SK Victoria Wanderers relegated
Nadur Youngsters were crowned Gozitan champions for the 13th time in the club history.
Nadur ended with an impressive 18-point lead over nearest rivals Għajnsielem while SK Victoria Wanderers remained bottom of the table to suffer relegation for the first time after 14 years in the top-flight.
Nadur’s Brazilian striker Marcelo Barbosa ended as the league’s top scorer with 24 goals.
Champions Nadur were held to a 1-1 draw by Kerċem Ajax in their final league assignment.
The match took place in a festive atmosphere created by the decorations and celebrations of Nadur supporters.
The Youngsters were aiming to end the campaign with a win and saw more of the ball. But the Ajax were determined to impress against the champions leaving the game’s outcome uncertain for long spells.
The final scoreline was determined by two penalties during the final stages of the encounter.
On 79 minutes, Nadur were awarded a penalty for a foul by goalkeeper Joel Micallef on Judivan Flor Da Silva and Joseph Portelli, Nadur’s ex-president who came on the field of play as a substitute eight minutes earlier, put his side ahead from the spot.
Kerċem were also awarded a penalty on 86 minutes for a foul by Nadur’s substitute goalkeeper Baskal Saliba on Sebastien Martinez Turizo and Luiz Henrique Santa Motta made no mistake from the spot to level matters.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Kerċem were reduced to ten players when defender Nicholas Inguanez was sent off for a foul on Stefan Cassar.
At the end of the match, Nadur Youngsters’ players and officials were presented with trophy by Charmaine Borg, the BOV Regional Manager for Gozo, and Gozo FA president Dr Samuel Azzopardi.
Meanwhile, Sannat Lions registered the most important result of the weekend when they beat Għajnsielem 2-1 to set up a relegation/promotion play-off with Division Two side Munxar.
This was also Sannat’s second win over Għajnsielem this term.
Sannat were forced to defend for much of the match against Għajnsielem but still managed to take the lead on 32 minutes.
Henry Fabian Solis stole possession just outside the area, turned past the goalkeeper to fire home.
Sannat doubled the score on the hour mark when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by Keith Borg Solis and the same striker converted from the spot.
Għajnsielem tried to fight back but only had a goal by Igor Nedeljkovic, scored a minute from time, to show.
Victoria Hotspurs ended the season on a positive note when they came from behind to beat Xewkija Tigers 3-1.
The Hotspurs came closest when they hit the woodwork on more than one occasion.
Xewkija could have opened the score on 10 minutes but a penalty taken by Elton da Silva was saved by Victoria goalkeeper Owen Attard.
Elton made up for that mistake on 22 minutes when he opened the score with a low drive. The Hotspurs levelled the score on the hour mark when Lucas Farrugia tapped home from close in following a cross by Gabriel Fernandes.
The Citizens went on to clinch three points when netting two quick-fire goals through Henrique Maciel (76) and Fernandes (79).
The final match of the 2021-22 league championship saw SK Victoria Wanderers and Oratory Youths taking a point each following a goalless draw.
The derby did not have any importance on the final standings as Oratory were sure of their sixth place in the table while the Wanderers were already mathematically relegated.
Oratory enjoyed territorial supremacy but the two sides failed to capitalise on the few scoring opportunities so that they kept a clean sheet until the final whistle.
PLAYING ON SATURDAY
GOZO STADIUM
Promotion/Relegation Play-Off
Sannat L. vs Munxar F. 16.00
PLAYING ON SUNDAY
GOZO STADIUM
GFA CUP FINAL
Nadur Y. vs Għajnsielem 16.30
