MELITA 1ST DIV LEAGUE

WANDERERS SHARE TOP POSITION

(J. Buttigieg 53’)

S. Sultana, P. Camilleri, M. Portelli (S. Attard), P. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, C. Mercieca, F. Bassi, C. Antunes, C. Hili, A.Portelli, J. Buttigieg.

(M. Cordina 24’, A. Adesina 75’)

A. Parnis, S. Gatt, A. Williams, D.U. Monday, M. Buttigieg, C. Sciortino, J. refalo, J. Vella, I. Adesina, A. Adesina, M. Cordina.

SK Victoria Wanderers obtained three precious points from their clash against Nadur Youngsters and are now sharing leadership together with the same Nadur and with a game in hand.  The match was well contested mainly because the two teams were coming from a defeat in the previous match.  The Wanderers were the better side during the first half and could have opened a comfortable lead.  They were punished for the missed chances as Nadur produced a determined reaction after the break that led to an early equalizer.  Nadur produced more pressure in the remaining minutes but the Wanderers defended well and managed to regain the lead with a goal that arrived fifteen minutes from time.

The citizens had a good start and in the first minute of play they were unlucky when an angled shot by Joseph Vella following a solo action hit the post.  Nadur replied on 12 minutes through a long ranged free kick by Alex Simoncic that was deflected in corner.  Four minutes later a header by Nadur’s Charles Mercieca from another free kick by Simoncic ended wide.  The Wanderers took some command of play as time passed by and on 20 minutes Nadur’s goalie Steve Sultana waswell placed to neutralize an effort by Chris Sciortino.  Two minutes later a header by Ajibade Adesina from a corner kick by Joseph Vella ended wide.  Nadur replied with an angled shot by Fabiano Bassi that ended wide.  Victoria opened the score on 24 minutes.  Joseph Vella released Manwel Cordina in Nadur’s area and the latter placed easily in goal with a low shot.  The Wanderers kept insisting and in the 27^th minute a free kick by Ige Adesina just missed the target.  One minute later the same Adesina tried a lob over the goalkeeper from an ideal position but the goalkeeper saved the danger.  Seconds later Manwel Cordina took advantage of a miskick by Nadur’s rearguard, dribbled the goalkeeper but saw his shot in front of an open goal stopped by the post.  On 34 minutes Victoria went again close to double the score but goalie Sultana turned in corner with difficulty an effort by Manwel Cordina from a through pass by Joseph Vella. 

  Nadur released some pressure off their defense in the final stages of the first half and were dangerous on 38 minute through a free kick by Alex Simoncic that was deflected in corner.

Nadur came out very aggressive after the break and in the 51^st minute goalie Adrian Parnis saved with difficulty a free kick by Simoncic.  Nadur leveled the score two minutes later.  Goalie Parnis cleared a corner kick by Fabiano Bassi and Josef Buttigieg fired in goal from outside the area.  Nadur maintained their pressure and on 64 minutes goalie Parnis blocked another strike from outside the area by Josef Buttigieg.  Minutes later a lob from an angled position by Anthony Portelli ended high.  In the 74^th minute the Wanderers replied with a fine move by Ige Adesina but from his inviting pass Ajibade Adesina incredibly concluded badly from close distance.  However, the same Adesina made up for the missed chance and on 75 minutes he scored what had to be the decisive goal.  Ajibade Adesina entered the area from the right and placed in goal with a low shot.  Nadur had an immediate reaction and three minutes later Victoria’s Simon Gatt risked an own goal in an attempt to clear a cross by Anthony Portelli.  From the resultant corner action a header by Charles Hili was cleared off the fatal line by Joseph Vella.  On 80 minutes goalie Adrian Parnis blocked a good effort by Josef Buttigieg.  Nadur were reduced to ten players in the 89^th minute when Charles Hili was sent off for a second bookable offence.  The Wanderers controlled play in the dying moments to defend their one-goal lead until the end of the match.

Referee: Anton Zammit

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