GFA BOV GFL Division I Gozo Stadium
Xewkija T : 2 (D. Shields 9’, S. Bajada 45’)
- Sultana, R. Buttigieg, P. Buttigieg, M. Hrubsa, J. Azzopardi (J. Cefai), J.M. Vella, S. Bajada, G. Hili (E. Vella), C. Frances (C. Bugeja), D. Shields, T.M. Dos Santos.
Kercem A : 0
- Vella, O. Spiteri, P. Kyumyurdzhiev, M. Tabone, L. Grima, P. Taylor, J.P. Mizzi, J. Buttigieg, T. Grozev, C. Debono (A. Mizzi), G. Franca Amadio.
Xewkija Tigers earned three points with the least possible effort from their match against Kercem Ajax and with the points obtained they took full advantage of Nadur’s defeat so that they are the new sole leaders of the top flight. Xewkija once again showed that their January signings strengthened their potential and based on their recent performances they may be considered as the hot favourites to win the title this season. For this match Xewkija had their latest signings Claudio Frances, among the starting line-up, and Elton Vella was among the reserves but came in as a substitute during the final stages of the encounter.
Xewkija dominated play during the first period and scored the two goals that ended up decided the issue. Kercem tried to produce a reaction after the break but despite holding control of play they rarely created danger towards Xewkija’s goal. The main protagonist of the encounter for the good and the bad reason, was undoubtedly Xewkija’s Scottish striker Dene Shields. He scored the first goal for his side and became the top scorer of Xewkija Tigers in their history. With this goal Shields scored 89 goals from 94 matches, one goal more than Michael Hili who scored 88 goals in his career which ended in 2002. However, Shields ended the match on a negative note as he was sent off during the final stages of the encounter for a second bookable offence.
The Tigers could have opened the score on 5 minutes but Thiago Melo Dos Santos had a header form a cross by Gennaro Hili that was saved by goalie Franklin Vella and from the rebound Dene Shields had his attempt blocked to a corner so that the action ended in a corner. Two minutes later Kercem replied through a header by Trayo Grozev that was partially saved by goalie Steve Sultana and the defence cleared the danger away from the area. On 9 minutes Xewkija opened the score through a low shot by Dene Shields following a low cross by Thiago Melo Dos Santos that ended out of the reach of Kercem’s goalie. On 15 minutes Xewkija’s debutant Claudio Frances had a low shot that was well saved by goalie Franklin Vella and four minutes later the same goalkeeper was at the right place to block a header by Thiago Melo Dos Santos following a cross by Shaun Bajada. Kercem approached Xewkija’s area on 25 minutes from a free kick by debutant Gustavo Franca Amadio that was punched away by goalie Steve Sultana but the ball arrived to Kercem’s other debutant Christian Debono who saw his strike cleared off the goalmouth by central defender Martin Hrubsa. Xewkija were again dangerous on 36 minutes through an attempt by Thiago Melo Dos Santos that was neutralised by goalie Franklin Vella. The same Dos Santos had a header on 44 minutes that was turned to a corner with some difficulty by Kercem’s keeper Franklin Vella. Xewkija doubled the score on the stroke of regular time of the first period when a low shot by Martin Hrubsa was deflected by Kercem’s defence and the ball arrived to an unmarked Shaun Bajada who placed in goal with a low drive.
Kercem tried to produce a reaction after the resumption but Xewkija were well deployed and managed to keep their area clear from serious danger with authority. Kercem’s first attempt at Xewkija’s goal of the second period arrived on 67 minutes through a free kick by Gustavo Franca Amadio that was neutralised by goalie Steve Sultana. On 71 minutes Xewkija went close to scoring through a strike by Claudio Frances, after receiving from substitute Elton Vella, that was turned to a corner with difficulty by goalie Franklin Vella. On 78 minutes Xewkija were reduced to ten players when Dene Shields was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Owen Spiteri. Kercem however continued to find it difficult to create actions on Xewkija’s goal and the closest that they went to reduce the deficit was in the third minute of stoppage time when a shot by substitute Andrew Mizzi following a header inside Xewkija’s area by Trayo Grozev, was blocked to a corner by Xewkija’s substitute Joseph Cefai and from the resultant corner action Philip Taylor’s low shot ended wide.
Referee: Philip Farrugia
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