Hotspurs End 2024 with a Win

Hotspurs End 2024 with a Win

Victoria Hotspurs 1 – 0 Mdina Knights

Scorer: Emmanuel Mbong

Victoria Hotspurs FC bounced back from their first loss of the season in the previous week with a minimal, hard-fought, 1-0 win against Mdina Knights FC. The Hotspurs were the ones with the better chances, yet Mdina never looked like they were out of the game.

Victoria started on the front foot as in the fifth minute, Ferdinando Apap’s shot from a corner was saved by the experienced Roderick Camilleri in goal, who had a great game throughout and kept his side in contention multiple times. In the 21st minute, Emmanuel Mbong sent Shaun Attard through on goal, who was presented with a one on one opportunity with the goalkeeper, yet Camilleri was equal to his effort.

Mdina had their first shot on target in the 23rd minute, as Kane William Micallef laid the ball off to Gianluca Theuma, whose powerful shot from distance was on target, but went into the goalkeeper’s hands.

In the 42nd minute, the Hotspurs finally got their goal as Mbong’s left-footed shot from outside the box took a deflection off an Mdina defender and went off the underside of the bar and in. During stoppage time, Victoria Hotspurs had the chance to increase their lead twice, but were denied by the goalkeeper once again.

At the break, Victoria were the ones with the better chances, but Mdina were determined in their play, and were still in it thanks to the heroics of their goalkeeper.

In the second half, the Gozitan side’s dominance in terms of chances continue, as Attard hit the crossbar from a long-range shot. Five minutes later, a cross from Matthias Said was headed just wide by Apap. In the 80th minute, Camilleri pulled off yet another incredible save, denying Kurt Borg from close range to tip it onto the post. A performance that the veteran should be proud of.

Despite this, Victoria Hotspurs collected all three points, as although Mdina showed great defensive effort, they did not create enough dangerous chances at the other end.