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September 11, 2022

Hotspurs start Championship with a Loss

GFA BOV Gozo Football League Division I (MD 1) – Sun 11 Sept 2022 – Gozo Stadium
Victoria Hotspurs FC – FT (3-5) – Nadur Youngsters FC
Referee: Sergii Boiko

50’ (1-1) Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes
56’ (2-2) Elton Aleksandre Da Silva
90+4’ (3-4) Elton Aleksandre Da Silva

Victoria H:

L. Gatt, O. Cremona, C. Vella, O.G. Fernandes, A. Debrincat (A. Xiberras), J. Pace, D. Hili (E. Xiberras), L. Farrugia, L. Mancuso Lemos Santos Ferreira, E.A. Da Silva, D.C. Kassekar.

The last match from Match-Day 1 of the BOV Gozo Football League for the first division this season lived up to the expectations as reigning champions Nadur Youngsters and Victoria Hotspurs produced an entertaining match that turned out into an eight-goal thriller. Nadur managed to clinch the 5-3 win despite playing almost all of the second half with a player less on the field.

Timeline
Nadur took the initiative of play from the early stages but the Hotspurs were well deployed at their defence and operated mainly with counter breaks. The match, therefore, turned out to be quite interesting during the first period as the outcome was uncertain.

6’ Nadur created the first dangerous action of the encounter when Marcelo Barbosa passed through Victoria’s area with a personal action but his attempt from a good position missed the target.

13’ The Hotspurs replied with an attempt by Elton Da Silva that ended high.

21’ Nadur missed a golden scoring opportunity when Victoria’s goalie Liam Gatt partially saved a shot from outside the area by Marcelo Barbosa but from the rebound, Joseph Zammit incredibly concluded over the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy.

23’ The Hotspurs were again dangerous through a low shot by Elton Da Silva but the ball took a deflection and ended in a corner.

26’ (0-1) Nadur opened the score through an overhead kick by Igor Neeljkovic following a clearance inside the area by Victoria’s defence, which surprised the goalkeeper.

30’ The Hotspurs could have created more danger but Elton Da Silva’s header was weak and goalie Steve Sultana saved without difficulty.

45’ The Hotspurs went very close to levelling the score when Elton Da Silva took the ball inside the area but his shot from an angled position was well blocked by goalie Steve Sultana.

45+1’ The same goalkeeper was well placed and neutralised without difficulty another effort by Elton Da Silva.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

The match became much more entertaining with more goals after the break as both teams increased their efforts in an attempt to win the full points at stake.

2’ (red card) Nadur were reduced to ten players when goalie Steve Sultana went out of his area to block on Lucas Farrugia and the keeper was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.

5’ (1-1) The Hotspurs capitalised from the resultant free-kick as the effort by Elton Da Silva was saved partially by substitute goalkeeper Leonard Camilleri but from the rebound, Olimpio Gabriel Fernandes arrived on the ball and concluded with a tap-in.

8’ (1-2) Nadur had an immediate reaction and regained the lead through a low drive by Igor Nedeljkovic following a personal action.

11’ (2-2) The Hotspurs were not demoralised and scored their second equaliser when Lucas Farrugia delivered a low cross from the right flank and Elton Aleksandre Da Silva concluded towards the corner of the net with a low shot.

28’ (2-3) penalty Nadur operated a fast break where Igor Nedeljkovic entered the area but was floored by goalie Liam Gatt. The referee awarded a penalty and Marcelo Jr Barbosa netted his shot from the spot kick.

33’ (2-4) Nadur increased their lead when Gennaro Hili delivered a cross from the left flank following a short corner kick, Lucas Baretto Da Silva had his header hit the crossbar but Victoria’s defender Oliver Cremona committed an own goal in an attempt to clear the ball from the goalmouth.

38’ Nadur were again dangerous but Marcelo Barbosa hit badly from close distance following a cross from the right flank and the ball ended wide.

41’ The Hotspurs could have re-opened the issue but two efforts from a good position by Elton Da Silva in separate actions within the same minute missed the target.

45+3’ Nadur could have scored another goal but a low drive by Marcelo Barbosa ended wide.

45+4’ (3-4) Victoria Hotspurs reduced the deficit through a fine strike from the edge of the area by Elton Aleksandre Da Silva that ended out of the reach of Nadur’s keeper.

45+6 (3-5) Nadur sealed the win following a counter break that started at the edge of their area. The Hotspurs protested for a free kick just outside Nadur’s area and the Youngsters operated a counter break where Igor Nedeljkovic released Marcelo Jr Barbosa and the latter placed in goal with a fine strike.

FT (VH 3 – NY 5)

Match Report: Gozo FA
Photos: Gozo FA

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