Vittoriosa S. 2

Gudja U. 3

Gudja United stunned promotion favourites Vittoriosa Stars in an exciting encounter where Bulgarian Kiril Aleksandrov shined with a magnificent display. His quick pace tormented the Vittoriosa rearguard which was finding life difficult every time they were under pressure.

To make matters worse for Oliver Spiteri’s side after both teams had a man sent off they had Roberto injured when they had already made three substitutions with Gudja leading by two goals to one. But this is no excuse for the loss they suffered against a rejuvenated Gudja side who lost their first match against Lija last week.

On their part Vittoriosa Stars were looking to continue their positive streak and to keep up with the big boys at the top after winning their first match against Naxxar Lions. But they failed miserably.

On seven minutes, Gudja came close when Chircop released Bugeja whose shot ended up just wide. Gudja won a penalty on 21 minutes when Ryan Sell rounded Jean Matthias Vella who felled the former in the box and ended up sent off by referee Philip Farrugia despite the protests of the Birgu players.

From the spot, Kiril Alexandrov made no mistake slotting past the hapless Cini.

Vittoriosa took some time to react and it was only after 39 minutes that they came close when Pereira had a low shot which went just wide.

Vittoriosa drew level on 55 minutes when a Marcelo Pereira header, following a Robert Brincat cross, was partially saved by Matthew Xerxen and from the rebound Roberto Brincat headed into the net.

The game improved and on 57 minutes Gudja came close again when George Chircop fed Kiril Aleksandrov whose drive was saved by Sean Cini.

Gudja again took the lead on the hour when Kiril Aleksandrov beat Sean Cini from close range following a Ivan Kurtisic free-kick.

Gudja made it 3-1 when after some neat football the ball came into the path of Kiril Aleksandrov who beat two defenders and slotted the ball home from close range.

This goal came when Vittoriosa were playing with nine men as Roberto Brincat was being treated for an injury and who eventually did not return to play with the Stars playing the remainder of the game with a man less as they had already effected their three substitutions.

Four minutes from time substitute Mark Barbara reduced the arrears when he scored with a low drive from the edge of the area. Deep into injury time Vittoriosa had a Samir Arab goal disallowed as he pushed defender Josef Tonna before putting the ball past Xerxen.

Vittoriosa S.: J. Matthias Vella, R. dos Santos, Samir Arab, M. Buttigieg, L. Vella Critiien, R. Brincat, A. Spiteri (Siraj Arab), M. Tabone (M. Barbara), M. Pereira, G. Muir, L. Micallef (S. Cini).

Gudja Utd: M. Xerxen, A. Abela, E. Vella, J. Tonna, G. Chircop, E. Bugeja, K. Azzopardi, R. Sell (R. Debattista), K. Polidano, I. Kurtusic, Kiril Aleksandrov (C. Grech)

Referee: Philip Farrugia