Author: Valerio Hili

Victoria Hotspurs F.C. advanced to the second round of the Malta FA Trophy after knocking out Mdina Knights in the Preliminary Round with the score of 7-0 and after knocking out Siggiewi FC in the First Round with the score of 4-0.

As the score indicates Victoria Hotspurs eased past both Maltese teams with a display of flowing, attacking football.

The scorers of the match against Mdina Knights were Elton da Silva (3), Emiliano Lattes (1), Henrique Maciel (1) and Dylan Bellotti.

The scorers of the match against Siggiewi Fc, played at the Sirens Ground in Malta were Emiliano Lattes (2), Henrique Maciel (1) and Elton Da Silva (1).
In the Second Round Victoria Hotspurs FC will be playing against Xaghra United FC.

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MATCH DETAILS
Gozo Stadium – 21 October 2018

Xewkija T FC: 2 (D. Krstic 26’, 61’)

Camilleri, M. Tabone, S.A. Martinez Villa, D. Krstic, C. Bugeja, C. Antunes Pavlidis, G. Hili, J. Cefai (J. Azzopardi), S.P. Bajada, M. Xerri, D. Bogdanovic.

Victoria H FC: 0

Parnis, F. Apap, J.M. Vella (L. Grima), C. Mercieca (M.J. Bezzina), S. Miloskovic, C. Camilleri (A. Mizzi), J. Pace, J. Bajada, D. Sowatey, E.A. Da Silva, E.P. Lattes.

MATCH REPORT
In the main match from Match-Day 5 of the BOV Gozo Football League Division I Xewkija Tigers made up for the disappointing start in the championship and obtained an important win against reigning champions and current leaders on the table Victoria Hotspurs. With this result Xewkija re-opened their chances to live up to the expectations and to be among the challengers for the main honour.

Before this match the Hotspurs seemed to dominate the championship as they registered four wins from their first four matches of the league, while Xewkija had an inconsistent start and were trailing the Hotspurs by six points. Thus, this was probably the last opportunity for Xewkija to join the top teams as they could have ended with nine points behind the Hotspurs after five matches of the championship in the case that they conceded a defeat. The Hotspurs started the match as favourites to obtain the second win over Xewkija, as the Citizens defeated their rivals in the final of the Super Cup at the beginning of the season, and the match grew in importance as the Hotspurs could have increased their lead over the second placed team to five points in case that they obtained a victory from this encounter.

The match lived up to the expectations and turned out into an well contested encounter where the outcome remained in contention for most of the ninety minutes. Xewkija managed to produce a match where they were disciplined in their deployment as they made it extremely difficult for Victoria’s striker to conclude towards goal and at the same time they were continuously dangerous with breaks within Victoria’s territory. On the other hand the Hotspurs failed to produce their usual play as they were often erratic in their passing in the midfield, mainly due to Xewkija’s pressing, while striker Elton Da Silva, who scored eleven goals in the previous four matches, did not manage to find a way past Xewkija’s defense.

