MELITA 1ST DIV LEAGUE

HARD-EARNED WIN FOR THE BLACKS

  Ghajnsielem registered the double over Kercem Ajax and with the points obtained they remain among the main contenders for the title.  The victory for the Blacks was more difficult than expected.  They seemed superior to their opponents during the first period but suffered Kercem’s comeback after the break so that they were forced to produce a good reaction in order to regain the lead.  The Blacks went through some moments of tension in the dying moments as Kercem remained in contention until the final whistle.  However, Ghajnsielem’s win was well deserved as they produced more danger overall than their opponents.  The Blacks had regular players Frank Lee Galea and Kenneth Mercieca missing for this match due to suspension but fielded their latest signing Alex Simoncic (ex-Nadur Youngsters) in the starting line-up.  On the other hand Kercem started the match without John Paul Mizzi, who was only on the reserves bench due to an injury, but gave the debut to Karol Mifsud (ex-Nadur Youngsters) in the final minutes of the match.

  Ghajnsielem seemed more adventurous during the early stages and on the 3rd minute a header by Joseph Attard from acorner kick by Cariaga hit the post and Frankie Camilleri cleared off the line in corner.  Kercem replied four minutes later through a low shot by Milos Stojanovic after receiving from Marlon Mamo, that was saved in corner with difficulty by goalie Joseph Grech.  The Blacks maintained pressure over their opponents and earned a number of corner action which created some tension in front of goalie Donald Gauci.  On 13 minutes Ghajnsielem lost a good scoring opportunity when Ferdinando Apap failed to connect to an inviting cross by Alex Simoncic.  Five minutes later a strike form outside the area by Brian Meilak following a corner action ended high.  On 19 minutes it was Alex Simoncic who had a long ranged direct free kick that ended over the crossbar.  Five minutes later Kercem went very close to scoring when Marcos Aurelio Ribiero entered the area with a personal action but his angled shot was saved with difficulty by goalie Joseph Grech and Ferdinando Apap cleared the danger from the area.  One minute after the half hour of play Thiago Dos Santos entered Kercem’s area in a fast break and from his low pass Rodrigo Cariaga’s low shot was well saved by goalie Donald Gauci so that defender Eman Husein cleared from the goalmouth before Joseph Attard could arrive for a tap-in.  However, the Blacks opened the score on 33 minutes through a direct free kick from an angled position by debutant Alex Simoncic that surprised completely goalie Gauci.  The same goalkeeper denied Ghajnsielem from scoring a second goal less than a minute later when he took the ball off Thiago Dos Santos who was trying to dribble the goalkeeper after entering the area in a solo action, so that the score remained unchanged until the break.After the resumption the Ajax seemed determined to recover the deficit while Ghajnsielem tried to control play and operate with counter attacks.  On 50 minutes Kercem’s Daniel Sakic concluded badly from close distance following a free kick by Milos Stojanovic.  Ghajnsielem replied two minutes later through a free kick that was deflected in corner by goalie Donald Gauci and from the same corner action a first timer by Brian Meilak ended over the crossbar.  The Blacks were again dangerous seven minutes later through a long ranged strike by Alex Simoncic that ended just high.  Kercem levelled the score on 66 minutes.  Frankie Camilleri escaped in a fast break from the left flank and from his through pass substitute Josef Debrincat lobbed in goal from long distance as he noted goalie Grech out of his position.  However, Ghajnsielem had an immediate reaction to regain the lead.  Two minutes later a shot on the run by Thaigo Dos Santos hit the crossbar and in the following action Joe Attard came face to face with Kercem’s goalkeeper but Ghajnsielem’s striker had his shot blocked by the extreme defender.  Ghajnsielem regained the lead on 69 minutes through a close ranged header by Rodrigo Cariaga following a corner kick by Alex Simoncic.  Kercem were not demoralised and they went also close to score a second equaliser five minutes later but an effort from outside the area by substitute Jonathan Mercieca hit the post.  As time passed by Ghajnsielem started to administer their lead and control Kercem’s efforts to save the result.  In the dying seconds Ghajnsielem went closest to scoring but a close ranged shot by Cariaga following a pass by Thiago Dos Santos was blocked by the rearguard.

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