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MATCH REPORT
The
Blacks and Victoria Hotspurs
played off for the 6th and 7th
position in the table. The two
teams played like bottom of the
table clubs in the first half.
Hotspurs improved considerably
in the second session and
actually looked like a team
going places. Sadly, by contrast
the Blacks played even worse in
the second half. While the Reds'
50th minute opener energized
their youngsters, it seemed to
demoralize the Blacks and it was
no surprise that they went on to
lose heavily.
Hotspurs enjoyed more of the
possession and the territory in
the opening session but apart
from one occasion did not create
any chances worthy of note. That
occasion was when Dylan Bellotti
smashed a first time shot
against the post midway through
the half. Ghajnsielem failed to
create any scoring chances and
the closest they came to scoring
was when Simoncic headed low
past the post from a Petriaggi
cross.
The
two teams adopted a man-to-man
working scheme with libero. The
Blacks played 4-1-3-2 and the
Reds played what looked like a
3-1-3-3 system. These prudent
schemes account in part for the
lack of scoring chances in the
first half but the large part of
the reason was the poor
technique shown by the two
teams. The Reds tried
occasionally to use the flanks,
something which the Blacks
rarely bothered to do.
Għajnsielem have no natural
width and so it is too much to
expect the team to build through
the wings.
In
the 5th minute of the second
half Oliver Farrugia's pass
split the Blacks' defence wide
open. James Farrugia ran on to
the pass, anticipated the
onrushing Joseph Grech and
deposited into an empty net.
This goal paved the way for the
Reds. Confusion reigned in the
Blacks' ranks and Hotspurs tried
to capitalize. In the 8th minute
Ryan Grech brought the best out
of Grech following a Daniel
Farrugia pass. A minute later
Hotspurs had a Dylan Bellotti
goal flagged off for offside
after the latter scored from the
rebound of an Ian Xuereb shot.
In a
bid to bolster the attack, coach
Patrick Vassallo brought on
Charlon Tabone in place of
Stefan Azzopardi who had been
stationed in front of the
Blacks' defence. Ian Xuereb
wasted no time in scoring from
just outside the penalty area
following a Hotspurs free-kick.
The Blacks tried to react.
Manwel Cordina broke away down
the right but his cross to
Rivellino Petriaggi was
intercepted. Għajnsielem had a
goal waved off for offside. Then
in the 17th minute Hotspurs
scored again. Bellotti
controlled a diagonal ball well,
went past his marker and slotted
behind Grech with ease.
The
Blacks tried once again to stage
a comeback. Cordina dribbled his
way inside the Reds' penalty
area following a short corner
but then shot badly. Daniel
Farrugia back heeled the ball
into the path of Oliver Farrugia
and the latter's shot was saved
well by Grech. Two Jason
Portelli efforts missed, one
high and the other wide. A good
build-up from the Blacks
involving Portelli and Joseph
Attard led to an Alex Simoncic
cross from the left. Cordina,
however, headed high from a good
position. The Reds replied with
a fast break. Daniel Farrugia
set up Ryan Grech. His first
shot came back off the crossbar,
his second shot sailed high.
Jonathan Grech came on for
Petriaggi, who had a quiet game.
Soon after the Blacks scored
their consolation goal. Attard's
first shot was blocked. He took
the rebound and sent the ball
across goal to Portelli who
smashed the ball home from close
range. Any hopes of a miraculous
comeback expired a few minutes
later when a Ryan Grech pass
took out the Blacks' defence.
Daniel Farrugia took the ball
past Grech, who had rushed off
his line, and walked into the
Blacks' net. Charlon Grima saved
the Blacks from greater
humiliation when he headed the
ball off the goal line with
Grech stranded.
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