YOUNGSTERS RE-JOIN TITLE RACE

NADUR YOUNGSTERS FC ...

S. Sultana, J. Meilaq (P. Buttigieg), M. Azzopardi, S. Attard, C. Mercieca, G. Hili, R. Meilaq, A. De Souza (I. Xuereb), C. Antunes, A. Portelli (J. Said), J. Buttigieg.

KERCEM AJAX FC ...

C.Mercieca, M. Tabone, J. Mercieca, F. Camilleri, D. Mercieca (A. Grech), E. Hussein, M. Mamo, C.J. Achokwu, J.A. Dimas Munoz, K. Mifsud (J. Debrincat).

  Nadur Youngsters took full advantage of the negative results registered by the leaders in the last two matches and obtained three precious points from their match against Kercem Ajax.  This was the first match of the third round for the two sides and both Nadur and Kercem needed the points from this encounter for different ambitions.  The match was well contested especially during the first period when the result was still in contention.  The turning point of the match was probably Nadur’s third goal scored just before the break, so that Nadur’s role during the second period was to control play and operate with counter breaks.  At the end Nadur’s technical superiority made the difference between the two sides as Kercem’s rearguard found it extremely difficult to neutralize the initaitvies of Nadur’s Claudio Antunes, Andre De Souza and Anthony Portelli.

  Nadur tried to take command of play from the kick-off but Kercem were well deployed and kept their area clear from danger.  The Ajax operated with counter breaks and managed to open the score in their first approach in Nadur’s area.  On 7 minutes Milos Stojanovic unmarked Chidi Achokwu in the area and the latter placed in the lower corner of the net.  Nadur were shocked and Kercem could have doubled the score one minute later when skipper Frankie Camilleri entered the area with a solo action but concluded incredibly high from an ideal position as Achokwu who was unmarked in the area was expecting the ball for a tap-in.  The Youngsters however recovered from and on 10 minutes Anthony Portelli won a good ball in the area but concluded weak so that goalie Courtney Mercieca saved without difficulty.  On 15 minutes a good header by Saviour Attard from a free kick by Josef Buttigieg was cleared off the line by central defender Manuel Tabone with the goalkeeper beaten.  Nadur’s efforts were rewarded three minutes later.  Claudio Antunes won a ball at edge of the area and fired in goal with a fine strike that was out of Mercieca’s reach.  Nadur increased their pressure and on 23 minutes a shot by Anthony Portelli just missed the target.  Two minutes later the same Portelli had a header that was well saved by goalie Mercieca.  On 26 minutes a long ranged strike by Josef Buttigieg ended just high.  Kercem replied with a fast break one minute later but Chidi Achokwu had his shot turned with difficulty in corner by goalie Steve Sultana.  On the half hour of play Milos Stojanovic incredibly headed badly from an ideal position following a free kick by Jose Dimas.  Nadur turned the result in their favour two minutes later.  Anthony Portelli’s cross from the right arrived to an unmarked Josef Buttigieg who headed in goal from close distance.  Six minutes later Nadur could have increased the lead but Claudio Antunes saw his shot on the run following a long kick by his goalkeeper that ended just wide.  Nadur, however, managed to end the st half with a two-goal lead.  In the 44th minute Josef Buttigieg’s direct free kick surprised the rearguard and the goalkeeper, so that the ball ended into an empty goal.

  After the restart Nadur continued to create danger.  An effort by Antunes from outside the area on 50 minutes was neutralized with difficulty by goalie Mercieca and one minute later an angled shot by De Souza ended high.  On 52 minutes Kercem replied with an attempt by Milos Stojanovic that was saved in corner with difficulty by goalie Sultana.  Two minutes later Anthony Portelli was released in Kercem’s are by De Souza but the former concluded wide when he was face to face with the goalkeeper.  The same Portelli once again missed the target on the hour of play following a personal action.  However, skipper Anthony Portelli made up for the missed chances on 62 minutes when he guided the ball into an open goal from close distance a free kick from the right flank by Andre De Souza.  Nadur were now in full control of the match but on 75 minutes they ended up with a player less on the field when substitute Peter Buttigieg was sent off for a foul on Joanthan Mercieca.  Howver, Kercem were demoralized and were not in a position to take advantage of the extra player on the field.  Nadur on the other hand managed to score their fifth goal on 81 minutes through a direct free kick by Andre De Souza that passed through all Kercem’s rearguard.  Three minutes from the final whistle Nadur sealed the issue to make the final score 6-1 with a close ranged header by Saviour Attard following a cross by Josef Buttigieg.