Next Match
| Close win for Nadur |
| Monday, 06 February 2012 09:13 |
|
Melita First Division Match 10 Xaghra United - 2 vs Nadur Youngsters FC - 3
The match had a fast start where the two teams came out in search of an early goal. In the fourth minute of play Nadur's skipper Anthony Portelli had a good attempt that was well saved by goalie Matthew Vella and Xaghra replied one minute later through a strike by Thiago Dos Santos that ended just wide. In the 7th minute an attempt by Claudio Antunes missed the target. Nadur opened the score on 19 minutes. Milos Stojanovic released Claudio Antunes on the right flank, the Brazilian striker entered the area and netted with a low drive as goalie Vella went out of his position. Five minutes later the Youngsters doubled the score as Joseph Vella exchanged the ball with Milos Stojanovic and placed in goal with a low shot. Xaghra replied with a shot by Ejo Nkwocha that missed the target and a free kick by Thiago Dos Santos that was neutralized by goalie Matthew Muscat. On 37 Nadur's Joseph Vella had an attempt form outside the area that ended high. Nadur increased their lead on 40 minutes through a close ranged header by Milos Stojanovic following a cross by Anthony Portelli. Just before half time a shot by Nadur's Anthony Portelli following a fine move by Claudio Antunes ended wide. Nadur could have scored another goal after twenty seconds of play of the second period when Anthony Portelli entered the area with a personal action but had his shot saved in corner by goalie Matthew Vella. Xaghra reduced the deficit to two goals on 58 minutes. Michael Bezzina entered the area with a personal action and netted easily with a low drive. On 62 minutes Nadur were dangerous through a header by Saviour Attard from a corner kick by Alex Simoncic that ended just wide. Two minutes later Xaghra went again close to scoring when a cross by substitute Daniel Attard arrived to an unmarked Daniel Bartolo, who came on the field as a substitute, but goalie Matthew Muscat saved the danger with a fine intervention. Less than a minute later Nadur's rearguard had a moment of hesitation and Joseph Xerri came face to face with the goalkeeper but the Xaghra midfielder concluded incredibly wide. On 66 minutes Xaghra's goalie Matthew Vella kept his side in contention with a fine save following an effort by Joseph Vella and in the following action Nadur's goalie Matthew Muscat made a similar save to block the danger following an effort by Michael Bezzina. Xaghra managed to score their second goal on 73 minutes. Thiago Dos Santos entered the area with a personal action and netted easily behind goalie Matthew Muscat. The match now became open to any result but on 82 minutes Nadur could have regained a two-goal lead when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by goalie Matthew Vella on Joseph Vella but the goalkeeper made up for his mistake as he saved Claudio Antunes' shot from the spot kick. On 87 minutes Xaghra were dangerous through a direct free kick by Thiago Dos Santos that ended just high and minutes later Nadur's Claudio Antunes had an angled shot that missed the target. Nadur almost compromised their efforts as they were reduced to ten players in the second minute of stoppage time when Charles Mercieca was sent off for remarks to the assistant referee. However, during the remaining minutes of play Nadur controlled play and defended the one goal lead until the final whistle.
Sunday 5th February 2012 at 13:00 pm. Source: Gozo Football Association |
Nadur Youngsters regained sole leadership with three points obtained from their match against Xaghra United. This encounter was the last match from the tenth day of the championship. The victory for Nadur matured with a fine performance during the first hour of the match as they opened a comfortable three goal lead. However, they suffered Xaghra's reaction and were forced to suffer until the final whistle to enjoy the victory. Nadur's debutant Joseph Vella, ex-SK Victoria Wanderers, also marked his first match for the title contenders with a goal. Xaghra seemed timid during the first hour of play but gained confidence as they scored their first goal so that they also managed to re-open their chances to save the result with a determined performance during the last part of the match so that the final score remained uncertain until the end.
