Melita First Division League - Matchday 18

Nadur Youngsters - 4 vs Victoria Hotspurs - 5

Victoria Hotspurs obtained a victory in their last match of the championship against Nadur Youngsters and earned a fourth final placing on the table.  With this result Nadur lost all their chances to challenge for the runners-up position.  The match was quite interesting where Nadur produced the better play during the first period but compromised the result during the early stages of the second period where they suffered three goals in counter breaks.  At the end the protagonist of the match was Victoria’s striker Kalin Ganchev who scored four personal goals.

Nadur came out more aggressive and opened the score in the fifth minute of play through Joseph Grima.  However, Victoria had a good reaction and Kalin Ganchev levelled the score with a goal that arrived in the eleventh minute.  Nadur regained territorial supremacy and Victoria’s goalie Angelo Brignoli was called to some good saves to deny Nadur from scoring particularly an effort by Milos Stojanovic on 21 minutes.

Four minutes later Victoria’s defender Mario Mifsud cleared off the line a header by Darko Stojanovic.  However, the Youngsters regained the lead on 33 minutes through a low drive by Anthony Portelli who also registered his personal 100th goal with Nadur.  The Hotspurs scored their second equaliser seconds from half time through a lob by Kalin Ganchev following a counter break.

The Hotspurs continued to punish their opponents during the second period and Ganchev put his side in the lead on 55 minutes and three minutes later the Bulgarian striker released substitute Nicholas Mercieca who made it 4-2 with an angled shot.  Nadur tried to reduce the score but effort by Anthony Portelli and Milos Stojanovic were saved by goalie Brignoli while an attempt by Joseph Portelli in the 63rd minute ended just high.

Victoria increased their lead two minutes later through another goal by Kalin Ganchev and six minutes later Victoria’s goalie Birgnoli made another fine intervention following a strike by John Paul Grima.  Nadur managed to reopen the issue with a brace by Claudio Antunes in the 74th and 76th minute but the Hotspurs managed to defend their one goal lead for the remaining minutes of the match as Nadur’s efforts did not produce any danger towards Brignoli’s goal.

Source: www.gozofootball.net

Saturday 16th April 2011 at 16:00 pm.
Referee: Paul Apap.
Scorers: Joseph Grima 5’, Anthony Portelli 33’, Claudio Antunes 74’, 76’ (N), Kalin Ganchev 11’, 45’, 55’, 65; Noel Mercieca 58’ (VH).
Nadur Formation: Steve Sultana, Josef Buttigieg, John Paul Grima, Christian Debono, Darko Stojanovic, Joseph Grima (Ryan Meilaq), Milos Stojanovic, Charles Hili, Claudio Antunes, Anthony Portelli, Joseph Portelli.
Coach: Frank Muscat