The Malta FA Trophy: Rd 1
Gozo Stadium
Qala S: 0
Buttigieg, S. Sillato, J. Rapa, F. Mumford, L. Portelli, B. Meilak, S. Dimech (O. Pogukay), M. Mamo, G. Sillato, L. Meilak (W. Cassar), N. Portelli (M. Cefai).
Xewkija T: 6
(T. M. Dos Santos 31’, 54’, 80’; D. Bogdanovic 40’, D. Shields 65’, 68’)
Sultana, J. Azzopardi, M. Xerri, D. Sakic, J. Vella (C. Farrugia), D. Bogdanovic, M. Hrubsa (I. Buttigieg), J. Cefai, G. Hili, D. Shields (T. Vella), T.M. Dos Santos.
Xewkija Tigers became the ninth team to qualify to the second round of The Malta FA Trophy with a win over Gozitan second division side Qala Saints. Xewkjija held command of play throughout the ninety minutes but found it difficult to convert their superiority in goals during the first half hour of play. However, once the Tigers opened the score Qala seemed demoralised and Xewkija made sure of the victory with more goals scored during the second period of play. Qala’s goalie Franco Buttigieg was undoubtedly among the main protagonist of the encounter as he made a series of difficult saves that denied Xewkija from obtaining a victory with a larger score.
As expected Xewkija took command of play from the very beginning and in the fifth minute of play a direct free kick by Daniel Bogdanovic ended just wide. Xewkija increased their pressure on Qala’s rearguard but the Saints defended well and managed to make it very difficult to Xewkija’s strikers to be dangerous. On 21 minutes Qala’s goalie Franco Buttigieg managed to block a bad clearance by the defence and the ball hit the post before the action ended to a corner. One minute later the Tigers opened the score when Daniel Bogdanovic entered the area from the right flank and from his low cross Thiago Melo Dos Santos netted with a low shot. The same Brazilian striker could have doubled the score seconds later when he entered the area and came face to face with the goalkeeper but his final shot ended wide and on 39 minutes a shot from outside the area by Josmar Vella was saved by goalie Franco Buttigieg. Xewkija doubled the score on 40 minutes through a shot from long distance by Daniel Bogdanovic hat was out of the reach of goalie Franco Buttigieg and ended in goal.
Qala almost surprised Xewkija’s rearguard during the first minute of play of the second period when Luke Meilak entered the area with a personal action but his low shot was well saved by goalie Steve Sultana. Xewkija replied one minute later through a header by Dene Shields that was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Franco Buttigieg. In the following minutes Xewkija were dangerous through attempts by Gennaro Hili and Dene Shields but the Tigers increased the score on 54 minutes when Daniel Sakic prolonged in the area a corner kick by Daniel Bogdanovic and Thiago Melo Dos Santos headed in goal from close distance. Minutes later Qala’s goalie was called to make two difficult interventions following attempts on separate occasions by Dene Shields. On the hour mark a shot by Xewkija’s Gennaro Hili was saved with the aid of the crossbar by goalie Franco Buttigieg and from the rebound Thiago Melo Dos Santos had his header that was cleared off the fatal line by skipper John Rapa. Xewkija scored their fourth goal on 65 minutes through a header on the run by Dene Shields following a long ranged cross by Daniel Bogdanovic. Xewkija’s Scottish striker Dene Shields added another goal three minutes later when he concluded with a low drive after receiving from Daniel Bogdanovic. On 80 minutes the Tigers scored their sixth goal when Daniel Bogdanovic entered the area with a personal action from the left flank and from his inviting low pass Thiago Melo Dos Santos registered his personal hat-trick with a tap-in. Qala could have scored a consolation goal two minutes later when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Daniel Sakic on substitute Oleg Pogukay but substitute Malcolm Cefai had his shot from the spot kick that was well saved by goalie Steve Sultana.
Referee: Ezekiel Barbara
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