9 October 2026
GFA BOV Gozo Football League 1st Division (MD 5) Gozo Stadium
Xaghra United FC : 2
Qala Saints FC : 2
18’ (0-1) Roberto Monteiro Rondinely
76’ (1-1) Nicholas Inguanez
80’ (2-1) Ibrahim Salis
81’ (2-2) Kenneth Mercieca
Xaghra U:
K. Barbara, N. Inguanez, A. Galiano Lazarini, M. Scarpari, L. Farrugia (E. Xiberras 83), I. Salis, J.P. Oliveira Santos (Pedrinho), W.S. Filipe, F.J. Xuereb (J. Farrugia 60), S. Attard, J.C. Agbakwuru (Chilaka).
Qala S:
W. C. Santos (Tom), J. Buttigieg, T.G. Ribeiro Lima, M. Buttigieg, R. Monteiro Rondinely, J. Zammit, (K. Mercieca 80) E. Buttigieg, J. Parnis, I.C. Menezes Trindade (Caetano) (M. Camilleri 39), J.M. Dos Santos Leite, M.M. Moraes Tavares.
Xaghra United and Qala Saints earned a point each in an entertaining 2–2 draw that left neither side fully satisfied. Nevertheless, the result was a fair reflection of both teams’ efforts to secure victory.
Qala looked capable of taking all three points but missed several opportunities to build a comfortable lead. Xaghra refused to give up, and their persistence was rewarded with two goals in the closing stages. Although Qala responded to salvage a draw, the point allowed Xaghra to extend their advantage over the team immediately below them in the standings. Qala, meanwhile, moved into third place and recorded their third positive result of the league campaign.
Timeline
First Half
The opening half was closely contested, with both teams seeking to take control. For long spells, however, the defences remained organised and gave the opposing forwards little room to create chances. Qala capitalised on a well-worked move to take the lead, forcing Xaghra to adopt a more attacking approach in search of an equaliser.
11′ Xaghra created the first clear opportunity when Joseph Chilaka’s shot from a promising position was blocked behind for a corner by the defence.
12′ Qala goalkeeper Tom was called into action, turning Pedrinho’s shot from outside the penalty area behind for a corner.
16′ Qala responded through Juan Leite, whose shot from outside the penalty area was deflected behind for a corner by Xaghra defender Alexandre Lazarini.
18′ (0–1) Roberto Rondinely put Qala ahead after Martin Buttigieg found him unmarked inside the penalty area. Rondinely finished with a low shot into the net.
26′ Qala threatened again when Jordi Parnis delivered a cross from the left, but Juan Leite’s effort went over the bar.
36′ Xaghra came close to equalising from Pedrinho’s corner. Tom blocked Ibrahim Salis’s header on the goal line before the defence cleared the ball behind for another corner.
43′ Tom was called into action once more, saving Shaun Attard’s shot on the turn.
HT (0-1)
Second Half
Xaghra increased their attacking efforts after the interval, but that approach left gaps at the back which Qala repeatedly threatened to exploit. The Saints missed several chances to extend their lead and were eventually punished when Xaghra equalised. The contest then burst into life, with both teams scoring within a minute of each other to set up a dramatic finish.
8′ Qala missed a good opportunity following a corner when Joseph Zammit miscued his effort from a promising position and sent the ball wide.
9′ Xaghra responded immediately through Pedrinho, whose shot forced Tom into a difficult save at the expense of a corner.
12’′ Qala nearly doubled their advantage when Matteo Camilleri, introduced as a first-half substitute, broke clear of the defence on the counter-attack. Kyle Barbara, however, turned his shot behind for a corner.
20′ Qala threatened on another counter-attack as Juan Leite found Marcos Tavares, but Roberto Rondinely fired over from close range after meeting Tavares’s cross.
31′ (1–1) Nicholas Inguanez equalised for Xaghra. Alexandre Lazarini headed Pedrinho’s free-kick back into the penalty area, where Inguanez finished with a header into the net.
33′ Qala threatened through Roberto Rondinely, whose initial effort was blocked by the goalkeeper. Rondinely then headed the rebound back into the centre, but Marcos Tavares was in an offside position and could not capitalise.
35′ (2–1) Ibrahim Salis put Xagħra ahead after Joseph Chilaka advanced into the penalty area and squared the ball for him to finish.
36′ (2–2) Qala responded immediately through substitute Kenneth Mercieca, who had only just entered the match. Roberto Rondinely’s header from Juan Leite’s right-wing cross struck the post, and Mercieca followed up to score from the rebound.
37′ Xaghra almost regained the lead, but Tom blocked Pedrinho’s shot before producing another crucial save to turn Lucas Farrugia’s follow-up behind for a corner.
42′ Qala also came close to snatching victory when Roberto Rondinely played Kenneth Mercieca into space, but Kyle Barbara blocked his shot.
FT (XU 2 – QS 2)
Referee: Danilo Francalanza
Asst. Referees: Darko Stankovic, Patrick Falzon
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