21 September 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 2) Gozo Stadium
Qala Saints FC : 2
Xaghra United FC : 0
64’ (1-0) penalty Andre Gabriel Castro Martins
90+1’ (2-0) Joseph Zammit
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez, Jsph. Buttigieg, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos (Sergipe), L.B. Da Silva (Barreto), A.G. Castro Martins, J. Zammit, J. Pace, E. Buttigieg, G. Cardona (M. Camilleri 82), I. Mohammed.
Xaghra U:
W.C. Santos (Tom), J. Bajada, D. Sowatey, L. Farrugia, E. Xiberras, J. Xuereb (P.J. Mifsud 67), M. Gafa, M. Mamo, T. Agius, Y. Abedi (Rodo) (N. Agius 90+3), N. Sultana (S. Sultana 85).
Reigning champions Qala Saints recovered from their opening-day defeat with a deserved 2-0 victory over Xaghra United to collect their first points of the league campaign.
This was the second league outing for both teams, with Qala and Xaghra coming into the match eager to secure their first points after losing their opening fixtures. Qala enjoyed territorial dominance for most of the encounter, but Xaghra defended resolutely and managed to hold off their opponents for over an hour. The Saints eventually broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, and they sealed the win deep into stoppage time with a second goal to settle the contest.
Timeline
First Half
Qala started aggressively and pressed Xaghra inside their half, but the latter were very well organised at the back and frustrated Qala’s forwards. Despite several half-chances, the Saints were unable to find the breakthrough before the break.
2’ Qala created the first threat, but Joseph Zammit’s shot from the edge of the box finished off target.
13’ Xaghra replied with a counter-attack, but Joel Xuereb’s effort was saved by Qala goalkeeper Owen Attard.
26’ Ibrahim Mohammed cut in from the left but saw his shot drift wide from Xaghra’s goal.
38’ Qala were unlucky when Gabriel Cardona broke through on the right from a Joseph Zammit pass and beat the keeper, only for his low strike to rebound off the post.
42’ Xaghra keeper Tom saved comfortably from Andre Martins’ header after a cross by Nicholas Inguanez.
45’ The best chance of the half fell to Qala when Martins headed narrowly wide from a Joseph Zammit free kick.
45+2’ Qala protested for a penalty after Martins went down under pressure from Daniel Sowatey, but the referee awarded only a corner. From the ensuing set piece, Inguanez’s header was stopped by goalkeeper Tom.
HT: 0-0
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Second Half
Qala continued to push forward after the restart and their persistence was rewarded with the opening goal from the penalty spot. With the advantage secured, the Saints grew in confidence, managed the game well, and struck again late in stoppage time to ensure victory.
49’ Zammit broke on the right and crossed into Xaghra’s area, but Martins missed a sitter from close range.
52’ Mohammed played Zammit through on goal, but Xaghra’s goalkeeper Tom rushed out in time to block.
56’ Xaghra threatened through Tristen Agius, but his shot from distance was off target.
64’ (1-0) Qala were awarded a penalty after Gabriel Cardona was fouled by Melchiore Gafa inside the box. Andre Gabriel Castro Martins stepped up and converted confidently from the spot.
66’ Martins almost doubled the lead with a cheeky backheel effort inside the area that went wide.
77’ Xaghra went close to an equaliser when Rodo advanced centrally and forced Attard into a fine low save.
85’ Mohammed broke through on the right and squared the ball to substitute Matteo Camilleri, who failed to connect in front of Xaghra’s goal.
88’ Keeper Tom once again denied Qala with a reflex save from close range against Martins.
90+1’ (2-0) Qala sealed the win when substitute Matteo Camilleri combined with Joseph Zammit, who tapped home from close range.
FT (QS 2 – XU 0)
Referee: Jo-Anna Vassllo
Asst. Referees: Patrick Falzon, Darko Stankovic
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