MELITA 1ST DIV LEAGUE

HOTSPURS STOP NADUR’S UNBEATEN START

S. Sultana, P. Camilleri, S. Attard, P. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, J. Meilaq (M. Portelli), Kyle Russell, C. Hili, C. Antunes, A. Portelli (G. Hili), C. Mercieca.

(E. Nkwankwo 9’, U. Anyanwu 51’, 60’)

M. Grima, J.P. Grima (J. Mizzi), A.Tramboo (M. Vella), J. Emanche, D. Farrugia, O. Farrugia, N. Borg, J. Xerri (M. Buttigieg), R. Grech, E. Nkwankwo, U. Anyanwu.

  Victoria Hotspurs registered their second consecutive win in the championship and inflicted a defeat to leaders Nadur Youngsters.  With the points obtained the Hotspurs recovered from the defeat conceded in their first match of the campaign and are back in the reckoning to challenge for the honours.  It was a deserved win for the Hotspurs.  They dominated the match and could have made sure of the three points during the first period, when they were not sharp in front of goal.  The Youngsters disappointed in this match.  They were shocked by Victoria’s aggressive play and did not manage to recover the situation.  Nadur had Josef Buttigieg missing for this match due to suspension.

  The Hotspurs took command of play from the very beginning and produced pressure over their opponents.  It was therefore not surprising that they opened the score on the 9^th minute when a shot from outside the area by Daniel Farrugia was blocked by the defense and from the resultant melee the ball arrived to an unmarked Eric Nkwankwo who netted easily form close distance.  Nadur replied on 14 minutes through an attempt by Anthony Portelli that was neutralized by goalie Mark Grima.  Five minutes later Victoria’s Ryan Grech had a shot from long distance that ended wide and on 26 minutes the citizens lost a golden opportunity to double the score.  The referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Peter Paul Buttigieg on Jesmond Xerri but Uchenne Anyanwo’s shot form the spot kick ended wide.  Three minutes later Nadur’s defender Buttigieg kept his side in contention when he cleared off the line, with the goalkeeper beaten, a low shot by Eric Nkwankwo following a solo action.  On 35 minute were dangerous through an attempt by Kyle Russell that was well turned in corner by goalie Mark Grima.  Five minutes later Victoria were unlucky as a low shot by Ryan Grech hit the post.  On 43 minutes Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana was called to make a difficult save to turn in corner a strike by Anyanwo.  Seconds from the break it was skipper Anthony Portelli who failed to take advantage of a bad clearance by Victoria’s rearguard and concluded weak so that goalie Mark Grima recovered and saved without any difficulty.

  After the break the Hotspurs continued to be the better side and in the 47^th minute an effort by Eric Nkwankwo ended just wide.  However, Victoria doubled the score on 51 minutes.  Eric Nkwankwo entered the area from the left flank and his cross created some panic at Nadur’s rearguard so that Uchenna Anyanwu took advantage of the loose ball and netted easily with a low shot.  Six minutes later Victoria’s Nkwankwo could have increased the lead but the striker concluded badly from an ideal position.  However, the score became 3-0 on the hour of play.  Nkwankwo entered the area form the left flank and his cross created confusion at Nadur’s rearguard so that the ball arrived to an unmarked Uchenna Anyanwu who placed easily in goal with a low shot.  Nadur were nowhere to be seen and three minutes later goalie Steve Sultana saved a close ranged header by Oliver Farrugia form a cross by Ryan Grech.  On 79 minutes a strike by substitute Marvin Buttigieg ended just wide.  Three minutes later Nadur could have reduced the deficit but a header by skipper Anthony Portelli from a corner action hit the crossbar.  In the final stages of the match the Hotspurs continued to create danger and they could have ended the match with a larger margin.  On 85 minutes goalie Sultana was called to save an attempt by Anyanwu from outside the area and minutes later Noel Borg failed to connect from close distance to an inviting ball following a corner action.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY

PHOTOS BY GOZO VISION STUDIO

CLICK TO ORDER

Website Designed By GOZO VISION STUDIO - FILMING & PHOTOGRAPHY - MALTA  TEL: (+356) 27565262    © GOZO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 2009 - 2010