Convincing Win For Oratory

GFA Division I KO: Q/final
Gozo Stadium

Xaghra U   :        1       (A. Laskov 14’)

Galea, S. Sultana, J. Buhagiar, S. Sultana, M. Portelli (J. Xerri), A. Bezzina (L. Attard), M. Buhagiar (V.J. Saliba), M.D. Cisse, G. Tushe, D. Sowatey, A. Laskov.

Oratory Y  :        3       (M. Buttigieg 7’, E.F. Da Silva Santos 40’, 70’)

Camilleri (C. Mercieca), K. Borg, J.P. Longarela, K. Farrugia (J. Bonnici), B. Perello Palou, A. Debrincat, D. Azzopardi (K. Grima), E.F. Da Silva Santos, M. Buttigieg.

Oratory Youths reached the semi-finals of the KO competition for the first division with a fine win over Xaghra United. This was the first official match for the two sides for the new season and both teams were aiming to obtain a positive result in their attempt to be in the best possible form before the start of the championship. Oratory Youths however seemed in a better shape. They were well organised and maintained territorial supremacy for most of the encounter. The Youths also took full advantage of an extra player on the field for almost seventy minutes of play so that the qualification was achieved as soon as they scored their second goal. Oratory’s striker Everton Felippe Da Silva Santos was the protagonist for his side by scoring two of the goals.

On the other hand newly promoted side Xaghra United found it very difficult to be competitive in this match particularly as they ended with a player less on the field after twenty five minutes of play. However, Xaghra were forced to defend their area for long stretches and struggled to control their opponents in every department. Xaghra only managed to score an equaliser when they capitalised from a rare mishap by Oratory’s defence during bthe esrly stages of the encounter.

Oratory created the first scoring opportunity of the match after just twenty seconds of play through an effort by Borja Polo Longarela that ended just high. The Youths however enjoyed more possession during the opening minutes and opened the score on 7 minutes when a header by Boja Polo Longarela hit the post and from the rebound Manuel Buttigieg concluded in goal with a low shot. Xaghra had an immediate reaction and levelled the score on 14 minutes through a direct free kick by Antonio Laskov that was out of the reach of goalie Leonard Camilleri. On 25 minutes Xaghra were reduced to ten players when Mademba Dijibril Cisse was sent off for elbowing on Javier Polo Longarela. The Youths took advantage of the extra player on the field and on 28 minutes Xaghra’s goalie Daniel Galea was called to save with difficulty to a corner an effort by Andrea Debrincat. From the resultant corner kick Javier Polo Longarela headed wide. Less than a minute later Xaghra’s Gerald Tushe had a good header form a long ranged free kick by Antonio Laskov that was deflected to a corner with the goalkeeper beaten and on 40 minutes Oratory regained the lead through a header by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos following a cross by Bartomeo Perello Palou. On 45 minutes the latter could have increased the lead for his side but his low drive addressed to the far post, after receiving from Da Silva Santos, ended inches wide.

Oratory continued to dictate matters after the break and on 55 minutes they went again close to scoring but Da Silva Santos concluded wide when he came face to face with the goalkeeper. The same Oratory’s Brazilian striker was once again unmarked in the area following a fast break on 61 minutes but his final shot from a good position missed the target. Oratory practically made sure of the qualification with the third goal that arrived on 70 minutes through a close ranged shot by Everton Felippe Da Silva Santos following a cross by Bartomeo Perello Palou. Oratory’s striker Da Silva Santos could have registered a personal hat-trick on 75 minutes but his close ranged shot was well blocked by goalie Daniel Galea. During the dying moments of the match the Youths went again close to increase the score but a free kick by Manuel Buttigieg hit the post and in a separate occasion Da Silva Santos hesitated to conclude and goalie Daniel Galea blocked the danger in time so that the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Alex Johnson

GFA Division I KO: Q/final
Gozo Stadium

Xaghra U   :        1       (A. Laskov 14’)

Galea, S. Sultana, J. Buhagiar, S. Sultana, M. Portelli (J. Xerri), A. Bezzina (L. Attard), M. Buhagiar (V.J. Saliba), M.D. Cisse, G. Tushe, D. Sowatey, A. Laskov.

Oratory Y  :        3       (M. Buttigieg 7’, E.F. Da Silva Santos 40’, 70’)

Camilleri (C. Mercieca), K. Borg, J.P. Longarela, K. Farrugia (J. Bonnici), B. Perello Palou, A. Debrincat, D. Azzopardi (K. Grima), E.F. Da Silva Santos, M. Buttigieg.

Oratory Youths reached the semi-finals of the KO competition for the first division with a fine win over Xaghra United. This was the first official match for the two sides for the new season and both teams were aiming to obtain a positive result in their attempt to be in the best possible form before the start of the championship. Oratory Youths however seemed in a better shape. They were well organised and maintained territorial supremacy for most of the encounter. The Youths also took full advantage of an extra player on the field for almost seventy minutes of play so that the qualification was achieved as soon as they scored their second goal. Oratory’s striker Everton Felippe Da Silva Santos was the protagonist for his side by scoring two of the goals.

On the other hand newly promoted side Xaghra United found it very difficult to be competitive in this match particularly as they ended with a player less on the field after twenty five minutes of play. However, Xaghra were forced to defend their area for long stretches and struggled to control their opponents in every department. Xaghra only managed to score an equaliser when they capitalised from a rare mishap by Oratory’s defence during bthe esrly stages of the encounter.

Oratory created the first scoring opportunity of the match after just twenty seconds of play through an effort by Borja Polo Longarela that ended just high. The Youths however enjoyed more possession during the opening minutes and opened the score on 7 minutes when a header by Boja Polo Longarela hit the post and from the rebound Manuel Buttigieg concluded in goal with a low shot. Xaghra had an immediate reaction and levelled the score on 14 minutes through a direct free kick by Antonio Laskov that was out of the reach of goalie Leonard Camilleri. On 25 minutes Xaghra were reduced to ten players when Mademba Dijibril Cisse was sent off for elbowing on Javier Polo Longarela. The Youths took advantage of the extra player on the field and on 28 minutes Xaghra’s goalie Daniel Galea was called to save with difficulty to a corner an effort by Andrea Debrincat. From the resultant corner kick Javier Polo Longarela headed wide. Less than a minute later Xaghra’s Gerald Tushe had a good header form a long ranged free kick by Antonio Laskov that was deflected to a corner with the goalkeeper beaten and on 40 minutes Oratory regained the lead through a header by Everton Felipe Da Silva Santos following a cross by Bartomeo Perello Palou. On 45 minutes the latter could have increased the lead for his side but his low drive addressed to the far post, after receiving from Da Silva Santos, ended inches wide.

Oratory continued to dictate matters after the break and on 55 minutes they went again close to scoring but Da Silva Santos concluded wide when he came face to face with the goalkeeper. The same Oratory’s Brazilian striker was once again unmarked in the area following a fast break on 61 minutes but his final shot from a good position missed the target. Oratory practically made sure of the qualification with the third goal that arrived on 70 minutes through a close ranged shot by Everton Felippe Da Silva Santos following a cross by Bartomeo Perello Palou. Oratory’s striker Da Silva Santos could have registered a personal hat-trick on 75 minutes but his close ranged shot was well blocked by goalie Daniel Galea. During the dying moments of the match the Youths went again close to increase the score but a free kick by Manuel Buttigieg hit the post and in a separate occasion Da Silva Santos hesitated to conclude and goalie Daniel Galea blocked the danger in time so that the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Alex Johnson
Photo: Anaca Photography