Għajnsielem end first round in fourth after Xagħra victory

Għajnsielem ended their first-round commitments in style when they beat Xagħra United 4-1 at the Gozo Stadium last weekend.

It was an important victory for the Blacks who seem to have put behind them the difficult start to the season and have now climbed to fourth place in the standings.

Xagħra looked the better side in the first half but failed to capitalise on their scoring opportunities. Instead, it was Għajnsielem who took the lead on 22 minutes through a head by Luiz Santan Motta.

Għajnsielem thought they had doubled their lead just before half-time when Claudio Henrique fired home, but the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.

Għajnsielem stepped up a gear after the restart and managed to add two more goals through Godwin Emmanuel on 51 and 64 minutes.

Xagħra pulled a goal back with a header from Henrique Wilker on 74 minutes. But that was as good as it got as Għajnsielem sealed the points with a fourth goal scored by Claudio Henrique.

Xagħra had the chance to score a second goal but Camilo’s effort from a penalty was stopped by the upright.

SK Victoria Wanderers opened their second-round commitments in style when they beat neighbours Oratory Youths 1-0 to join Għajnsielem in fourth place.

The match was evenly balanced with the Wanderers netting the winner on the hour mark through Caique Silvio.

Oratory’s response failed to arrive and the Wanderers could have added more goals but failed to take their chances.

Both teams ended the match with ten men when Oratory’s Andre Azzopardi and Joseph Saliba, of the Wanderers were both dismissed after an off-the-ball incident.

Xewkija Tigers and Kerċem Ajax started their second-round commitments after cancelling each other in a goalless draw.

The Tigers missed the chance to close the gap with the league leaders while Kerċem remained bottom of the standings.

Kerċem saw more off the ball but struggled to create scoring chances. On the other hand, Xewkija were dangerous with their swift transition play but could not find a breakthrough.

Xewkija had Damir Andelovic sent off on 70 minutes after receiving a second yellow card.
But despite being a player down they still could have won it when a Rodney Buttigieg shot came off the bar.

GFA Division Two

Victoria Hotspurs and Sannat Lions registered identical 4-2 victories at the expense of St Lawrence Spurs and Għarb Rangers respectively.

It was an important win for the Hotspurs who moved top of the standings.

The Hotspurs took the lead through Lucas Farrugia on 17 minutes but the Spurs pulled level through Victor Saliba.

On the stroke of half-time, Farrugia restored the Hotspurs’ lead but St Lawrence levelled matters four minutes into the second half through James Grima.

The Hotspurs rallied late on to clinch victory through a brace by Wellington on 66 and 71 minutes.

Sannat Lions had to come from behind to overcome Għarb Rangers.

The Lions found themselves two goals behind after the first half as Andre Chukwuninke and Tristan Axiak gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

But Sannat fought back after the break and managed to turn the match in their favour through goals by substitute Paul Said and a hat-trick by Gabriel Debrincat.

NEXT FIXTURES

SATURDAY– KERĊEM

GFA Division Two
Munxar F. vs St Lawrence 12.45
Għarb R. vs Zebbug R. 15.00

SUNDAY – Gozo Stadium

GFA Division One
Għajnsielem vs Nadur Y. 13.00
Qala Saints vs Xagħra Utd 15.00