MELITA 1ST DIV LEAGUE

TIGERS STUN HOTSPURS

M. Grima, J.P. Grima, J. Emanche, A. Tramboo, D. Farrugia, J. Mizzi (A. Zammit), N. Borg (M. Vella), R. Grech (R. Mercieca), E. Nkwankwo, J. Portelli, M. Hanus.

XEWKIJA TIGERS FC ...   (C. Bugeja 54’, B. Chibueze 57’ pen.)

J. Xuereb, J. Xerri, P. Camilleri, J. Vella, A. Fotso, B. Chibueze, C. Bugeja, M. Xerri, P. Rapa (J. Azzopardi), J. Cefai, R. Buttigieg.

  Two goals scored in the space of three minutes earned Xewkija Tigers an impressive win over front runners Victoria Hotspurs.  This was the first match from the third round of the championship where the two sides were aiming for the full points at stake for different ambitions.  Victoria also needed a win to make up for the defeat conceded in their previous championship match and their elimination from the BOV GFA Cup.  On the other hand Xewkija were aiming to extend their positive moments which lifted them from the bottom of the table.  This was the second win for Xewkija in the championship over the Hotspurs.

  The match was well contested.  Play was quite balanced during the first period but Victoria had a better start after the break and managed to open the score.  However, Xewkija had an immediate reaction and turned the result in the favour with two successive goals that literally shocked the citizens.  At the end it was a deserved win for Xewkija as they were rewarded for their determination and concentration.  On the other hand the Hotspurs had another disappointing performance.  They lost much of their confidence on the pitch as they became fragile at their defense and quite erratic in their finishing.

  The Hotspurs created the better scoring opportunities during the first stages of the match.  On the 6th minute Martin Hanus concluded badly from a good position following a long cross by Ryan Grech.  On 12 minutes Victoria’s Jason Portelli won a ball at the goal-line and from his low cross Eric Nkwankwo’s attempt was partially saved by goalie Jonathan Xuereb.  The same goalkeeper recovered in time and cleared the ball before Hanus could push the ball into an open goal.  On 17 minutes the Tigers replied with a long ranged strike by Paul Rapa that was neutralized by goalie Mark Grima.  Xewkija’s goalkeeper Xuereb had good timing to go out of his goal to clear off Eric Nkwankwo following an inviting cross by Daniel Farrugia.

  Four minutes later a long ranged attempt by Xewkija’s Manwel Xerri missed the target.  Four minutes after the half hour of play Victoria’s goalkeeper Mark Grima was called to make a difficult save following a lob by Christian Bugeja from a through pass by Manwel Xerri and at the end it was Emanche who cleared the danger definitely in corner.  One minute before half time Eric Nkwankwo once again threatened Xewkija defense following a cross by Jason Portelli but Josef Xerri recovered in time and cleared the danger from the goalmouth.

  After the resumption the citizens came out very aggressive and produced pressure on Xewkija’s rearguard.  After just 28 seconds of play Nkwankwo released Hanus in the area but the latter lifted over the crossbar from close distance.  In the 50^th minute Xewkija’s goalkeeper Jonathan Xuereb saved with difficulty in corner a long ranged shot by Ryan Grech and from the resultant corner action the Hotspurs opened the score.

  Ryan Grech’s corner kick was cleared by the rearguard, the ball arrived to Jason Porteli who surprised goalie Xuereb with a low shot from long distance.  The Hotspurs tried to put more pressure on their opponents but Xewkija managed to recover from the difficult moment and leveled the score four minutes later.  A long ranged free kick by Joseph Cefai was not cleared by Victoria’s defense.  The loose ball arrived to Basil Chibueze who saw his angled shot cleared from the goalmouth by Andrew Zammit but the ball arrived to Rodney Buttigieg who crossed in the middle to find an unmarked Christian Bugeja who headed easily into an open goal.

  Play now became very exciting as the two sides pushed forward to take the lead.  Xewkija scored what had to be the decisive goal on 57 minutes when Basil Chibueze was floored in the area by Emanche following a solo action, the referee awarded a penalty and the same Chibueze converted from the spot kick.  The Hotspurs could have leveled the score four minutes later but Jason Portelli’s effort was stopped by the post.  On 62 minutes a shot cross by Nkwankwo was deflected in time by goalie Xuereb and on 73 minutes a goal by Nkwankwo was disallowed for an offside infringement.  One minute later a header by Alex Tramboo from a free kick by Jason Portelli needed just high.  Xewkija maintained composure and resisted Victoria’s confused efforts to save the result.  On 87 minutes the Hotspurs also ended with a player less on the field when Tramboo was sent off for a second caution.  In the dying seconds Victoria lost their last scoring opportunity but Hanus had his attempt from a through pass by Daniel Farrugia cleared with some difficulty by the defense with the goalkeeper out of his position.

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