Hotspurs Beaten by Mellieha

Hotspurs Beaten by Mellieha

Victoria Hotspurs 0 – 1 Mellieha SC

On Saturday, Victoria Hotspurs suffered their fifth defeat of the season after losing 1-0 to Mellieha at the Luxol Stadium. It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Blues, who have lifted themselves up from the red zone into mid-table position in no-time, securing their Amateur League I status for another year. On the contrary, the Gozo capital side needed a victory to mathematically secure promotion to the BOV Challenge League but must wait at least another week with a match against Senglea Athletic coming up on Sunday.

The first opportunity of the match arrived on 13 minutes when Mellieha’s Leon Theuma capitalised on a counterattack, but his effort went just over the Hotspurs’ crossbar. Four minutes later, a defensive error allowed Alexander Akl to attempt a shot, forcing goalkeeper Steve Sultana into a full stretch save for a corner. Victoria responded in the 22nd minute through a cross by Christian Ebisindor Saint, with Kurt Borg’s header narrowly missing the target. A minute later, Mellieha’s David Azzopardi tested Sultana once again, but the goalkeeper remained alert.

Mellieha took the lead in the 24th minute after being awarded a penalty for a foul inside the box. Venezuelan striker Aron Hernandez stepped up and calmly converted, sending Sultana the wrong way. Victoria attempted to respond, with Shaun Attard seeing his cross-shot well saved by Mark Cutajar in the 28th minute. The Northerners nearly doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Hernandez dispossessed Attard and fired just over the bar. Kurt Borg tried his luck again in the 40th minute, but his long-range effort went high. The Gozitans continued to press and two minutes from half-time, a precise cross from Attard found Ferdinando Apap, whose header forced a strong save from Cutajar. Just before halftime, Attard saw another attempt go wide.

Victoria began the second half on the front foot and appealed for a penalty within the opening minute, claiming a handball by a Mellieha defender, but the referee waved play on. Between the 55th and 64th minutes, Kurt Borg had three attempts on goal, two of which went over, while his effort in the 61st minute was well saved by Cutajar. The Blues, smelling an upset, remained dangerous on the break and in the 78th minute, Theuma forced another save from Sultana. In stoppage time, substitute Leon Borg tested the Hotspurs goalkeeper once more.

Victoria pushed forward in search of an equaliser and, in the final moments, even goalkeeper Steve Sultana joined the attack. However, Darryl Vella Gerada’s free kick was comfortably gathered by Cutajar to give Mellieha the three points needed to safeguard third tier football for another season.