Xewkija came out very aggressive and in the fourth minute of play they were dangerous through a direct free kick by Shaun Bajada that was saved with difficulty by goalie Adrian Parnis and form the rebound Joseph Cefai’s attempt ended wide. On 7 minutes Xewkija had a header by Claudio Antunes that was saved by Victoria’s keeper and the Hotspurs replied one minute later through a shot from outside the area by Emiliano Lattes that was blocked by the defense and from the rebound the same Lattes had his attempt that ended just wide. On 10 minutes Xewkija protested for a penalty when a cross from inside the area by Shaun Bajada was blocked by Victoria’s defense and on 14 minutes a header by Claudio Antunes following a cross by Shaun Bajada ended wide. The Hotspurs replied on 22 minutes through a shot by Elton Da Silva that was saved by goalie Leonard Camilleri and less than a minute later the same goalkeeper was well placed to neutralize an attempt by Stanimir Miloskovic. On 23 minutes Xewkija’s Darko Krstic entered Victoria’s area but had his effort well blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis. The Hotspurs were again dangerous on 35 minutes when Elton Da Silva entered the area with a personal action but his low shot was blocked by Xewkija’s defense. The Tigers opened the score in the following action when Darko Krstic as released inside Victoria’s territory and the striker lobbed over the goalkeeper as the latter left his area in an attempt to clear the danger. The Hotspurs were shocked and on 321 minutes Xewkija could have doubled the score when Claudio Antunes exchanged the ball that the edge of the area but the Brazilian striker had his attempt well blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis. Two minutes later Victoria’s Chris Camilleri had a shot on the run that missed the target and on 38 minutes Xewkija’s defender Manuel Tabone risked a lot to clear the ball off Elton Da Silva who was about to conclude towards goal from an ideal position. The Hotspurs tried to increase their pressure on Xewkija’s defense during the dying stages of the first half and on 40 minutes a strike by Elton Da Silva was well saved by Xewkija’s goalie. Three minutes later Victoria’s Emiliano Lattes had an attempt that ended just wide and just before half time Xewkija’s Daniel Bogdanovic had an effort directly from a free kick that missed the target.

The Hotspurs came out more aggressive for the second period and on 48 minutes they could have levelled the score when Chris Camilleri entered Xewkija’s area from the left flank but his low inviting cross was concluded badly by Elton Da Silva and the ball ended on the side of the net. On 58 minutes Xewkija’s keeper saved to a corner a free kick by the same Da Silva. On 61 minutes Xewkija operated a fast break where Shaun Bajada released Darko Krstic who avoided the offside trap, entered the area and fired in goal. The Hotspurs lost composure and went all out in an attempt to re-open the issue. On 72 minutes a header by Elton Da Silva following a cross by Jonathan Bajada ended high and two minutes 0later a strike by Christian Mericeca missed the target. The Hotspurs lost an opportunity to take advantage of a bad clearance by the goalkeeper one minute later following a cross by Stanimir Miloskovic but Xewkija’s central defender Sergio Arturo Martinez Villa recovered in time and cleared the ball from an unattended goalmouth. The goalkeeper made up for his previous mistake on 83 minutes when he was well placed to save a low shot by substitute Andrew Mizzi and on 85 minutes Ferdinando Apap headed towards the goalmouth following a cross by Emiliano Lattes, the defense cleared badly and the same Apap took the ball but his shot was blocked by the defense. During the final minutes of the match Xewkija controlled play with more authority and could have scored the third goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time but a shot by Shaun Bajada following a counter break by Claudio Antunes was saved by goalie Adrian Parnis.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha

Source: gozofa.com

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MATCH DETAILS
Gozo Stadium 17 October 2018

Victoria H FC : 2 (E.A. Da Silva 22’, 66’)

Parnis, F. Apap, L. Grima, M.J. Bezzina, A. Mizzi (C. Mercieca), J. Bajada, H. De Souza Maciel, D. Sowatey (J. Pace), A. Debrincat (J.M. Vella), E.A. Da Silva, E.P. Lattes.

SK Victoria W : 0

M.T. Towns, A.G. Attard, J.W. Meilak (J. Buhagiar), A.J. Obaje, P. Dordevic, S. Harland (E. Zammit), A. Attard, M. Bamba, N. Vella, A. Touarha (A. Adesina), R. Grech.

MATCH REPORT
Victoria Hotspurs obtained their fourth win in a row in the championship in their match against SK Victoria Wanderers. The Hotspurs as expected earned the full points at stake despite the fact that they had some of their regular players missing as a precaution for their next matches which are considered to be more challenging. In this match striker Elton Da Silva confirmed his excellent moment of form and was instrumental for the Hotspurs to ease past their neighbours and to lead his side to put their minds at rest form the win with a goal scored in each half. The Wanderers on the other side tried hard to be worthy opponents but they were very weak in attack and they found it extremely difficult to create danger to their opponents so that they only managed to end the match with a respectable one.

