Melita First Division League - Matchday 2

Nadur Youngsters - 3 vs Ghajnsielem FC - 2

Nadur Youngsters beat Ghajnsielem in an intense match that produced five goals and two players were sent off. Before the kick off the referee kept a minute of silence in memory of Guza Attard, who is the mother of Nadur Youngsters's midfielder Saviour Attard, who passed away earlier on Sunday.  Apart from Saviour Attard, Nadur were without the services of Charles Hili, Paul Camilleri and Mario Portelli sidelined with an injury. 

The match had a balanced start where Ghajnsielem produced the first scoring opportunity after five minutes of play through a shot by Shelby Printemps that was deflected by the defense in corner.  Nadur replied three minutes later through a direct corner kick by John Paul Grima that ended on the crossbar.  In the 9th minute Nadur’s Anthony Portelli entered the area but hesitated to conclude and central defender Ferdinando Apap recovered his position and cleared the danger in corner.  Nadur gained confidence and opened the score on 14 minutes through a shot from outside the area by Joseph Portelli that was deflected by central defender Yannick Ossok and surprised goalie Joseph Grech. This was the 1500th goal for Nadur in their history.  Three minutes later Nadur were again dangerous but a header by Wesley De Oliveira from a cross by Anthony Portelli was blocked in corner.  Ghajnsielem clinched the equalizer in a rare approach to Nadur’s area.  On 32 minutes Shelby Printemps entered the area from the right flank and from his low pass Charlon Tabone concluded in goal with a low shot.

The Ghajnsielem turned the result in their favour on 55 minutes when Shelby Printemps entered the area from the right flank and player coach Alex Simoncic followed the action to place in goal with a tap-in.  Ghanjsielem suffered a set-back midway through the second period as Yannick Ossok had to be substituted due to an injury.  Nadur recovered from the difficult moment and on leveled the score on 69 minutes through an angled shot by Wesley De Oliveira following a solo action.

The match now became more exciting as the two sides went all out to win all the points at stake.  On 77 minute Nadur suffered a set-back when they had Josef Buttigieg sent off for a second bookable offence.  Nadur were not demoralised and the final result continued to be uncertain.  Two minutes later Ghajnsielem’s goalie Joseph Grech blocked well a low shot by Wesley De Oliveira.  On 82 minutes Ghajnsielem’s goalie Joseph Grech was again called to make another difficult save following a free kick by Milos Stojanovic.  Four minutes from time Nadur scored the goal that decided the issue from a direct free kick by Milos Stojanovic from an angled position.  On 88 minutes Ghajnsielem were also reduced to ten players when Ferdinando Apap was sent off for hitting Milos Stojanovic after committing a foul.  Ghajnsielem could have saved the result in the 90th minute but an overhead kick by Shelby Printempts missed the target.  In the first minute of stoppage time Ghajnsielem’s goalie Joseph Grech denied Wesley De Oliveira from increasing Nadur’s lead with a fine intervention.

Sunday 19th September 2010 at 17:00 pm
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Scorers: Joseph Portelli 14’, Wesley De Oliveira 69’, Milos Stojanovic 86’ (N), Charlon Tabone 32’, Alex Simoncic 55’ (GH).
Red Cards: Josef Buttigieg (N).
Nadur Formation: Steve Sultana, John Paul Grima, Jeffery Meilaq, Darko Stojanovic, Josef Buttigieg, Milos Stojanovic, Ryan Meilaq, Ian Xuereb, Joseph Portelli, Anthony Portelli, Wesley De Oliveira.
Coach: Frank Muscat (View Profile).

Photos By Joseph Mercieca  www.gozovision.com