GFA Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 19) Gozo Stadium
Kercem Ajax FC : 1
Nadur Youngsters FC : 0
36’ (1-0) Samuel Azzopardi
Kercem A:
F. Vella, M. Fernandes De Souza Lima, D. Bogdanovic, J. Theuma (M. Camilleri 58), N.C. Saveriano (Nenem) (G. Farrugia 90), R. Saliba, G. Vella (A. Mizzi 67), R. Cicolin Bosquerio, G. Muscat (A. Xuereb 58), S. Azzopardi, I. Moura Vera Cruz De Souza.
Nadur Y:
Z. Vella, L.B. Da Silva, M. Scarpari, D.F. Rodriguez Angulo, J. Xerri, S. Xuereb, 46), K. Hili, N. Mifsud, D. Vella, R.S. Favero.
Kercem Ajax are the new champions of Gozitan football after securing three crucial points with a 1–0 victory over Nadur Youngsters. As a result, they will play their final two matches of the league season without any pressure for points.
This success marks a historic achievement for Kercem, as they have been crowned champions in Gozo for only the second time in the club’s history, coming forty years after their first-ever top-flight title. The honor is thoroughly deserved because, despite being a newly promoted team from the Second Division, they kept pace with the leading sides throughout the first round. From the start of the second round, they took full control of the championship and, with ten consecutive victories—including wins in the direct encounters against their main rivals—they opened up a comfortable lead at the top of the standings and are now mathematically impossible to catch.
In this match against bottom-placed Nadur, Kercem started with determination to secure the points they needed, but had to work harder than expected to break the deadlock. For the remainder of the match, they failed to consolidate their lead, allowing Nadur to mount a reaction in the final stages as they began to believe they could salvage a result.
Nevertheless, Kercem successfully defended their one-goal advantage, and at the final whistle, celebrations broke out among the players, officials, and supporters for winning this prestigious title.
Timeline
First Half:
Kercem took control of the game from the opening minutes, but Nadur made it difficult for the attackers to create clear chances. Kercem eventually broke the deadlock just after the half-hour mark, but failed to extend their lead before the break, allowing Nadur to remain in contention.
8’ Kercem could have created more danger, but a header by Romulo Bosquerio from a corner went wide.
12’ Nadur responded with a shot by Joseph Xerri, which went off target.
26’ Kercem threatened again, but Nenem’s effort from a good position missed the target.
27’ (post) Kercem were unlucky when a low effort by Isaias Cruz was deflected by the defense and struck the post.
28’ Nadur goalkeeper Zak Vella was called into action to save a shot by Isaias Cruz.
29’ Nadur applied pressure again, but Diego Rodriguez fired over from a promising position.
33’ Nadur nearly caught their opponents out when Diego Rodriguez headed over from a Daniel Vella free kick.
36’ (1–0) Kercem opened the scoring with the decisive goal. Gabriel Vella delivered a cross from the left, the goalkeeper only partially cleared it, and Samuel Azzopardi reacted first, finishing into the net after the ball took deflections off Isaias Cruz and a defender.
39’ Kercem missed another opportunity as Gabriel Vella’s free kick sailed over the bar.
43’ (penalty appeals) Kercem appealed for a penalty after Isaias Cruz went down in the box under pressure from a defender.
HT (1-0)
Second Half:
Kercem continued to control the game in the early stages but failed to make the most of their chances. Gradually, Nadur pushed higher up the pitch and on a few occasions came close to equalizing, but the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
1’ Kercem nearly doubled their lead when Isaias Cruz set up Nenem, whose shot from a good position went just wide.
4’ Nadur replied with a Joseph Xerri shot that Kercem goalkeeper Franklin Vella saved for a corner.
14’ Kercem squandered another chance when Nenem controlled well inside the box but hesitated, allowing his final effort to be blocked for a corner.
18’ Kercem came close again when Dejan Bogdanovic headed wide from a Michael Camilleri free kick.
29’ Franklin Vella was again called into action, blocking a central shot by Murilo Scarpari.
29’ (penalty appeals) Nadur appealed for a penalty after Diego Rodriguez went down in the area under pressure.
31’ Nadur continued to push forward, but a long-range shot by Neil Mifsud was saved for a corner.
32’ Kercem threatened inside the opposition box when Nenem slipped the ball to Dejan Bogdanovic, whose back-heel attempt was cleared off the line by the defence with the goalkeeper out of position.
37’ Kercem exploited the extra space left by Nadur at the back on the counterattack, but Nenem fired wide from close range after being set up by Isaias Cruz.
42’ Kercem could have sealed the match when Isaias Cruz once again played Nenem through on goal, but Nadur goalkeeper Zak Vella rushed out quickly to deny the attacker and avert the danger.
FT (KA 1 – NY 0)
Referee: Ranald Portelli
Asst. Referees: Duncan Sultana, Zak Anastasi
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