28 September 2025
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 3) Gozo Stadium
SK Victoria Wanderers FC: 2
Xewkija Tigers FC : 3
2’ (0-1) penalty Marcelo Junior Barbosa
8’ (1-1) Jose Wilkson Teixeira Rocha
30’ (2-1) Sam Harland
48’ (1-1) Claudio Daniel Frances
72’ (2-3) Brian Alejandro Parada
SK Victoria W:
S. Camilleri, A.L. Cutler, N. Camilleri, M. Cordina, E. Zammit, C.S. Souza Da Silva, S. Harland, J. Wilkson Texeira Rocha, A. Touarha (K. Vella 86), D.G. Gouveia Garcia, L. Fenech.
Xewkija T:
A. Parnis, J. Vella, I. Xuereb, J.M. Vella, D. Bugeja, M.J. Barbosa (J. Farrugia 89), S. Cassar, K. Mercieca (G. Hili 72), B.A. Parada, C.D. Frances (Josh. Buttigieg 86), B. Armando Melo Dos Santos (Brenner).
Xewkija Tigers secured three precious points with a 3-2 victory over SK Victoria Wanderers, strengthening their position at the top of the standings and underlining their ambitions as serious challengers for the league title. For Victoria, this was their first defeat of the campaign after opening with two draws, meaning they lost the opportunity to keep pace with the front-runners.
The match proved to be a highly competitive encounter, with both sides enjoying good spells and creating several chances. With opportunities at both ends, the final result remained in doubt until the referee’s final whistle. Xewkija’s win came thanks to a strong reaction early in the second half, and they managed the closing stages with composure, holding off Wanderers’ late push for an equaliser.
Photo: Anthony Cassar
Timeline
First Half:
Xewkija made the perfect start by taking the lead inside two minutes, but Victoria responded swiftly to level and then turned the score around. The half was marked by defensive uncertainty from both sides, but also by erratic finishing, which prevented a more even scoreline.
1’ (0-1) Xewkija went ahead in the opening action when they were awarded a penalty after Aaron Touarha fouled Marcelo Barbosa. The Brazilian striker converted confidently from the spot.
8’ (1-1) Wanderers equalised with a stunning free kick from Jose Wilkson, which caught the goalkeeper off guard.
10’ Stefan Cassar went close for Xewkija with a shot from a good position that sailed high.
13’ Claudio Frances also tried his luck but failed to hit the target.
18’ Victoria nearly scored when Wilkson set up Caique Souza inside the box, but the goalkeeper intercepted to concede a corner.
22’ Frances threatened again for Xewkija but fired wide.
28’ Xewkija were unlucky when a header by Brian Parada from a Cassar cross came off the post. From the rebound, Parada’s follow-up was saved by goalkeeper Samuel Camilleri.
30’ (2-1) Victoria turned the score around when Caique Souza’s cross from the right found Sam Harland, who finished from close range.
35’ Another Parada header, this time from a long cross by Kenneth Mercieca, was saved by Camilleri.
HT (2-1)
Second Half:
Xewkija came out aggressively after the break, quickly drawing level and gradually building momentum as they pushed for the win. Victoria struggled to resist the pressure and eventually conceded a third. In the closing minutes, Xewkija’s experience showed as they held their advantage, while Wanderers were unable to make the most of their late opportunities.
48’ (2-2) Xewkija equalised when Kenneth Mercieca’s cross from the left wasn’t cleared, allowing Claudio Frances to slot the ball into the far corner.
51’ Xewkija could have gone ahead, but Barbosa incredibly headed over from Ian Xuereb’s cross.
64’ Wanderers went close when a cross from Diego Garcia found Wilkson, whose acrobatic effort drifted wide.
65’ Wilkson again threatened with a shot from the edge of the box that shaved the side-netting.
72’ (2-3) Xewkija regained the lead as Brian Parada pounced in a crowded area to score with a low finish that gave the goalkeeper no chance.
78’ Victoria missed a golden chance to equalise when Matthias Cordina set up Caique Souza, but the Brazilian struck poorly and the ball went wide.
90+2’ Xewkija goalkeeper Adrian Parnis preserved the victory with a superb save to turn Harland’s powerful shot into a corner. From the resulting set piece, Wilkson’s header struck the crossbar.
FT (SKVW 2 – XT 3)
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Andrea Pavia Schiavone
Photo: Anthony Cassar
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