OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF SANNAT LIONS FOOTBALL CLUB GOZO - MALTA

 
Hotspurs defeated Lions by late goals
  
 

SANNAT LIONS FC ... (E Grima 15’; F de Andrade 70’)

  
  D Bajada, C de Oliveira, A Debono, J Agius, P Spiteri (F Debono), N Micallef (C Mercieca), K Mercieca, M Muscat, E Grima, M Cutajar, F de Andrade  
     
  VICTORIA HOTSPURS FC ... (M Buttigieg 34’; R Saverino 85’; F Bassi86’)  
  M Grima, C Attard, M Vella, N Borg, J Portelli, JP Grima, A Zammit, R Grech, M Buttigieg (J Mizzi), F Bassi, R Saverino  
 
     Our Lions suffered another defeat, this time against title contenders Victoria Hotspurs.  The Lions were infront five minutes from stoppage time but two goals in two minutes turned the result in favour of the opponents.  The Lions opened the match on a good note as on the 15th minute it was one of our best players this season, Errol Grima, that opened the score.  Hotspurs leveled the score before the break.  In the second half De Andrade scored for the Lions but between the 85th and 86th minute Hotspurs went infront for the first time in this match as they scored two goals and also won the three important points. 
 		  

Although the Hotspurs needed full points from this match, they had a slow start.  They saw more of the ball but found it difficult to produce good scoring opportunities.  Their best chance to open the score in the first part of the match arrived in the 4th minute but a shot by Jason Portelli missed the target.  Sannat operated with counter attacks and in the 9th minute Fernando de Andrade entered the area, dribbled two defenders but concluded incredibly wide from a good position.  The Lions opened the score in the 15th minute.  Fernado de Andrade’s cross from the right surprised Victoria’s rearguard and Errol Grima was well placed and netted from close distance.  Victoria’s immediate reaction was sterile and a long ranged attempt by Noel Borg ended wide.  In the 20th minute Ricardo Saverino controlled badly in the area, the ball arrived to Marvin Buttigieg but his attempt hit the crossbar. 

Minutes later the same Saverino hesitated in the area after receiving an inviting pass by Jason Portelli.  In the 28th minute, an attempt by Noel Borg from a free kick by Jason Portelli was saved in two attempts by goalie Demis Bajada.  The Hotspurs levelled the score in the 34th minute.  It was Marvin Buttigieg who placed in goal with a good shot after receiving an inviting pass by Fabiano Bassi.  Sannat could have regained the lead in the 40th minute.  Fernando de Andrade entered the area following a fast break, dribbled the goalkeeper but had his shot cleared from the goalmouth by skipper Michael Vella.  Victoria’s best chance to turn the score in their favour arrived seconds from half time when Ryan Grech concluded over the crossbar from close distance following a cross from the right by Ricardo Saverino.

          Sannat were dangerous on two occasions in the first part of the second period.  In the 50th minute a free kick by Paul Spiteri ended just wide and two minutes later Fernado de Andrade failed to conclude form a good position a low cross from the right by Mark Muscat.  Sannat’s goalie was called to make a difficult save in the 55th minute following a close ranged shot by Ryan Grech who was released in the area by Ricardo Saverino.  Two minutes later Saverino headed wide form a good position following a cross by Ryan Grech and later a shot by Marvin Buttigieg from a pass by Noel Borg ended just wide.  Sannat’s goalie was again called to make a goiod save in the 65th minute following a shot by Ricardo Saverino.   

The Hotspurs were punished for the missed chances as Sannat regained the lead in the 70th minute.  It was Fernando de Andrade who entered the area following a through pass by Errol Grima and the Brazilian striker placed in goal with a low angled shot.  Before the restart the referee showed the red card to Victoria’s Chris Attard for dissent.  Four minutes later a header by Victoria’s Noel Borg from a corner action was cleared off the line by Justin Agius and from the resultant clearance Jason Portelli’s shot ended wide.  Although Victoria had a player less on the field they kept insisting.  In the 84th minute Sannat’s central defender cleared off the line an effort by John Paul Grima following a personal action.  From the resultant corner Victoria levelled the score.  It was Ricardo Saverino who headed in goal from close distance the corner kick by John Paul Grima.  Sannat were shocked and Victoria obtained the victory in the 86th minute with a goal by Fabiano Bassi, who concluded from close distance a move on the left by substitute Joseph Mizzi. Referee:  Paul Caruana 

  
       
 

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Copyright Philip Cassar