GFA Cup Preliminary Round
Gharb Rangers
1
 (H Sulaiman 67’)
Oratory Youths FC
3
 (A Zammit 2’; E Nkwocha 42’, 90’)
 
Formation:
1.
5.
19.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
20.
17.		  
Substitutes:
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
18.
11. 		 
Coach:
Apap Louis
 
Formation:
1.
2.
3.
6.
5.
13.
18.
8.
9.
11.
10.		   Borg Daniel
Attard Robert
Portelli Joel
Zammit Andrew
Grech Marvin
Zammit George Louis
Atzori Orlando
Orlando Stephen
Umoru Ishaku
Sacco Alex
Nkwocha Ejiofor (C)
Substitutes:

12.
7 .
13.
17.
14.
 
 

Grima Kenny
Cini Francesco
Grech Kevin
Theuma Stefen
Farrugia George
Coach:
  Grech Dominic

Match Report:
 Oratory Youths obtained a deserved but hard-earned victory over Gharb Rangers to qualify to the next stage of the GFA Cup. The Youths were the better side for long stretches of the match but failed to transform their superiority in goals. Gharb’s goalie Matthew Vella was in an excellent form and kept his side in contention until the last minute with a series of fine saves.

The Youths had an excellent start and opened the score in the 2nd minute through Andrew Zammit, sliding in goal from goal distance following a move by Ishkau Umoru. The same Zammit could have done better minutes later but his low shot ended wide following a pass by Alex Sacco. Gharb regained composure and play became more balanced. In the 39th minute Oratory’s Ishaku Umoru had a good shot that ended wide and in a reply by Gharb an effort by Josmar Grech was cleared in corner by Marvin Grech and from the resultant corner a header by Stephen Apap ended wide. In the 42nd minute Oratory doubled the score through Ejofor Nkwocha who placed in goal with a fine shot after receiving from Ishaku Umoru.

After the break play continued to be quite interesting, mainly because Gharb were determined to reopen the issue. However, the Youths produced more danger and went closer to scoring on more than one occasion. An effort by Alex Sacco was blocked by the defence and from the rebound Oralndo Atzori concluded on the side of the net from close distance. Gharb’s goalie Matthew Vella denied Ishaku Umoru from scoring with two saves on separate occasions and in the 60th minute Andrew Zammit’s lob ended high when goalie Vella out of his position. In the 62nd minute Oratory’s Marvin Grech saved his goal when he cleared off the line a corner kick by Roy Vella and minutes later Hamed Sulaiman had a close ranged shot blocked by goalie Daniel Borg and from the rebound the same striker concluded wide. However, Gharb’s striker reduced the score in the 67th minute with a low shot following an inviting pass by substitute Ryan Zammit.

Gharb grew in confidence while Oratory went through a difficult phase. Gharb increased some pressure, but the Youths managed to defend well and produced some fast breaks which often ended with Ishaku Umoru and Ejofor Nkwocha arriving face to face with goalie Matthew Vella. In at least four occasions, Gharb’s keeper made excellent interventions to keep his side in contention.

Gharb could have levelled the score in the 75th minute but Hamed Sulaiman headed badly from close distance and the ball bounced in front of an open goal and ended over the crossbar. The Youths sealed the issue with a goal scored in the 90th minute by Ejofor Nkwocha, who was released in the area by Ishaku Umoru.

Match photos (courtesy of Mr Philip Cassar):















  
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