7 November 2020
GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I – Match Day 1 Gozo Stadium
Xaghra United FC : 0
Xewkija Tigers FC : 2
10’ (0-1) Joel Xuereb
85’ (0-2) Claudio Antunes Pavlidis
Xaghra U:
O. Attard, J. Bajada, S. Galea, A. Sultana, K. Hili (T. Agius), N. Buciljevic, A. Okamura, S. Sultana (M. Cordina), L. Sultana (C. Camilleri), M. Mamo, F. Attard.
Xewkija T:
F. Vella, J. Axiak, J. Vella, N. Micallef, J. Buttigieg, C. Antunes Pavlidis, R. Buttigieg, J. Xuereb (L. Cilia), O. Xuereb (T. Vella), M. Dingli, M. Hrubsa (T. Grech).
Xewkija scored a goal in each half, one during the early stages and one during the final stages, of the match against Xaghra United so that they took the full points at stake and started the BOV Gozo Football League of the top flight on an excellent note. The Tigers, who are not expected to be among the main challengers for the honours this season, produced their best patch of play during the first part of the encounter and could have capitalised from the good moment by scoring more goals. On the other hand Xaghra recovered from a difficult start and gained more confidence as time passed by so that they also held the initiative for most of the second period. As a result Xewkija’s win remained in contention for most of the encounter since Xaghra created enough scoring opportunities where they could have earned at least a point from this match.
Timeline
Xewkija took territorial supremacy from the opening minutes of the match.
4’ Xewkija created the first scoring opportunity of the encounter but a shot from an ideal position by Rodney Buttigieg ended high.
10’ (0-1) Xewkija opened the score when Nicholas Micallef released Joel Xuereb within Xaghra’s territory, the latter entered the area and placed in goal as Xaghra’s keeper left his position in an attempt to block the danger.
14’ Xaghra goalie Owen Attard was called to make a good save to turn to a corner a strike by Rodney Buttigieg.
Xaghra recovered from a difficult moment and held command of the midfield for a good patch of the first half but they failed to convert their action into scoring opportunities.
27’ Xewkija operated a counter break but at the end a low shot by Rodney Buttigieg was weak and easily neutralised by goalie Owen Attard.
34’ Xewkija were again dangerous through a shot by substitute Tristan Grech following a corner action that was blocked to another corner by the defence.
36’ Xewkija’s Rodney Buttigieg entered Xaghra’s area with a personal action but central defender Savio Galea recovered in time and cleared the ball to a corner despite the risk of conceding a penalty.
38’ Xewkija had another good opportunity where they could have created more danger but a free kick by Claudio Antunes missed the target.
41’ Xaghra missed a good opportunity to level the score when Xewkija’s defence failed to clear the danger from a corner action and at the end the ball arrived to an unmarked Nebjosa Buciljevic who saw his shot from an ideal position that ended wide.
HT (0-1)
Xaghra United continued to be confident after the break while Xewkija were forced to protect their area for most of the time but continued to be quite dangerous with counter breaks.
4’ Xaghra’s keeper Owen Attard kept his side in contention when he managed to save a close ranged header following a cross by Rodney Buttigieg.
14’ Xaghra created a very good scoring opportunity but a first timer by Kenny Hili following a cross by Francesco Attard ended just high.
16’ Xaghra’s Nebjosa Buciljevic released Anto Okomura who entered Xewkija’s area but his low drive aimed to the far post ended wide.
24’ Xewkija’s keeper Franklin Vella was well placed to block a strike from outside the area by Xaghra’s Nebjosa Buciljevic.
34’ In another action by Xaghra within Xewkija’s territory substitute Matthias Cordina had an attempt from the edge of the area that was weak and the goalkeeper neutralised without difficulty.
39’ Xewkija were unlucky as a header by Rodney Buttigieg from a free kick by Claudio Antunes hit the post. The ball bounced on goalie Owen Attard and Nebjosa Buciljevic as at the right place to pick the ball and clear the danger.
40’ (0-2) From the same action Xewkija gained a free kick just outside Xaghra’s area and practically made sure of the win by scoring their second goal. The free kick taken by substitute Thomas Vella arrived to Rodney Buttigieg who hit badly and the ball arrived to an unmarked Claudio Antunes Pavlidis who placed in goal with a low shot.
45+3’ Xaghra could have scored a consolation goal when Xewkija’s keeper failed to clear the ball following a through pass by Marlon Mamo and from the resultant melee substitute Christian Camilleri concluded wide from a good position.
45+4’ Seconds from the final whistle a strike by Thomas Vella ended away from goal.
FT (0 – 2)
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
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