MELITA 1ST DIV LEAGUE

DIRECT CLASH ENDS ALL SQUARE

(C. Antunes 37’)

S. Sultana, P. Camilleri, M. Portelli (C. Hili), P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, C. Mercieca, A. Ribic, S. Attard, C. Antunes, A. Portelli, J. Buttigieg.

  Victoria Hotspurs and Nadur Youngsters shared the spoils in a draw of two goals in an exciting match which was also played in difficult weather conditions.  The final result is quite just as Nadur deserved the lead during the first period while Victoria produced a determined reaction which led them to a deserved equaliser.  With this result the Hotspurs defended their sole leadership on the table, two points more than the same Nadur and with a game in hand.  For this match Nadur had Alex Simoncic missing due to suspension but Alex Ribic was making a return after a number of seasons playing with other shirts, which included a short span with the same Victoria Hotspurs.

  The two sides had a prudent approach to the match as they were more worried to protect the respective area.  Play took place mainly in the midfield during the initial stages but as time passed by the two sides created some good scoring opportunities.  On 14 minutes Victoria’s goalie Mark Grima saved in two attempts a shot by Anthony Portelli following a pass by Alex Ribic and the citizens replied two minutes later with a lob by Daniel Farrugia that ended over the crossbar.  On 20 minutes a free kick by Nadur’s Alex Ribic ended just high and one minute later an effort by Victoria’s Noel Borg from a good position ended over the crossbar.  The Hotspurs had an open scoring opportunity on 25 minutes.  Uchenna Anyanwu unmarked Eric Nkwankwo in the area but the latter had his shot blocked by the defence and from the rebound the same player concluded high.  The Hotspurs were again dangerous on 34 minutes through a long ranged shot by Ryan Grech that missed the target.  Nadur opened the score eight minutes from half time.  Claudio Antunes defended a loose ball at the edge of the area, passed by a defender and lobbed over goalie Mark Grima from an angled position.  The Hotspurs had an immediate reaction and three minutes later a shot by Oliver Farrugia ended wide.  Two minutes from half time it was John Paul Grima who had a long ranged attempt that missed the target.

  The Hotspurs came out more aggressive for the second period and were determined to recover the one goal deficit.  On 50 minutes a header by Oliver Farrugia was deflected in corner and form the same corner kick a header by Jesmond Xerri was neutralised by goalie Steve Sultana.  Five minutes later a close ranged attempt by Uchnna Anyanwu was blocked in corner and one minute before the hour of play an angled shot by Anyanwu following a pass by Nkwankwo was deflected in corner.  One minute later a header by Oliver Farrugia from a cross from the right flank ended just over the crossbar.  On 63 minutes goalie Steve Sultana saved with difficulty in corner a confused action in the area following a free kick by Ryan Grech and one minute later the same goalkeeper had good timing to clear the ball off Anyanwu following a low cross by Nkwankwo.  Nadur replied in the 66th minute with an attempt by Alex Ribic that was neutralised by goalie Mark Grima.  Victoria’s efforts were rewarded two minutes later.  Nadur’s rearguard hesitated to clear the ball from the goalmouth and from the resultant melee Uchenna Anyanwu netted from close distance.  The Hotspurs kept insisting and on 74 minutes goalie Steve Sultana was called to make a difficult save in two attempts a low shot by Eric Nkwankwo.  Two minutes later a long ranged shot by John Paul Grima missed the target.  On 78 minutes a cross-shot by Anyanwu was blocked by goalie Sultana and four minutes later Nadur claimed for a penalty when Claudio Antunes ended on the floor following a contrast in the area.  On 85 minutes Nadur were again dangerous through a shot from outside the area by Alex Ribic that was saved by goalie Grima.  In the final moments play became more exciting as the two teams tried to score the decisive goal but the two goalkeepers were never called to make any difficult interventions. 

Referee: Anton Zammit

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