The Hotspurs created their first scoring opportunity on 9 minutes through a shot by Elton Da Silva following a personal action that was neutralised by goalie Matthew Towns. Two minutes later Elton Da Silva took the ball from the defense but had his shot blocked by a defender. The ball arrived to an unmarked Andrew Mizzi who had his attempt blocked on the fatal line by defender Anthony George Attard and goalie Matthew Towns saved the danger. The Hotspurs opened the score on 22 minutes through Elton Alexandre Da Silva who entered the area from the left flank with a personal action and fired in goal from an angled position. The Hotspurs continued to dominate over their opponents and on 26 minutes a free kick by Emiliano Lattes was neutralised by goalie Matthew Towns. On 36 minutes the Hotspurs could have added another goal but a header from a good position by Andrea Debrincat following a free kick by Emiliano Lattes ended wide. The same Andrea Debrincat had a header from a good position on 42 minutes following a cross by Michael Bezzina that ended away from goal so that the first half ended with the Hotspurs in the lead.

The Wanderers had their first serious action within the territory of the opponents on 50 minutes when Aud-Gustine Obaje passed inside the area towards substitute Ajibade Adesina but central defender Ferdinando Apap cleared the danger to deny Adesina from hitting form close distance. Minutes later the Hotspurs risked when the goalkeeper and the central defenders hesitated to clear a cross from the flank but the Ajibade Adesina failed to take advantage form the melee so that the Hotspurs cleared the danger with some difficulty. The Hotspurs replied on 54 minutes through a low shot from outside the area by Emiliano Lattes that ended just wide. Three minutes later Elton Da Silva had a low shot from the edge of the area that was saved by goalie Matthew Towns and on the hour mark the same goalkeeper made the best save of the evening to turn to a corner a strike by substitute Christian Mercieca who was released by Emiliano Lattes. Three minutes later the same Mercieca had another attempt that ended wide but on 66 minutes the Hotspurs doubled the score when Elton Alexandre Da Silva took a back pass by a defender aimed to the goalkeeper, turned around the goalkeeper and placed easily in goal with a low drive. On 76 minutes the same Da Silva could have added another goal but his low shot addressed to the far post following a personal action ended inches wide. On 82 minutes the Hotspurs were again dangerous through an effort by Henrique Maciel that was neutralized by goalie Matthew Towns. The Wanderers could have reduced the deficit on 84 minutes but a low shot by Aud-Gustine Obaje was saved by goalie Parnis and less than a minute later the Hotspurs had another attempt by Henrique Maciel that was saved by goalie Matthew Towns. On 88 minutes the Hotspurs went again close to scoring when Elton Da Silva entered the area but passed towards the middle instead of shooting at goal so that the attempt on the run by Christian Mercieca ended over the crossbar. In the second minute of stoppage time the Hotspurs had a header by Henrique Maciel following a corner action that was cleared off the fatal line but the defense so that the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann

Source: gozofa.com

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MATCH DETAILS
Gozo Stadium – 7 October 2018

Gharb R FC : 1 (H. Santa Rosa Cruz 43’)
Spiteri, A. Sultana, J.P. Grima (M. Theuma), P.P. Camilleri (A. Micallef), C. Attard, P. Djorovic, D. Azzopardi, P. Nunez Del Castillo, N. Stojanovic, H. Santa Rosa Cruz, M. Grech.

Victoria H FC : 3 (E.A. Da Silva 5’, 30’, 77’pen)
Parnis, F. Apap (L. Grima), J.M. Vella, C. Mercieca, S. Miloskovic, C. Camilleri (A. Mizzi), J. Pace (A. Debrincat), J. Bajada, D. Sowatey, E.A. Da Silva, E.P. Lattes.

MATCH REPORT
Elton Da Silva scored the third consecutive hat-trick for his side Victoria Hotspurs in the match from Match-Day 3 of the BOV Gozo Football League 2018/2019 against Gharb Rangers so that the Hotspurs kept the perfect start in the championship. The win for the Hotspurs was well deserved as they expressed territorial supremacy for long stretches, scored two goals during crucial moments of the encounter and dominated for most of the second period. Gharb remained in contention for a positive result during the first hour of play as they managed to create some pressure on Victoria’s defense and went also very close to scoring on more than one occasion. However, the Rangers seemed demoralized as time passed by and ended up suffering the superiority of the reigning champions so that the defeat could have easily been with a larger margin.

