Qala Saints delivered a dominant performance to secure a 5-0 victory over Oratory Youths, officially confirming the latter’s relegation from the Gozo 1st Division.
Sunday, 23 February 2025 – Gozo Stadium
Oratory Youths 0-5 Qala Saints
Referee: Raiden Psaila
The match started with Qala asserting control, and they took the lead in the 30th minute through Jordi Parnis, who found the net with a precise finish. Just before halftime, Gabriel Cardona doubled the lead in stoppage time, giving the Saints a comfortable 2-0 advantage at the break.
Qala wasted no time in the second half, as Christian Mercieca made it 3-0 in the 48th minute. The floodgates had opened, and in the 59th minute, Brazilian midfielder Luan Sergio Nascimento Dias De Almeida added a fourth. The final blow came in the 88th minute, when veteran Shaun Bajada sealed the emphatic win with Qala’s fifth goal.
The victory keeps Qala Saints at the top of the standings, two points clear of Nadur Youngsters, while Oratory Youths finish the season without a single point, marking a disappointing campaign.
Xaghra United 1-4 Ghajnsielem
Referee: Anthony Paul Vella
Ghajnsielem secured an important 4-1 win over Xaghra United, overturning an early deficit in a match filled with drama.
Xaghra started brightly, with Marlon Mamo opening the scoring in the 10th minute. However, Ghajnsielem responded in the 41st minute through Kaio Lucas Nunes Santos, who converted a penalty to level the game. Just before the break, Esneider Antonio Daza Carranza put Ghajnsielem ahead with a stoppage-time goal (45+1’), shifting the momentum in their favor.
Xaghra had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 52nd minute, but Julian Yoiti Suzuki Bicudo’s penalty was saved, proving to be a costly miss. Ghajnsielem capitalized shortly after, with Marcus Viniius Claudino Ramos (Choco) converting a penalty in the 62nd minute to make it 3-1.
As the match neared its conclusion, Daza Carranza struck again in the 88th minute, securing a 4-1 victory for Ghajnsielem. The result lifts them to fifth place in the standings, while Xaghra United remain in fourth.
League Standings (as of 23/02/2025)
| Team | P | PTS |
|---|---|---|
| Qala Saints FC | 14 | 33 |
| Nadur Youngsters FC | 14 | 31 |
| Xewkija Tigers FC | 14 | 23 |
| Xaghra United FC | 13 | 21 |
| Ghajnsielem FC | 14 | 18 |
| SK Victoria Wanderers | 13 | 16 |
| Oratory Youths FC | 14 | 0 |
Qala Saints remain in pole position for the title following Nadur’s surprising loss earlier this week, while Oratory Youths’ relegation is now confirmed. The battle for the top spot continues, with Nadur Youngsters still within striking distance.
Sports Editor
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