GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I
Gozo Stadium
Gharb inflict first defeat to Victoria Hotspurs
Gharb R : 2 (M. Barbosa 57’, A. Shkjau 68’)
D. Spiteri, D. Bellotti, P. Dorovic, A. Sultana, M. Zerafa, J.P. Grima (C. Attard), J. Azzopardi, B.P. Longarela, M. Bezzina, M. Barbosa, A. Shkjau.
Victoria H : 1 (E. Lattes 77’)
D. Galea (A. Brignoli), J. Pace, J. Bajada, K. Farrugia (F. Apap), D. Sowatey, L. Grima, C. Mercieca, E. Da Silva, E. Lattes, H. Maciel, A. Debrincat (J. Camilleri).
Gharb Rangers inflicted the first defeat of the championship to the new champions of Gozitan football Victoria Hotspurs and with the points obtained they are now sharing the fourth place on the table with Ghajnsielem and Kercem Ajax. With this result, the three teams, Gharb, Ghajnsielem and Kercem, became mathematically sure of avoiding the last place on the table and the three teams moved closer to avoid the risk of ending the championship in the second place from the bottom. The Hotspurs faced this encounter as hot favourites to obtain a positive result and to defend their unbeaten run in the previous sixteen matches of the championship. However, the newly crowned champions compromised their possibility to achieve their goal during the first half when they had two penalty kicks on separate occasions that were both saved by Gharb’s goalie. The Hotspurs suffered Gharb’s play during the opening stages of the second period and their final efforts during the last part of the encounter were not enough to save the result.
Gharb almost surprised their more quoted opponents in the firth minute of play when Marcelo Barbosa released Justin Azzopardi inside Victoria’s territory but the latter concluded badly and the ball ended away from goal. Three minutes later Victoria’s keeper Daniel Galea made a good intervention to clear the ball from the area before Ardit Shkjau could conclude from a good position following another fine move by Marcelo Barbosa. The Hotspurs were awarded a penalty on 12 minutes when a strike by Emiliano Lattes hit the hands of Predrag Dorovic inside the area but Elton Da Silva had his shot from the spot kick well saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri. One minute later Victoria’s keeper Daniel Galea was again called to make a good save to clear the ball before Ardit Shkjau could hit the ball following a cross from the right flank and on 22 minutes the Hotspurs replied with a free kick by Emiliano Lattes that was turned to a corner by goalie Daniel Spiteri. From the same corner action Gharb’s keeper made another difficult intervention to block a close ranged header by Henrique Maciel and on 27 minutes Gharb operated a counter break through Ardit Shkjau but the striker had his attempt neutralised by substitute goalkeeper Angelo Brignoli. On 40 minutes the Citizens were awarded a second penalty when a cross by Elton Da Silva was handled by Gharb’s Michael Zerafa and for the second time within the same half Victoria’s Elton Da Silva had his shot from the spot kick saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri with the aid of the crossbar. Victoria could have opened the score in the fourth minute of stoppage tome before half time but a free kick by Emiliano Lattes hit the post and from the rebound Kevin Farrugia’s goal was disallowed for handling by the same player.
The Rangers came out more determined after the break and took command of play. On 48 minutes a header by Gharb’s Marcelo Barbosa following a cross by Michael Bezzina hit the post and four minutes later an attempt by Ardit Shkjau following a cross by Borja Polo Longarela was also stopped by the woodwork. Gharb opened the score on 57 minutes when Marcelo Barbosa defended the ball following a pass from long distance by Predrag Dorovic and the Brazilian striker lobbed over the goalkeeper into an open goal. Victoria replied on 63 minutes through an effort by Christian Mercieca following a fine move by Elton Da Silva that was cleared off the goalmouth by Gharb’s John Paul Grima and on 67 minutes Gharb added another goal through a tap-in by Ardit Shkjau, that ended in goal despite the attempt of goalie Angelo Brignoli to clear the danger, following a low cross by Michael Zerafa. In the remaining minutes of the match the Hotspurs pushed all their efforts forward in an attempt to recover the deficit. On 70 minutes substitute John Camilleri had a good shot that was deflected to a corner by the defence and on 77 minutes the Hotspurs reduced the score through a first timer by Emiliano Lattes following a low cross by John Camilleri. The Hotspurs could have saved the result on 81 minutes but an effort by Henrique Maciel was well saved by goalie Daniel Spiteri. The last opportunity to the Hotspurs to level the score arrived on 85 minutes but John Camilleri failed to connect to an inviting cross by Elton Da Silva.
Referee: Clayton Pisani
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