Nadur Youngsters -3- Qala St. Joseph -0-

 

05.04.09                                                                                                                                                                          Gozo Stadium

 

     In their penultimate match of the season, Nadur Youngsters managed to get a good victory over Qala St. Joseph, a victory that now give the Youngsters hope of evading the second from bottom place (that means a relegation decider against the second classified in Div.ll) while condemning the Maroons into the lower division.  It was a tough match with scrappy football at times and also some tough tackles towards the end.  Qala, who had a player sent off, never really tested Sultana in the Youngsters goal.  In a match played earlier, Kercem Ajax had the better of Victoria Hotspurs (5-4) thus increasing the importance of this match.  Nadur ones again were determined and showed tremendous character when things were not going fine for them.  

     Nadur went all out from the very beginning and a cross by S. Muscat left Qala’s defence stranded while A. Portelli hit wide.  A. Simoncic had a direct free kick ending wide as the Youngsters kept pressing forward.  V. Agius had to be at his best to clear one-handed a header by B. Timotic following a corner by A. Simoncic.  Nadur’s Captain, A. Portelli fed an interesting cross to S. Muscat, but the latter hit high.  With pressure mounting on, Agius was well placed to save A. Portelli’s shot following a nice cross from S. Attard.  Qala were finding it hard to contain the Whites, and J. Buttigieg nearly profited when he took a bad clearance by the Qala’s defence and just missed the target with his try.  A. Simoncic saw his direct corner dropping on the top of the net with Agius beaten.  In a rare attack for Qala, they won a corner.  It was taken by R. Saverino and headed high by C. E. Nwankwo.  Qala’s custodian was again called in action to clear a shot by M. Portelli.  But Agius made the best save of the match when he superbly saved a free kick by Simoncic.  Nadur’s pressure finally paid off.  On the 43rd minute, A. Simoncic went on a solo action, beating four Qala defenders before entering the area where he was brought down by P. Said and Bojan Brajovic made no mistake from the penalty to give the Youngsters a deserved lead.  

    Qala tried to make a reaction in the beginning of the second half.  They had a corner taken by R. Saverino and headed high by D. Lautier.  On the 52nd minute, Nadur doubled.  They won a free kick just outside the area, and Aleksandar Simoncic found the back of the net with a low shot.  Four minutes later, Qala were reduced to 10 men, when Peter said was given the marching orders for a very dangerous tackle on Simoncic.  Nadur were now playing with confidence, and a cross by J. Buttigieg was hit first time by Simoncic only to see it deflected into safety.  Again J. Buttigieg found M. Portelli, but his shot was inches high.  B. Brajovic’s cross from the right towards S. Muscat was intercepted by V. Agius.  Another cross by Simoncic into the area, B. Timotic headed towards B. Brajovic but Agius was there to save.  A melee in the Maroon’s area and B. Brajovic and S. Muscat should have done better.  On the 83rd minute, Nadur sealed the issue.  A short corned between J. Buttigieg and A. Simoncic, the latter’s cross was timely headed into the back of the net by Bojan Brajovic.  Nadur had another attempt by J. Buttigieg well saved by Agius.

    Nadur now face Victoria Hotspurs, in their last match of the League this season, full of confidence, knowing that a victory in that match will mean first Division status next season.

Referee: Reno Refalo

Nadur Youngsters Formation : Steve Sultana; Mario Portelli ; Jeffrey Meilak; Peter Buttigieg; Aleksandar Simoncic (Joseph Muscat); Branislav Timotic (Jonathan Said); Saviour Attard; Bojan Brajovic ; Shaun Muscat ; Anthony Portelli (Ryan Meilak);  Josef Buttigieg.