Nadur Youngsters FC | 10 Men Youngsters Looses First Points

10 Men Youngsters Looses First Points

Sunday, 13 January 2008 10:24

Nadur Youngsters were held to a 3-3 draw by Sannat Lions in a very entertaining but difficult match. Although playing for 50 minutes with 10 men, the Champions showed their character and after they found themselves 2-0 down on the 29^th minute, they regained their composer and managed to go 3-2 up, only for Sannat to grab the equalizer 5 minutes from time.

Sannat opened the match with a very aggressive manner, knowing that they couldn’t afford to finish empty handed. On their first approach to the Youngsters area, Sannat’s Brazilian forward, Fernando de Andrade, was brought down in the area by J. Meilak and the referee was prompt to point to the penalty spot. The same de Andrade made no mistake to put the Lions in front. Nadur’s reaction was immediate and a C. Camilleri’s free kick went just over. The Champions kept insisting and from a corner kick by C. Camilleri, C. E. Nwankwo’s header was saved by D. Bajada against the crossbar and M. R. Secco headed the rebound wide. Bajada deny the Youngsters with two difficult interventions on J. M. Portelli and Nwankwo. Sannat risked an own goal following a bad back pass by A. Debono but P. Spiteri cleared for a corner. During this attacking patch, Nadur found themselves 2-0 down on the 29^th minute. An E. Grima’s long ball was not cleared by the Youngsters defense and Kenneth Mercieca had no difficulty in beating Xuereb with a simple lob. Sannat’s joy didn’t last long as the league leaders immediately reduced their deficit. Another corner by C. Camilleri created havoc in the Green’s area and the rebound came into the patch of Josef Buttigieg and the youngsters finished superbly from a much angled position. Nadur were then reduced to 10 men when their Brazilian defender was sent off for a late tackle on M. Muscat. Sannat could have scored again when F. de Andrade’s cross was well met by M. Muscat, but Xuereb did well to clear the danger with the help of P. Buttigieg.

For the second half, Nadur substituted their Captain, A. Portelli with Aleksandar Simoncic. This tactical substitution gave immediate effect as the Whites looked more aggressive and kept the Lions under pressure for most of the half. C. E. Nwankwo saw hit header caressing the crossbar with Bajada beaten. C. Camilleri shot wide when brought in a favorable position by J. M. Portelli, and soon after the same Camilleri missed to hit the target following an A. Simoncic’s free kick. C. Hili’s cross from the left was concluded high and wide by J. M. Portelli. This was the prelude of the equalizer. On the 66^th minute, C. E. Nwankwo kept insisting on the ball, passed to the unmarked Joseph M. Portelli, who found the back of the net with a powerful shot. The same Nwankwo was denied with a fine intervention by Bajada. Sannat were nowhere at this stage as Nadur were pressing hard to take the lead. They had good efforts by J. M. Portelli and Nwankwo that somehow didn’t find a way towards the net. The Champions then turned the result on its head on the 82^nd minute. From an A. Simoncic free kick, Jeffrey Meilak’s superb header gave Bajada no chance. It was now time for Sannat to try to go forward and they did so immediately. A shot by M. Muscat was partially cleared, and Kenneth Mercieca headed the equalizer on the 85^th minute.

Following this result, Nadur kept their 4 points lead with a game in hand over second placed Victoria Hotspurs, who could only get a 2-2 draw with relegation threatened Qala St. Joseph. Nadur next encounter is the direct clash with the Hotspurs in 2 weeks time.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

Nadur Youngsters Formation: Jonathan Xuereb; Peter Buttigieg (Saviour Attard); Jeffrey Meilak; Marcos Rogerio Secco; Josef Buttigieg; Dejan Odavic; Charles Hili; Chris Camilleri; Chidi Eric Nwankwo; Anthony Portelli (Aleksandar Simoncic); Joseph M. Portelli.