Victoria Hotspurs start their challenge for the title with a handsome win

by | Nov 8, 2020 | 20/21, Match Report, News

1 November 2020

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 1 Gozo Stadium

Sannat Lions FC : 1
Victoria Hotspurs FC : 5 

13’ (0-1) Christian Mercieca
16’ (0-2) Shaun Attard
32’ (0-3) Henrique De Souza Maciel
44’ (1-3) Damon Hili
50’ (1-4) Shaun Attard
59’ (1-5) Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos

Sannat L:

L. Xuereb, J.P. Grima (O. Calleja), L.B. Da Silva, C. Vella, J. Zammit, D. Hili (P. Said), L. Silva Gomes, J. Buttigieg, B. Said, A. Azzopardi (D. Borg), F.J. Xuereb (H. Muscat).

Victoria H:

M. Grima, L. Grima (J. Tabone), J.M. Vella (J. Azzopardi), C. Mercieca, J. Pace, A. Azzopardi, R. Ost Dos Santos, S.P. Bajada (J. Parnis), H. De Souza Maciel, D. Farrugia, S. Attard (C. Attard).

Victoria Hotspurs, who are considered as main challengers for the main honours of the Gozitan football this season, had an excellent start in the championship and earned three deserved points from a convincing 5-1 win over newly promoted Sannat Lions.  The Hotspurs dominated the match and capitalised from some overconfidence by Sannat’s defence so that they paved the way to the win with three goals scoring within the first third of the encounter.  Sannat tried to share play with their most quoted opponents but they suffered from the lack of experience and were also very weak in attack so that they never seemed in a position that they could save the result.

Timeline

Victoria Hotspurs took command of play from the early stages despite Sannat’s efforts to produce offensive play.

2’ Victoria’s Shaun Attard received an inviting ball from Henrique Maciel onside Sannat’s area but the former saw his low shot partially saved by the goalkeeper and the defence cleared the danger from the goalmouth.

7’ Sannat replied through an attempt by Joseph Buittigieg that missed the target.

13’ (0-1) Victoria Hotspurs opened the score when Henrique Maciel took the ball from Sannat’s defence and unmarked Christian Mercieca who placed easily into an open goal.

16’ (0-2) The Hotspurs doubled the score when Henrique Maciel once again managed to take the ball that was in the possession of Sannat’s rear guard but had his shot partially saved by Sannat’s keeper Lorjean Xuereb.  From the rebound the ball arrived to Shawn Attard who blew the net with a strike from close distance.

Victoria Hotspurs reduced their pressure on Sannat’s defence but retained control of play.

32’ (0-3)  Victoria Hotspurs added another goal as Christian Mercieca entered Sannat’s territory in a counter break and released Henrique De Souza Maciel who had his shot that ended in the net despite the attempt of the goalkeeper to block the danger.

36’ In another good action by the Hotspurs a shot by Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos ended wide.

41’ Victoria Hotspurs could have added another goal but a header by Henrique Maciel following a free kick by Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos ended wide.

44’ (1-3) Sannat reduced the deficit when a cross form the right flank by Brandon Said arrived to an unmarked Damon Hili who concluded behind goalie Mark Grima with a fine shot.

HT (1-3)

The Hotspurs continued to hold command of play from the early stages of the second period.

5’ (1-4) Victoria Hotspurs added another goal through a lob from outside the area by Shaun Attard that surprised Sannat’s keeper who was also out of his position.

14’ (1-5) The Citizens scored their fifth goal through a curling shot by Rodrigo Ost Dos Santos that ended out of the reach of Sannat’s keeper.

30’ Sannat Lions could have scored another when Lucas Silva Gomes took the ball from Victoria’s defence and from his pass a strike by Joseph Zammt was saved in two attempts by goalie Mark Grima.

31’ The Hotspurs lost a good scoring opportunity when Christian Mercieca released Henrique Maciel in a counter break, the latter entered the area but his low drive aimed towards the far post ended wide.

40’ In another action by Sannat Joseph Zammit had a shot that was well saved by Victoria’s keeper.

45’ Victoria Hotspurs went again very close to scoring through a low shot by Christian Mercieca that was partially saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and from the rebound Victoria’s substitute Jordi Parnis failed to take advantage so that the defence cleared the danger from the goalmouth.

FT (5-1)

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Written by Darren Cassar