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MELITA 1ST DIV LEAGUE |
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DRAMATIC WIN PUTS NADUR SOLE LEADERS |
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 NADUR
YOUNGSTERS
FC ...  (C.
Antunes 19’, J. Buttigieg 31’, K. Russell 43’, C. Mercieca 90+4’)S. Sultana, M. Portelli (C. Mercieca), J.Meilaq, P. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, P. Camilleri, K. Russell, S. Attard, C. Antunes, A. Portelli (C. Hili), J. Buttigieg. |
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 GHAJNSIELEM
FC ...
 (J.
Attard 16’, S. Sultana 53’ o.g., K. Mercieca 82’)J. Grech, R. Grima, F. Apap, R. Cariaga, J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, K. Mercieca, J. Attard, E. Grima, T. Dos Santos, F.L. Galea. |
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Nadur Youngsters maintained the excellent record at this start of the championship and obtained their third consecutive win from as many matches from their encounter against Ghajnsielem. The two teams were aiming for the full points at stake as they are both aiming to challenge for the title. The match was quite entertaining, produced seven goals and could have gone either way. Nadur’s win arrived with a goal scored deep into stoppage time through debutant Charles Mercieca, who came in as a substitute for the last ten minutes of the match and who was also playing against his ex-team for the first time. Otherwise, the two sides prevailed over the opponents for a half each. With this result Nadur took sole leadership on the table, while this was Ghajnsielem’s second defeat in the campaign.
The match had a balanced start with few attempts at the respective goals. However, Ghajnsielem broke the deadlock on 16 minutes. Joe Attard took advantage of a misunderstanding at Nadur’s rearguard, entered the area and placed in goal with a low shot. The Youngsters had an immediate reaction and leveled the score three minutes later through a header by Claudio Antunes following a corner kick by Alex Simoncic. Nadur kept insisting and in the 31st minute Nadur turned the result in their favour. Ghajnsielem’s defense cleared a ball from the area but the ball arrived to Josef Buttigieg just outside the area who placed in goal with a first timer. The Blacks replied minutes later with a half volley by Thiago Dos Santos following a cross by Frank Lee Galea that ended wide. In the 35th minute Ghajnsielem’s goalie Joseph Grech blocked well an effort by Kyle Russell following a solo action and minutes later an angled shot by Claudio Antunes ended high. Nadur increased the lead two minutes from half time. Goalie Joseph Grech partially saved a direct feee kick by Alex Simoncic and Kyle Russell placed in goal from close distance. |
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Ghajnsielem came out determined to recover the deficit for the second period. They reduced the arrears in the 53rd minute when goalie Steve Sultana committed an own goal as he saved a cross from the flank by Thiago Dos Santos. The Blacks started to increase pressure as time passed by and in the 65th minute a header by Kenneth Mercieca from a cross by Joe Attard bounced in front og goal and ended over the crossbar. Two minutes later a low shot by Errol Grima from a pass by Dos Santos ended just wide. In the 74th minute Nadur’s goalie Sultana partially saved a shot by Frank Lee Galea but Joe Attard failed to connect with the rebound. Minutes later it was Errol Grima who concluded wide a corner by Joe Attard and in another occasion Frank Lee Glea could have leveled the score but his shot from a pass by Dos Santos ended high.
Ghajnsielem’s efforts were rewarded on 82 minutes when Errol Grima won a ball at the heart of Nadur’s defense and released Kenneth Mercieca who placed easily onto an open goal. Nadur were dangerous in the 88th minute through an effort by Anthony Portelli that was blocked on the line by Joseph Buttigieg and in the second minute of stoppage time Ghajnsielem’s Errol Grima incredibly headed high from close distance following a header by Kenneth Mercieca. Ghajnsielem were punished for the missed chance as Nadur scored the decisive goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time. It was substitute Charles Mercieca who headed in goal a cross from the left flank that arrived following a clearance from a corner action. Following the goal the match stopped for some minutes for some understanding due to a yellow card shown to Peter Buttigieg. At the end Nadur had Josef Buttigieg sent off for a second yellow card. There was not enough time for the Blacks to recover the score and Nadur defended the one goal lead to gain the three points at stake.
Referee: Andre’ Arciola |
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