Match Report

League Division 1
13-12-2003
Xewkija Tigers 4 - Nadur Youngsters 4
Gozo Stadium

match report by Charlie Grech

Champions Nadur Youngsters may regret the loss of today’s points.  At a point up to the hour mark, they were leading 3-1 and easily controlling the game, when suddenly Xewkija Tigers sprang to life with three goals in five minutes to turn the result upside down.  Incredible stuff but the whites have only themselves to blame for this hiccup. The game started with a shot by C. Hili going just off the crossbar. Rais went close, but his shot on the run went wide. Nadur were having the better of the play and a M. Marlow shot from outside the penalty area hit the upright and went over the bar. Nadur opened the score on the 27th minute. A nice action between A. Portelli and Aloysius Ihebeulu, ended with the latter putting the ball behind Debono from the tightest of angles. J. Portelli went on a solo action and then crossed to Ihebeulu, who couldn’t get his head to the ball. From a free kick action the ball went into the Nadur area, up went Rais and M. Buttigieg and the referee opted for the penalty. From the spot kick Jason Portelli made no mistake to equal the score. All square at half time.  

Second half opened with a J. Portelli solo action, he passed to C. Hili whose shot was well saved by Debono.  On the 55th minute, J. Portelli had another solo action, passing through three defenders, to be floored by goalie Debono. This time the referee had no hesitation and gave the penalty. Anthony Portelli stepped up to put the Youngsters in the lead. Only three minutes later and the man of the match, Joseph Portelli, took a perfect pass by K. Buttigieg and put the ball in the net with a tremendous shot from outside the area.  3-1 for Nadur and many thought the game was over, but Xewkija had other thoughts. On the 67th minute they had a counter attack which ended with Jason Portelli getting his second goal of the night with the Nadur defense in total confusion. Less then a minute later the action repeated itself with Mark Camilleri, this time getting the equalizer for Xewkija. Xewkija went for the kill and managed to go in the lead on the 71st minute.  A free kick was taken quickly by the Tigers and Jeffrey Farrugia found the back of the net. From 3-1 down Xewkija went 4-3 up in 5 minutes.  K. Buttigieg saw his shot easily saved by Debono, but on the 81st minute Nadur got the deserved equalizer. A confused action in the Tigers area and Mark Buttigieg was on hand to slide the ball into the net. 

The Champions could have taken the points in the final assault but Ihebeulu’s shot was well saved for a corner.

Referee: Reno Refalo

The Nadur Youngsters formation: Kevin Vella; Paul Camilleri (Jeffrey Meilak); Mark Buttigieg; Charles Hili; Brian Portelli; Mario Bonello; Kevin Buttigieg; Mark Marlow (Jason Grech); Aloysius Ihebeulu; Anthony Portelli; Joseph Portelli Cauchi.