Victoria Hotspurs as expected took command of play and opened the score in the fifth minute through a fine shot by Elton Alexandre Da Silva following a cross from the right by Stanimir Miloskovic. Gharb were not demoralized and on 10 minutes they were dangerous through a strike by Nemanja Stojanovic that was saved to a corner by goalie Adrian Parnis. The match became more interesting as Gharb kept insisting while the Hotspurs operated with dangerous breaks. On 12 minutes the Hotspurs went close to scoring but a header by Daniel Sowatey following a free kick by Chris Camilleri ended just wide. The Hotspurs could have increased their lead on 26 minutes when Ferdinando Apap released Christian Mercieca inside Gharb’s area but the latter had his shot from an ideal position that ended high. On 29 minutes Gharb had a golden scoring opportunity to level the score when Christian Attard entered Victoria’s area, had his shot deflected towards an open goal but Pablo Nunez Del Castillo failed to connect and the action ended in a corner. Gharb were immediately punished for the missed chance and less than a minute later the Hotspurs doubled the score when Elton Alexandre Da Silva won the ball within Gharb’s territory following a wrong clearance by the defense, entered the area, turned around the goalkeeper and fired in goal from close distance. One minute later Gharb could have reduced the score when Nemanja Stojanovic entered Victoria’s territory but his lob aimed towards an open goal ended just over the crossbar. On 39 minutes Gharb were again dangerous through a free kick form long distance by Hugo Santa Rosa Cruz that ended just high and on 43 minutes Gharb re-opened the issue when Hugo Santa Rosa Cruz produced a personal action inside Victoria’s area and placed in goal with a low shot.

After the restart play continued to be quite balanced as Gharb continued to produce efforts to level the score. However, as time passed by Victoria managed to impose their superiority and held command of play in an attempt to put their minds at rest by scoring the third goal. The Citizens went very close to scoring on 66 minutes but a shot by Elton Da Silva following a personal action ended on the side of the net. Three minutes later the same Da Silva entered Gharb’s area from the left flank but substitute Andrew Mizzi failed to connect from close distance so that the ball ended wide. On 75 minutes the Hotspurs were awarded a penalty for a foul by Matthew Grech on Stanimir Miloskovic so that Elton Alexandre Da Silva converted form the spot kick to re-establish the two-goal difference and at the same time marked his third personal hat-trick in three consecutive matches. On 90 minutes Gharb could have scored the second goal but a shot from an ideal position by Hugo Santa Rosa Cruz missed the target. The Hot[spurs however could have added another goal in the third minute of stoppage time but a free kick by Christian Mercieca ended just over the crossbar.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele

Written by: Darren Cassar

Source: http://gozofa.com/news

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MATCH DETAILS
20 September 2018 – Gozo Stadium

Victoria H FC : 6 (F. Apap 4’, E.A. Da Silva 43’, 45+1’, 86’; H. De Souza Maciel 56’, E.P. Lattes 71’)
Parnis, F. Apap, J.M. Vella (M. Bezzina), C. Mercieca, J. Pace (L. Grima), A. Mizzi (A. Debrincat), J. Bajada, H. De Souza Maciel, D. Sowatey, E.A. Da Silva, E.P. Lattes.

Kercem A FC : 1 (A. Komljenovic 76’)
Muscat, A. Azzopardi, M. Hrubsa, J. Buttigieg (C. Caruana), E. Vella, A. Komljenovic, J. Grech (P. Debono), J.P. Mizzi (D. Cassar), N. Mercieca, D. Sakic, F.A. De Oliviera.

