Melita First Division League - Matchday 14

Nadur Youngsters - 3 vs Xewkija Tigers - 0

 - by Saviour Attard

Nadur Youngsters cruised to a 3-0 victory over Xewkija Tigers on Sunday at the Gozo Stadium courtesy to a brace by Joseph Portelli and a goal scored by Claudio Antunes. Portelli headed home from close range a pin point cross by Anthony Portelli and later sealed the issue as he dribbled Xuereb and slotted in. Antunes scored in between what was his first goal of the season for the Whites following his signing in the January transfer market. 

Coming from two consecutive victories against SK.Victoria Wanderers, Nadur were determined to maintain their winning streak and keep their slim title hopes alive. Xewkija proved to be a tough nut to crack in a disappointing first half were play was quite balanced on both sides with rare clear chances of goal. A header from Attard midway of the first half and another one by Stojanovic that both ended wide were the only actions worth of mentioning as the score remained goalless. 

The second period had a much different story as the Whites managed to take the important lead with barely five minutes gone. Anthony Portelli made most of the space after combining with Buttigieg to get in a cross from the right and Joseph Portelli nodded the ball in the net with a fine header. The same Buttigieg had a low shot that hit the side netting in the 57th minute of play. Antunes could have added a second soon after but he scuffled the ball wide as he was pressed by a defender following an excellent ball over the top by Buttigieg that had put him clean through down the centre. The crossbar then denied the Brazilian striker his first goal for Nadur as he tried to lob over Xuereb before the same Antunes marked his second appearance for Nadur with a goal. This was very similar to the first one as Stojanovic was played onside by Anthony Portelli and crossed towards Antunes who placed the ball past Xuereb on the 72nd minute. Kyril Dyakov denied Portelli his second goal of the match few moments later when he cleared off the line a neat finish by the Nadur Youngsters forward who had dribbled the goalie. 

Now it seemed obvious that it was a question of how many more goals Nadur were going to add. The strike that completely killed off the match arrived five minutes from time as Stojanovic’s flicked header found Portelli clear who tricked the hapless Xuereb with a fine dribble and sealed the issue with a simple tap in. 

With four matches left to play Nadur are now five points behind league leaders Sannat Lions and two behind Ghajnsielem. The Youngsters will take on St.Lawrence Spurs with the date still to be decided and will face Ghajnsielem on the 27^th of March.

Sunday 20th February 2011 at 15:00 pm.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Scorers: Joseph M. Portelli 50’, 83’; Claudio Antunes 72’ (N).
Nadur Formation: Steve Sultana, Jeffery Meilaq (Ian Xuereb), Josef Buttigieg, Saviour Attard, Darko Stojanovic, Mario Portelli (Joseph Grima), John Paul Grima (Christian Debono), Milos Stojasnovic, Claudio Antunes, Anthony Portelli, Joseph M. Portelli.
Coach: Frank Muscat