Ghajnsielem F.C. started the second round of league play on a good note by beating third-placed S.K. Victoria Wanderers 6-2. The three points catapult Ghajnsielem above the Wanderers in the standings on goal-difference. This was yet another eye-brow raising result in what is shaping up to be an unpredictable G.F.A. first division season.

Those who feared that Ghajnsielem would throw in the towel and come to terms with the prospects of a miserable league campaign from here on, were pleasantly surprised even before the kick-off. Coach Alex Spiteri and his assistants made some changes presumably with a view to extract a better performance and, with luck, result than what was produced in the Xewkija debacle. That the team responded to proactive management with a solid, at times scintillating display of football, was also satisfying. Although the Blacks still seem inexplicably rickety at the back, they were much improved in every aspect of the game: organization, balance, industry, transition and finishing.

The three players that were introduced as substitutes against Xewkija, David Debattista, Robert Grima and Stefan Azzopardi kept their place and started this match. Grima reclaimed his place as right back. Brian Meilak re-joined Ferdinand Apap in central defence. Joseph Buttigieg fought off a nagging injury to hang on to his position at left back.

Azzopardi took up a position in right midfield. Debattista, who has always played at full-back in his career with the Blacks, assumed a central midfield position in partnership with Franklee Galea just in front of Ghajnsielem’s back four. Cariaga moved out of midfield and played off lone striker Thiago dos Santos. Kenneth Mercieca kept his place in left-midfield.

And just as well. Mercieca lit up the Gozo Stadium with 30 minutes of football of the highest quality. He first mesmerized the Wanderers’ backline with a solo effort that took him through a congested penalty area and face to face with the Victoria keeper. Mercieca was denied by the latter who made a two-handed save on number 8’s venomous drive. This chance was a sitter compared to the opportunity that Stefan Azzopardi presented Mercieca ten minutes later with his long cross-field pass. The ball drifted over the Wanderers’ last defender’s head and descended on Mercieca’s left boot. Few expected the youngster to volley the ball, even fewer expected the ball to find its place in the top left hand corner of the Wanderers’ net. This was a fantastic goal from a truly audacious attempt.

Although Ghajnsielem had made a better start than Victoria, and should have scored as early as the first minute when Cariaga was denied from close range, the Blacks looked suspect at the back. The usually impeccable Apap was guilty of a couple of ghastly giveaways that nearly cost his team. Apap did not have to wait until next game to atone for his transgressions because shortly after Ghajnsielem’s goal he blocked a sure goal on Joseph Grech’s line.

In the 30th minute Cariaga and dos Santos combined on the right and the powerful Brazilian barged past his marker to the by-line. Dos Santos passed low across goal. Mercieca’s quickness enabled him to anticipate the Wanderers’ keeper and to prod the ball in from close range. A greedier, wilier striker than Mercieca would have wrapped up his hat-trick shortly after. Dos Santos, this time combining with Azzopardi, who compiled a small catalogue of passes exquisite for their simplicity during this match, ran the same route and made the same kind of cross but Mercieca and the other forwards were caught unprepared and the shot went all the way across goal, untouched.

Two minutes later Ghajnsielem paid the price for some naïve defending. The Wanderers forwards were given too much time and space. Before players like Grima and Apap could recognize the danger lurking all around them, the ball was in the back of the net. Manuel Cordina, who is prolific against the Blacks, scored superbly with an overhead kick. Four minutes later, Cordina broke through Ghajnsielem’s backline and deposited easily behind Grech for his team’s equalizing goal.

Wearing white shirts and black shorts again, the Blacks, groggy from this 1-2 punch, were there for the taking. Four minutes was all it took for confidence to be sucked out of them. Their supporters fixed their gaze on the scoreboard as if doing so would hasten the proverbial bell. To be fair, although Ghajnsielem risked conceding from a number of Wanderers’ corner kicks, they did hit back with a fine move of their own involving Cariaga and dos Santos. This led to a Mercieca lob that nearly dipped behind the Wanderers’ keeper and into the net.

The second half started with Ghajnsielem’s team unchanged and deployed in the same 4-4-1-1 system. And why not? Were it not for moments of indecision in defence, Ghajnsielem would have been in control of the match on the score sheet. More importantly, the addition of an extra ball-winner in midfield in the shape of Debattista made Galea even more effective in that delicate area. Cariaga, instead of chasing lost causes in all four corners of the field, operated freely often served with fine passes by his midfielders. He could thus use his energy closer to the opponents’ penalty area and with greater returns, turnovers followed by penetrating passes.

The first action of note in the second half was a move involving Galea and Cariaga. The latter forced his shot. The miscue turned into a good pass to dos Santos. The Brazilian manoeuvred into a good position and shot at goal. The ball kept rising and cleared the bar, leaving some wondering how more valuable an all-rounder such as dos Santos would be if he could only harness the power of his shot. They did not have to speculate about this for long because one minute later dos Santos pounced on a loose ball inside the Wanderers’ half, did a couple of step-overs and uncorked an unstoppable shot into the top left-hand corner of the Wanderers’ net.

Ghajnsielem, as if blissfully unaware of their capability of blowing a lead, assumed the swagger of the opening half hour of the game. Apap and dos Santos worked the ball through the Wanderers’ right, but Cariaga was denied by a last ditch tackle inside the penalty area. In the 63rd minute Ghajnsielem scored again. Buttigieg muscled an opponent off the ball inside the centre circle. Galea and Cariaga exchanged passes before the ball was played to dos Santos, who was near the D with his back to goal. He turned and unleashed a low, diagonal shot just inside the Wanderers’ keeper’s right hand post.

Seven minutes later Mercieca claimed his first career hat-trick for the Blacks when he finished with confidence good work by Cariaga, Azzopardi and the rampant dos Santos. How rampant? Nine minutes later he dribbled around the Wanderers’ keeper but was brought down before he could secure his own hat-trick. In a show of great team spirit, dos Santos let Cariaga take the penalty to mark his performance and suffering (a shoulder popped out of joint and back in with the help of Mr. Sammy Rapa, the president) with a goal. The Argentinean was not about to miss. 6-2 Ghajnsielem.

Ghajnsielem were lucky to catch Wanderers with some important players missing through injury and suspension and good enough to take advantage of it. The Wanderers’ bad luck continued in this match when one of their defenders suffered a horrific leg injury and had to be rushed to hospital.

How can Ghajnsielem possibly be despondent about such a memorable performance, memorable it should be added just as much for the sensible football practiced and preached by veterans like Meilak and Buttigieg as for the artistry involved in the production of the six goals? Their hat-trick hero, Mercieca, managed to earn a straight red card from referee Caruana for exchanging (at least according to Mercieca) an innocuous comment with an opponent who had just got away with a horrendous tackle on Cariaga. Hotspurs are up next.


30 Joseph Grech, 2 Robert Grima 3 Ferdinand Apap, 4 David Debattista, 5 Rodrigo Cariaga, 6 Joseph Buttigieg (c), 7 Brian Meilak, 8 Kenneth Mercieca, 17 Stefan Azzopardi (Larry Debono), 18 Thiago dos Santos, 20 Franklee Galea (Charlon Tabone).

Referee: Paul Caruana.