vs
3	-	4
37' R. Buttigieg 42' , 44' J. Camilleri		45+1' , 50' , 90+2' C. Antunes 61' A. Portelli

After a 13 match run unbeaten Xewkija Tigers succumb to their first defeat of the campaign against title contenders Nadur Youngsters in a 7 goal thriller which was decided in the second minute of stoppage time through a penalty awarded for a hand ball in the Xewkija area.  With this win Nadur reach Xewkija at the top of the table with 13 points and both teams will start their second round commitments in two weeks time level on points.

Xewkija created a good dangerous action in the first minute of play through a shot by Chris Camilleri that ended just wide.  However, Nadur started to produce the better play as time passed by and in the 8th minute of play Anthony Portelli entered the area with a fine move but hesitated to conclude and his pass did not find any of the other strikers to deposit in goal.  Three minutes later a header by Milos Stojanovic from a cross by Claudio Antunes ended wide.  On 18 minutes Xewkija replied with an angled shot by Rodney Buttigieg from a pass by Manuel Xerri that ended high and on the half hour mark Xewkija’s John Camilleri came face to face with the goalkeeper but the latter had excellent timing and blocked the danger at the edge of the area.  In an immediate reply by Nadur a shot on the run by Christian Debono from a pass by Claudio Antunes was blocked in corner by defender Manuel Xerri.  Nadur ran out of breath in the final stages of the first half and Xewkija took full advantage of the situation by inflicting three goals in the space of seven minutes.

In the 37th minute Xewkija opened the score.  John Camilleri entered Nadur’s territory following a pass by Chris Camilleri and from his low pass Rodney Buttigieg was at the right place to deposit ion goal from close distance.  The Youngsters were shocked and in the 42nd minute John Camilleri doubled the score with a fine lob over the goalkeeper.  John Camilleri made it 3-0 for the Tigers two minutes later when he controlled a good ball at the edge of the area and placed in goal with a low drive.  Nadur managed to regain composure before half time and in the first minute of stoppage time they reduced the arrears through a fine strike byClaudio Antunes.

The Youngsters kept insisting as from the beginning of the second period and in the first minute of play a shot on the run by Milos Stojanovic from an action by Charles Hili ended high.  Nadur re-opened the issue and reduced the deficit to just one goal on 50 minutes with a low shot by Claudio Antunes following a pass by Christian Debono.  Xewkija now went through a difficult moment as they tried to contain Nadur’s momentum and at the same time they tried to regain a comfortable lead.  During this patch of play Nadur’s efforts were rewarded and one minute after the hour mark they completed their comeback to level the score.  Claudio Antunes won a good ball inside the area and Anthony Portelli was close to action to take the chance and fire in goal from close distance.

The match now became open to any result as the two teams went all out to clinch the victory.  On 64 minutes Xewkija replied with an inviting cross by Chris Camilleri but both substitute Mark Camilleri and Rodney Buttigieg failed to connect from close distance.  Less than a minute later Nadur’s goalie Matthew Muscat made the best save of the afternoon to turn in corner a fine strike by Rodney Buttigieg.  The same goalkeeper was at the right place on 72 minutes the same goalkeeper was called to make another difficult intervention to block an effort by Rodney Buttigieg and from the rebound the same Buttigieg concluded wide.  Nadur were dangerous on 75 minutes through an attempt by Milos Stojanovic following a melee in Xewkija’s area that was blocked by the defense and from the rebound Charles Mercieca had his low shot deflected by goalie Jonathan Xuereb on the post and the action ended in corner.  From the same corner kick by Milos Stojanovic it was Martin Hrubsa that cleared off the line to avoid a complicated situation to goalie Xuereb.  Xewkija went again close to scoring on 76 minutes through a low shot by Chris Camilleri following a corner action that was well saved by goalie Matthew Muscat and two minutes later Nadur replied with a low drive by Anthony Portelli following a personal action that was deflected in corner.  On 86 minutes Nadur’s Christian Debono had a good shot that ended high and two minutes later Xewkija’s Chris Camilleri could have easily put the Tigers back in the lead when he took advantage of space at Nadur’s rearguard but his lob over the goalkeeper who was out of his position ended inches wide.  As the match was heading to a draw Nadur won a free kick from an angled position in the second minute of stoppage time.  From the kick the ball was handled by the wall and the referee awarded a penalty after consulting the assistant referee so that Claudio Antunes converted from the spot kick to give the full points at stake to Nadur and put his side back in the contest for the title.

Photos by Gozo Football Associatoin (www.gfa.com.mt)

Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 December 2011 13:29 )