MATCH REPORT

Victoria Hotspurs as expected earned the full points at stake from their match against Kercem Ajax and maintained the perfect start in the championship with two wins form two matches. Victoria Hotspurs turned out to be too strong for their opponents despite the fact that the reigning champions had a number of changes in their starting line up from their previous match. In this encounter against Kercem the Hotspurs scored and early goal that practically demoralized their opponents so that the Citizens held territorial supremacy with the least possible effort. In this match Victoria’s striker Elton Da Silva scored a second personal hat trick in the two matches played so far in the championship.

The Hotspurs could not have had a better start as they opened the score in the fourth minute through a header form close distance by Ferdinando Apap following a cross by Emiliano Lattes. In the following minutes the Hotspurs maintained play inside Kercem’s territory and on 21 minutes they went very close to double the score but an overhead kick by Andrew Mizzi ended wide. Kercem had their best opportunity to level the score one minute later but Felipe Augisto De Oliviera failed to connect to an inviting low cross form the right flank by AleksandarKomljenovic. The Hotspurs replied on 37 minutes through a low shot by Christian Mercieca that was saved in two attempts and with the aid of a defender by goalie Charlon Muscat. Kercem were again dangerous on 40 minutes but a shot from outside the area by AleksandarKomljenovic following a short clearance by Victoria’s defense ended wide. The Hotspurs however doubled the score on 43 minutes when Elton Alexandre Da Silva took the ball from the goalkeeper and placed in goal with a low shot. Kercem protested for a foul on the goalkeeper and alleging handling by Da Silva but the goal was validated. In the first minute of added time before the break the Hotspurs added another goal through a direct free kick by Elton Axandre Da Silva that surprised Kercem’s goalie.

The Hotspurs continued to dominate after the break and on 46 minutes they were dangerous through a low shot by Elton Da Silva following a personal action that ended on the side of the net. Kercem replied on 48 minutes through low shot by Joshua Buttigieg that was blocked by goalie Adrian Parnis and the same goalkeeper was called to make a difficult intervention on 56 minutes to block a direct free kick by Jean Paul Mizzi. In the following action the Hotspurs operated a counter break through Henrique De Souza Maciel who entered the area from the left flank and placed in goal with a low drive. Two minutes after the hour mark the Hotspurs went again close to scoring but a header by substitute Andrea Debrincat following a cross by Christian Mercieca ended wide. On 71 minutes the Hotspurs scored their fifth goal when Emiliano Patricio Lattes produced a personal action from the midfield, entered the area and concluded in goal with a fine shot. Kercem scored their consolation goal on 76 minutes through AleksandarKomljenovic who avoided the offside position, entered the area and netted with a low drive as the goalkeeper left his place in an attempt to block the danger. In the following minutes Kercem had attempts by Felipe Augusto De Oliveira and Andre Azzopardi that ended wide and Kercem’s goalie Charlon Muscat was called to make a good intervention on 85 minutes to block a close ranged shot by Elton Da Silva. Victoria Hotspurs however scored their sixth goal one minute later through Elton Alexandre Da Silva following another personal action from the right flank.
Referee: Emanuel Grech

 

Source: http://gozofa.com/news/

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MATCH DETAILS
16 September 2018 – Gozo Stadium

Victoria H FC : 3 (E.A. Da Silva 18’, 48’, 56’pen.)
Parnis, F. Apap, L. Grima, J.M. Vella, C. Mercieca (A. Mizzi), S. Miloskovic, C. Camilleri (A. Debrincat), J. Pace, D. Sowatey, E.A. da Silva, E.P. Lattes.

Nadur Y FC : 2 (M.J. Barbosa 37’ pen., Y.DJ. Messias 43’)
Vella, T. Souza De Silveira, D. Farrugia, L. Tabone, K. Farrugia, M.J. Barbosa, D.M. Bustos, Sh. Attard, J. Buttigieg, Sa. Attard (B. Said), Y.DJ. Messias.

