Next Match
| Nadur in GFA Cup S/F |
| Friday, 08 May 2009 15:39 |
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Nadur Youngsters -4- Xaghra United -2-
Gozo Stadium 08.05.09
Nadur Youngsters advanced into the semi final of the Gozo F. A. cup at the expense of Second Division side, Xagħra United. The Youngsters were superior throughout the entire match and the Blues only managed to get back into the match when Nadur went 3-0 up and slowed down the rhythm. Nadur had the central defender Branislav Timotic missing, as he had left the island. Nadur, as expected, went on the attack from the initial moments and from a corner kick taken by Simoncic, A. Portelli’s shot went high. Again A. Portelli was slow to react following a free kick by Simoncic and Gauci had time to clear the danger. Xagħra were unlucky when a solo action by S. Galea ended with the final shot being cleared off the fatal line by P. Buttigieg. Nadur kept pressing and from yet another corner kick taken by Simoncic, S. Attard’s header was cleared with some difficulty, with the ball coming towards A. Portelli, whose overhead kick ended just wide with Gauci beaten. Nadur were unlucky again, this time when a S. Attard header was stopped by the upright following a corner taken by Simoncic. J. Attard had a long range shot for Xagħra being deviated into a corner. Another counter attack by United, and A. Koci’s cross was headed towards goal by S. Galea, but again the Blues were denied the goal by P. Buttigieg’s second clearance off the line. A coral action between B. Brajovic and A. Simoncic ended with a soft shot by the latter witch created no danger to Gauci. Soon after, Nadur had another try by Brajovic that ended centimetres high following a nice action between A. Portelli and S. Muscat. The last action of the first half came from Xagħra. A cross shot by M. Bezzina saw S. Sultana making a one handed save into corner. The first half whistle came with the result still goalless. The Whites came out more aggressive and more determined to get what they wanted. On the 53rd minute they opened the score when Shaun Muscat took the ball half way into the Xagħra half and let go a tremendous shot that gave Gauci no chance. Encouraged by this goal, Nadur kept insisting and A. Simoncic’s cross was met by A. Portelli, only for the latter to see his shot going high. On the 54th minute, Nadur were reduced to 10 men on the 58th minute when Peter Buttigieg was shown the second yellow card and was sent for an early shower. Nadur kept their composure and on the 66th minute they doubled the score. Again it was another shot from long range, this time by Aleksandar Simoncic that ended into the net giving Gauci no chance at all. 3 minutes later, Nadur made sure of victory, when following a corner kick taken by A. Simoncic, Anthony Portelli with a nicely taken overhead kick guided the ball towards goal and Shaun Muscat was in place to tap in. Nadur slowed down their pace, and Xagħra saw more of the ball after this score line. S. Sultana had to very alerted to save a bad clearance by J. Buttigieg that looked heading straight into the to corner. M. Portelli had a good try saved by Gauci, and on the 78th minute, Xagħra got one back. A bit of misunderstanding between S. Sultana and R. Meilak allowed Andi Koci to penetrate and hitting the ball into the net. 3 minutes later the Blues got well back into the match with their second goal. Again it was Andi Koci to react first on a cross by A. Farrugia and beat Sultana. Nadur still had the courage to keep calm and control the rest of the match without doing much to try to secure victory. On the 93rd minute Nadur were awarded a penalty when Bojan Brajovic was brought down in the area by goalkeeper D. Gauci, who was sent off, and the Youngsters striker made no mistake from the spot kick. Nadur will now face S. K. Victoria Wanderers in the semi final, which will be played next Monday, 11.05.09 at 1930 hrs.
Referee: Gordon Barbara
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