Hotspurs Keep On Marching

Hotspurs Keep On Marching

Victoria Hotspurs 2 – 1 Kalkara United

Scorer; 53′ Rondinely Roberto Monteiro, 73′ Rondinely Roberto Monteiro

Last Sunday night at the Charles Abela Stadium, Victoria Hotspurs came from behind to record their, on paper, 11^th victory of the season, continuing to make it no doubt who is the best team at this level. Compliments however towards Kalkara, who were up 1-0 at half-time and therefore surely made the Gozitans sweat, perhaps more then expected. The game had an interruption of around 20 minutes as towards the end of the first half, as Matthew Plumpton sustained a severe head injury which needed a lengthy treatment on the pitch.

It was Kalkara who got the first chance as in the 11^th minute, Miguel Perez Jimenez headed powerfully over the bar following a corner. Six minutes later, the Hotspurs threatened when Kurt Borg was sent through by Ferdinando Apap but Liam Lagana came on top in this one-on-one situation. From this point onwards, Victoria were the ones that got most chances but Emmanuel Mbong, an Apap header and a Shaun Attard half-volley all failed to find target. Against the run of play, in the 42^nd minute, Kalkara took the lead as Jean Claude Annati intelligently chipped the ball over goalkeeper Adrian Parnis from the right side of the box.

Three minutes after the re-start, Mark Martin’s shot from a wide angle for Kalkara hit the outside of the net. Five minutes later, the Hotspurs equalized through Brazilian striker Rondinely, who headed imperiously behind Lagana after another fine Hotspurs attack. In the 70^th minute, veteran Daniel Farrugia met Matthias Said’s cross from the left side but his shot sailed inches over the bar. Three minutes later however, the team of coach Oliver Spiteri went into the lead through Rondinely, kicking the rebound past Lagana after Daniel Farrugia’s shot was initially blocked by the keeper. In the 85^th minute, Kalkara squandered a huge opportunity to equalize as Kenneth Ekezie missed the ball from Annati’s insidious cross across the box, much to the relieve of the Gozitan contingent.

Report by MFA Match Centre.