GFA Knock Out DIVISION I Q/final
Sannat Ground
Xewkija T: 3 (T.M. Dos Santos 23’, D. Bogdanovic 37’, 87’)
Sultana, P. Buttigieg, M. Hrubsa (I. Buttigieg), D. Sakic, J. Azzopardi, J. Cefai (T. Vella), P. Rapa (C. Farrugia), R. Buttigieg, G. Hili, D. Bogdanovic, T.M. Dos Santos.
Kercem A: 1 (P. Kyukyurdzhiev 90+4’)
Vella, P. Kyukyurdzhiev, M. Tabone, O. Spiteri, M. Mifsud, N. Bahiya, J.P. Mizzi, O. Rolovic, A. Mizzi, J. Buttigieg (N. Mercieca), T. Grozev.
Xewkija Tigers obtained a 3-1 win over holders Kercem Ajax in the last match from the quarter finals of the Knock Out competition and will now face Ghajnsielem in the semi-final. The match tuned out into an interesting encounter as Kercem shared play for most of the encounter but they were often erratic in their finishing and also compromised the possibility to remain in contention with some lack of attention at their defensive department. Xewkija paved the way to the victory with two goals scored during the first half and sealed the victory with a late goal.
Play was quite balanced during the opening stages and the only attempts at goal from the two sides arrived through shots from outside the area that missed the target. On 20 Kercem’s goalie Franklin Vella was well placed to save a shot by Daniel Bogdanovic after receiving from Rodney Buttigieg despite the action was stopped for an offside infringement. Two minutes later the same Bogdanovic had a good shot that ended just high and on 23 minutes Xewkija opened the score when Thiago Melo Dos Santos fired a shot from outside the area following a personal action and the ball ended in goal despite the attempt by the goalkeeper to save the danger. Kercem replied two minutes later through a strike by Trayo Grozev that ended high and on 31 minutes Xewkija were again dangerous through a shot by Daniel Bogdanovic following a short clearance by Kercem’s defence that was saved by goalie Franklin Vella. On 34 minutes Kercem’s Trayo Grozev had another attempt that ended away from goal and three minutes later Xewkija doubled the score through Daniel Bogdanovic who concluded from an angled position following a counter break. Kercem replied through a direct free kick by Mario Mifsud that was neutralised by goalie Steve Sultana and the same goalkeeper denied Kercem from reducing the deficit with a fine intervention in the first minute of stoppage time before the break following an attempt by Ognjen Rolovic.
Xewkija could have added another goal on 50 minutes when Thiago Melo Dos Santos lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper at the edge of the area following a counter break but failed to conclude in goal due to the challenge from defender Manuel Tabone. One minute later Kercem’s Trayo Grozev had a good shot that was saved by goalie Steve Sultana and on 62 minutes the same goalkeeper neutralised a free kick by Ognjen Rolovic that was deflected by Xewkija’s defence. In the following action Xewkija’s Thiago Melo Dos Santos had an attempt following some hesitation by Kercem’s rear guard that ended wide. Kercem went again close to reduce the score on 67 minutes through another effort by Trayo Grozev that was saved to a corner by goalie Steve Sultana and three minutes later a shot by Jean Paul Mizzi from outside the area ended away from Xewkija’s goal. On 78 minutes Kercem’s goalie Franklin Vella saved well a shot by Rodney Buttigieg and Kercem replied one minute later through a shot by ognjen Rolovic that was saved in two attempts by goalie Steve Sultana. Kercem’s last opportunity to re-open the issue arrived on 84 minutes through a shot from an angled position by Trayo Grozev that ended on the side of the net. On 87 minutes Xewkija made sure of the qualification when they scored the third goal through a direct free kick by Daniel Bogdanovic and in the fourth minute of stoppage time Kercem scored their consolation goal through a strike from outside the area by Petar Kyumyurdzhiev following a short clearance by the defence from a corner action.
Referee: Eman Grech
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