18 January 2026
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 9) Gozo Stadium
Xaghra United FC: 2
Qala Saints FC : 3
10’ (0-1) Ibrahim Mohammed
44’ (0-2) Junior Adenilson Ferreira Dos Santos (Sergipe)
45+2’ (0-3) Ibrahim Mohammed
50’ (1-3) Igor De Jesus De Santana (Jacare’)
56’ (2-3) Ibrahim Salis
76’ (red card) Savio Galea (XU)
Xaghra U:
M. Zammit, J. Bajada, S. Galea, I. De Jesus De Santana (Jacare’), L. Farrugia, E. Xiberras, M. Mamo, F.J. Xuereb (M. Gafa 64), J.C. Marini (Claudir), Y. Abedi (Rodo), I. Salis.
Qala S:
O. Attard, N. Inguanez, J.A. Ferreira Dos Santos (Sergipe), M. Camilleri (J. Parnis 82), M. Buttigieg, J. Zammit, E. Buttigieg, N.C. Njoku, B. Da Cruz, I. Mohammed, G. Martins Leite Carrara.
Qala Saints bounced back from their defeat in their previous league outing by securing three points from a hard-fought 3–2 victory against bottom-placed Xaghra United. With this result, Qala can continue to hope of closing the gap on the leading teams as they look to defend the championship title they won last season, while Xaghra remain firmly embroiled in the relegation battle.
For this match, Qala were once again led by coach Shaun Bajada, who returned to the club after starting the season as head coach of Mgarr United, following the departure of Gothard Conti earlier in the week. Qala’s victory was deserved, as they created more scoring opportunities than their opponents. They looked highly motivated from the outset, adopting an aggressive approach in the early stages and, after taking the lead, effectively containing a timid response from the opposition. As the half progressed, Qala became increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack and effectively sealed their advantage by scoring twice more before the interval.
Despite trailing by three goals, Xaghra continued to believe they could rescue the result and, early in the second half, reduced the deficit to just one goal. However, they virtually compromised their chances of salvaging a point when they were forced to play the latter stages of the match with ten men. Qala, who appeared more cautious in the second half, capitalised on this situation to manage their one-goal lead until the final whistle.
Timeline
First Half:
Qala took control of the match from the opening minutes and, after scoring the opening goal, eased the pressure and grew in confidence. Xaghra, on the other hand, struggled to push out of their defensive half and never looked likely to recover during the opening period.
10’ (0–1) Qala took the lead when, from a throw-in by Gilberto Carrara, Joseph Zammit flicked the ball on into the area and Sergipe laid it off to Ibrahim Mohammed, who finished from close range.
12’ Qala threatened again when Gilberto Carrara broke into the area from the left, but his weak effort was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Mattia Zammit.
18’ Xaghra responded with a free-kick by Lucas Farrugia, but the attempt went wide.
22’ Xaghra came close again, but a header by Claudir from a free-kick delivered by Etienne Xiberras drifted off target.
29’ Xaghra goalkeeper Mattia Zammit kept his side in the match with an important save, blocking a close-range effort by the unmarked Matteo Camilleri.
30’ Qala protested strongly for a red card when Xaghra defender Savio Galea appeared to stop Ibrahim Mohammed from advancing.
33’ From the resulting free-kick, the ball fell to Ibrahim Mohammed, whose effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.
35’ Qala went close again when Sergipe headed over from a corner taken by Gilberto Carrara.
37’ Another Qala attempt followed, with a shot by Bruno Da Cruz sailing over the bar.
42’ The Xaghra goalkeeper was again called into action, blocking a close-range effort by Ibrahim Mohammed.
44’ (0–2) Qala doubled their lead when a free-kick by Gilberto Carrara was cleared back by the wall; the goalkeeper failed to hold the ball and Sergipe pounced to score from close range.
45+2’ (0–3) Qala extended their advantage through a low strike by Ibrahim Mohammed that caught the goalkeeper off guard.
HT (0–3)
Second Half:
Xaghra emerged with renewed determination after the break and scored twice in the opening minutes to re-enter the match, making the contest far more intriguing with the outcome remaining in doubt.
5’ (1–3) Xahħra reduced the deficit when Qala’s defence failed to clear effectively, allowing Igor Jacaré to finish with a low shot.
11’ (2–3) Xaghra scored their second goal when Ibrahim Salis surprised the defence and headed home from a cross from the left.
16’ Qala missed a good chance to restore their two-goal cushion when Matteo Camilleri delivered a low cross across the goal, but Ibrahim Mohammed mishit his effort from a promising position.
21’ Qala threatened again through Nathan Njoku, whose weak shot was easily saved by Mattia Zammit.
22’ Qala goalkeeper Owen Attard was forced into action, saving a free-kick by Etienne Xiberras for a corner.
31’ Xaghra had another opportunity to apply pressure, but Igor Jacaré’s first-time effort from distance went wide.
31’ (Red card) Xaghra were reduced to ten men when Savio Galea received his second booking for stopping Ibrahim Mohammed during a counter-attack.
35’ Xaghra goalkeeper Mattia Zammit remained alert to deny Matteo Camilleri following a solo run.
37’ Xaghra had their final chance to salvage a draw, but Ibrahim Salis failed to connect from a free-kick delivered by Etienne Xiberras.
FT (XU 2 – QS 3)
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara
Asst. Referees: Patrick Falzon, Andrea Pavia Schiavone
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