Match
Report:
Contenders for promotion Xewkija Tigers
registered their third victory over Oratory Youths in the campaign
and are back within three points from leaders SK Victoria wanderers
and with a game in hand. The Tigers dominated over their opponents
and they could have registered a larger score. The protagonist for
Xewkija was undoubtedly striker Christian Bugeja who scored four
of the goals and regained leadership of the top-scorer table with
19 goals.
The Tigers took command of play from the beginning and in the early
stages Christian Bugeja had two attempts on separate occasions that
missed the target. However, Bugeja opened the score in the 11th
minute by concluding in goal with a low shot an inviting pass by
Mark Camilleri. In the 20th minute Joseph Azzopardi concluded badly
from a good position so that Oratory’s goalie Kenny Grima
saved without difficulty. Oratory produced a reaction midway through
the first half and were dangerous with an attempt by Ishaku Umoru
and a shot by Robert Attard in the 25th minute following a corner
action that missed the target.
In the 30th minute Xewkija’s goalkeeper Joseph Grima blocked
on Ishaku Umoru who entered the area with a solo action. The Tigers
replied with a low shot by Christian Bugeja that ended just wide
and an effort by Joseph Azzopardi that ended over the crossbar.
In the 38th minute the same Bugeja concluded incredibly wide with
an open goal at his mercy and one minute later goalie Kenny Grima
denied Bugeja from doubling the score with a fine save. However,
Bugeja managed to double the score in the 40th minute when he dribbled
the goalkeeper and placed easily into an open goal. Two minutes
later Xewkija could have increased the score when they were awarded
a penalty for a foul by Charles Xuereb on Luc Tefogno but Kenny
Grima saved well Christian Bugeja’s shot from the spot kick.
Seconds from half time Xewkija’s goalie denied Ishaku Umoru
from re-opening the issue with a difficult intervention.
Xewkija dominated over their opponents throughout the second period.
They increased the score in the 51st minute through a long ranged
shot by Josef Xerri that surprised goalie Kenny Grima and in the
following minutes they lost good scoring opportunities through Luc
Tefogno, Joseph Cefai and Christian Bugeja. In the 66th minute Joseph
Cefai concluded incredibly wide when he was alone in the area and
four minutes later goalie Kenny Grima made a difficult save following
an attempt by Mark Camilleri. Christian Bugeja registered his personal
hat-trick with a goal scored in the 72nd minute, taking advantage
of a mishap at Oratory’s defence and the same striker made
the final score 5-0 in the 75th minute with a low shot.
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