Youngsters Miss a Penalty and Looses the Match

 

 

Ghajnsielem -4- Nadur Youngsters -3-

 

28.12.08                                                                                                                                                                       Gozo Stadium

Nadur Youngsters hope a revival in this second round was severely dented with this second defeat at the hands of eternal rivals Għajnsielem. Nadur were without the suspended Anthony Portelli and the injured Peter Buttigieg.  Before the match a Minute Silence was held in Honour of one of the Founders of Nadur Youngsters and a Great Sporting Gentleman, the Flying Gozitan - Horace Mercieca.  

Again the Whites had more of the play, although they did create some danger,  but conceded 3 soft goals and had a penalty kick taken by player coach A. Simoncic well saved by Xuereb.  Nadur had enough chances to save the match but somehow Għajnsielem managed to hold on for this precious victory.

The match was only 1 minute 45 seconds when Għajnsielem had the ball in the Youngsters net.  Somehow Errol Grima was left totally unmarked to just tap in a cross from the midfield.  The Whites reaction was immediate and they managed to equalize the score on the 7th minute.  From a corner action taken my Simoncic, the ball came to Joseph M. Portelli whose powerful shot ended behind Xuereb.  Goncalves had a nice try easily saved by Sultana, while on the other side Xuereb neutralised the shot by J. M. Portelli.  Simoncic went close for Nadur with a free kick that ended just over the bar.  Nadur kept insisting and on the 17th minute they took the lead.  A. Gseaa kept insisting on a solo action and when he delivered his cross, there was Joseph Portelli Said, well placed to guide the ball into the empty net.  5 minutes later Sultana had to intervene to save a tremendous shot by Goncalves into a corner.  From the resultant corner Joseph Attard found the back of the net with the ball hitting the far post before entering into the net.  After these four goals in the first 22 minutes, play continued interesting but mostly in midfield with very few dangers for both goalkeepers.  5 minutes from half time, Għajnsielem regained the lead.  E. Grima’s cross from the left found Joseph Attard unmarked on the right, and he had time enough to place behind Sultana.  Nadur were clearly unsettled and Għajnsielem took full advantage of this moment and increased their lead on the 42nd minute.  A free kick taken by L. Buttigieg that was not cleared by the Youngsters defence and Errol Grima, again unmarked, headed in goal. 

The second half opened with the Blacks going close to further increase their lead, but this time Sultana did very well to one-handily clear the danger created by Goncalves’s lob when he was put through by Grima.  Simoncic had a long range shot that was neutralised by Xuereb.  On the 54th minute A. Gseaa was fouled in the area by L. Tunde and the referee awarded a penalty to Nadur.  Nadur missed the chance to reduce the arrears when Player/Coach A. Simoncic’s kick was well saved by Xuereb.  Nadur kept insisting and were attacking with greater effort.  J. Portelli Said’s shot following a free kick by Simoncic ended high.  J. M. Portelli went close with a long range shot.  S. Muscat’s cross was cleared before the ball could reach J. M. Portelli.  Nadur did get a goal back when S. Muscat’s found Akram Gseaa well placed to powerful conclude behind Xuereb.  Nadur well all out now to try to get that equaliser, and went really close when a very well taken free kick by A. Simoncic was equally well saved by Xuereb.  With this defeat, Nadur remained in the 5th position, but now they have played a game more then the two teams below them.  Għajnsielem are now joined third, 4 points behind leaders, Sannat Lions.

Referee: Paul Caruana

Nadur Youngsters Formation: Steve Sultana; Jeffrey Meilak; Saviour Attard; Josef Buttigieg; Aleksandar Simoncic; Branislav Timotic; Jonathan Said (Charlie Attard); Joseph Portelli Said; Shaun Muscat; Akram Gseaa; Joseph M. Portelli.