MATCH REPORT
Champions Victoria Hotspurs had an excellent start in the BOV Gozo Football League 2018/2019 as they obtained a 3-2 win over Nadur Youngsters who are considered among the serious challengers for the main honours this season. This was the last match from Match-Day 1 of the championship which also generated great interest due to the credentials of the two sides in Gozitan football. As a result the match attracted a large crowd to the Gozo Stadium and the two teams lived up to the expectations as the encounter turned out into a well contested issue where the result remained uncertain until the dying moments. In this match the Hotspurs confirmed their strong potential particularly at their defense where they rarely concede opportunities to their opponents. The Hotspurs consolidated their strong squad that they had last season and consolidated their play where manage to produce a collective effort that is converted in goals through their main striker Elton Alexandre Da Silva, who scored the three goals for his side in this match. Nadur tried hard to prevail over their opponents in this match. They held some territorial supremacy during the first half and also took the break in the lead. However, Nadur committed some defensive mistakes in this match that at the end compromised their possibility to obtain a positive result from this encounter. Nadur also lacked character especially during the difficult phases in the second period as they suffered Victoria’s reaction and failed to administer the lead that they produced during the first half.

Nadur came out more aggressive and in the second minute of play they were dangerous through a low cross by Shaun Attard that was addressed to the far post towards Yuri Messias but central defender Daniel Sowatey risked an own goal by clearing the danger to a corner. On 7 minutes a direct freekick by Nadur’sThiago Souza De Silveira ended just wide. Nadur continued to enjoy supremacy but on 18 minutes Nadur’s central defender Thiago Souza De Silveira lost a challenge with Victoria’s Elton Alexandre Da Silva who entered the area and fired in goal with a low shot towards the far post. The Youngsters replied on 26 minutes through a shot from long distance that was neutralized by goalie Adrian Parnis. Two minutes later Nadur’s defense failed to clear a low cross by Christian Mercieca and the ball arrived to Elton Da Silva who saw his low shot well saved by goalie Franklin Vella. The same goalkeeper was called to make a difficult save on 31 minutes to turn to a corner a strike by Christopher Camilleri after receiving from StanimirMiloskovic. On 37 minutes Nadur were awarded a penalty for a foul by Lawrence Grima on Marcelo Junior Barbosa and the same Nadur striker converted from the spot kick. Nadur grew in confidence and two minutes later the same Barbosa had a header following a cross from the left flank that ended just high. Nadur turned the result in their favour on 43 minutes through a spectacular acrobatic finishing by Yuri De Jesus Messias following a cross from the right flank by Marcelo Barbosa, with the ball ending in goal despite the attempt of the goalkeeper to clear the danger.

The Hotspurs took command of play from the early stages of the second period as they seemed determined to recover the score. On 47 minutes an effort by Elton Da Silva from close distance was blocked by Nadur’s rearguard in front of the goalmouth but one minute later the score became 2-2 when Elton Alexandre Da Silva received a ball inside Nadur’s area and placed in goal with a low drive. Nadur continued to suffer from Victoria’s aggressive play and also continued to commit mistakes at their defense. On 53 minutes a strike by Chris Camilleri after receiving from StanimirMiloskovic ended just wide and on 55 minutes Victoria were awarded a penalty when defender Josef Buttigieg handled the ball in a corner action and Elton Alexandre Da Silva converted from the spot kick to put his side in the lead for the second time in the match. The Hotspurs continued to be the better side and on 70 minutes Nadur’s keeper kept his side in contention when he blocked a shot by Emiliano Lattes. Five minutes later Victoria’s Christian Mercieca had a good shot that ended just wide and Nadur replied on 80 minutes through a free kick by Daniel Mateo Bustos that was stopped by the post and the defense cleared the danger. The Hotspurs went again close top make sure of the victory on 84 minutes but a strike by Christopher Camilleri was saved with some difficulty by goalie Franklin Vella. One minute later the Hotspurs were almost punished for the missed chances as Nadur’s Yuri De Jesus Messias received a ball at the edge of the area but his low shot was saved in two attempts by goalie Adrian Parnis and the score remained unchanged.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Written by: Darren Cassar

Source: http://gozofa.com/news/

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