori’s effort went over the bar.
15’ In another action by Kercem, a dangerous shot from Luke Sultana missed the target from a good position.
25’ Kercem kept insisting, and from a cross on the right by Antonio Xuereb, Cesar Velez Da Silva headed wide.
28’ Kercem were again dangerous, with Lorenzo Atzori setting up Luke Sultana, but the latter shot off target.
30’ Zebbug’s goalkeeper Gabriel Saliba, denied Kercem with a fine block on Velez Da Silva’s close-range shot.
36’ (1-0) Kercem finally broke the deadlock with a close-range finish from Cesar Velez Da Silva, who was unmarked in the box.
40’ (2-0) The Ajax doubled the lead with a precise long-range free kick by Andre Azzopardi, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
43’ (3-0) The lead was extended by Antonio Xuereb, who fired a low shot into the net from close range.
HT (3-0)
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Second Half:
In the second half, Zebbug continued to suffer under Kercem’s offensive play, and the champions ended the match with a large scoreline, scoring three more goals late in the game.
11’ Kercem’s Andrea Debrincat won the ball in the opponent’s defence but shot wide.
13’ (post) Kercem were unlucky when a cross-shot by Andrew Mizzi struck the post and went wide.
20’ (4-0) Kercem added another goal when Andrew Mizzi anticipated the goalkeeper’s movement but hit the post; from the rebound, substitute Carlos Cutajar fired home.
27’ Zebbug had their best chance of the match when Paul Spiteri’s shot was blocked by substitute goalkeeper Franklin Vella.
34’ (5-0) Kercem scored again as Christian Vella set up Carlos Cutajar, who finished with a low shot.
36’ (6-0) The Ajax increased their lead with a clever lob by Cesar Velez Da Silva surprised the Zebbug’s goalkeeper and added another goal.
44’ (7-0). The final goal by Kercem came when a shot by Carlos Cutajar struck the post and rebounded to Cesar Velez Da Silva, who tapped it in with ease.
FT (KA 7 – ZR 0)
Referee: Luca Grech
Asst. Referees: Darko Stankovic, Huseyin Baykus
Photo: Anthony Cassar
0 Comments