ONVOL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE

QALA MOVE AWAY FROM BOTTOM PLACE

I Aktpan, P Camilleri (J Rapa), B Portelli, G Cefai, A Fotso, C Attard (M Bonello), J Xerri, M Mifsud, P Said, M Cordina, D Lautier.

M Grima, D Farrugia, JP Grima (A Zammit), C Attard, A Briffa (J Mizzi), M Buttigieg, N Borg, R Grech, J Portelli, J Portelli, R Saverino, F Bassi.

    Qala St Joseph and Victoria Hotspurs repeated the score of the match in the second round and earned a deserved point each. The point enables Qala to leave the bottom of the table at the expense of Kercem Ajax. On the other hand with this result Victoria lost their second place on the table at the expense of Sannat Lions. At the end the final score was just as both sides seemed determined to obtain a positive result from this match.

     Play took place in the midfield for the first minutes but as time passed by the two defensive departments were pressed by the respective strikers. Qala were dangerous in the 12^th minute through a close ranged header by Manuel Cordina following a cross by Dione Lautier that was well saved by goalie Mark Grima.

      The Saints opened the score in the 16^th minute. Dione Lautier headed in goal a free kick by Joe Xerri and Brian Portelli followed the action and placed in goal from close distance. The Hotspurs produced an immediate reaction and levelled the score two minutes later. Fabiano Bassi headed in the area a free kick by Jason Portelli and Ricardo Saverino guided into an empty goal from close distance.

     However, Qala were not demoralised and in the 22^nd minute Victoria’s goalie Mark Grima made two difficult consecutive saves to turn in corner close ranged efforts by Manuel Cordina. The Maroons regained the lead three minutes later.

    Manuel Cordina won a tussle in Victoria’s area, had his shot partially saved by goalie Mark Grima and Dione Lautier took the lose ball and concluded easily in goal. The Hotspurs replied with a shot by Jason Portelli that ended just wide and in the 36^th minute Qala’s goalie Aktpan saved with difficulty a first timer by Ricardo Saverino following a cross by Fabiano Bassi. In the 38^th minute Victoria’s Jason Portelli incredibly concluded wide with an open goal at his mercy when goalie Aktpan cleared badly a cross from the right flank by Anthony Briffa.

      Victoria were more aggressive after the break but in the 48^th minute Victoria’s goalie Mark Grima was called to make a difficult save following a close ranged shot by Manuel Cordina. Three minutes later a shot by Victoria’s Fabiano Bassi hit the post.

    In the 56^th minute a free kick by Ricardo Saverino was deflected in corner by goalie Aktpan. Qala’s goalkeeper continued to be the protagonist of the match. In the 62^nd minute the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Glenn Cefai on Fabiano Bassi but the goalkeeper saved Ricardo Saverino’s shot from the spot kick. However, Qala’s rearguard failed to clear the danger from their area and Victoria managed to score the equaliser from the following action.

       It was Daniel Farrugia who placed in goal from an angled position to conclude a series of shots that were blocked by the defence. The Hotspurs kept insisting and in the 70^th minute Aktpan made another difficult save following a shot by Ricardo Saverino and the same goalkeeper saved the result for his side with another intervention three minutes later following an effort by Daniel Farrugia.

Referee:         Jurgen Meli

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY