Kercem Ajax dropped to the bottom place on the table following a disappointing result in the direct clash from the relegation zone against Xewkija Tigers.  Although their were great ambitions to obtain a positive result from this encounter the players seemed blocked and ended up losing the match from a late penalty.  Overall the team had good possession of the ball and held the initiative for long stretches especially during the first period, but the play did not produce any dangerous scoring opportunities so that the best we could have achieved from this match was a goalless draw.  On the other hand our opponents play a defensive match and operated with counter breaks that in some occasions found our rearguard exposed so that goalkeeper Courtney Mercieca was busier than his colleague on the other end of the pitch.  It is best that our players will forget this match as early as possible and rebuild the confidence to get away from this part of the table in the next matches of the championship.

Kercem saw more of the ball during the first part of the match but the Tigers were well deployed and goalie Jonathan Xuereb was not called to make any difficult interventions.  Xewkija also operated with counter breaks and produced the only scoring opportunities in the opening half hour of play.  On 11 minutes Joseph Cefai released Basil Chibueze just outside the area but the latter had his shot addressed to goal blocked in time by Kercem’s rearguard.  On 28 minutes it was once again Cefai who entered the area from the left flank but his inviting pass to Basil Chibueze was concluded badly by the Cameroonian striker.  Ten minutes from half time a shot from outside the area by Joseph Cefai following a clearance of a corner action ended high.  Kercem’s first serious attempt at goal arrived five minutes form the break through an effort by Milos Stojanovic from outside the area that missed the target.  Seconds from half time Xewkija were again dangerous through a low angled shot following a good move by Joseph Cefai that was saved with difficulty by goalie Courtney Mercieca.

Xewkija went very close to open the score after just four minutes of play into the second period through a header by basil Chibueze from a corner kick by Joseph Cefai that was saved in corner with difficulty by goalie Courtney Mercieca.  On the hour of play Kercem’s rearguard hesitated to clear the ball from its territory and at the end a lob from outside the area by Manuel Xerri almost surprised goalie Courtney Mercieca but Xewkija’s Rodney Buttigieg failed to take advantage and the goalkeeper recovered to avoid further danger.  Xewkija enjoyed some territorial command of play midway through the second period.  On 68 minutes Basil Chibueze produced a good move at the heart of Kercem’s defense but from his pass Rodney Buttigieg incredibly failed to conclude from a good position.  One minute later Christian Bugeja won a good ball from Kercem’s defense, dribbled the goalkeeper but concluded wide with an open goal at his mercy.  Kercem could have opened the score on 76 minutes when goalie Jonathan Xuereb did not stop a direct corner kick by Milos Stojanovic and skipper Joseph Cefai cleared the ball off the fatal line.  Two minutes later a cross shot by Kercem’s skipper Frankie Camilleri ended just wide.  Play now was exciting as the two sides increased their efforts to win the match.  Xewkija’s efforts were rewarded ten minutes from time when the referee awarded a penalty for a foul by Jonathan Mercieca on Rodney Buttigieg and Basil Chibueze converted from the spot kick.  Xewkija went close to double the score three minutes later through a cross shot by Christian Bugeja that ended just wide.  Kercem’s efforts to save the result suffered a set back six minutes from time when they ended with a player less on the field as Daniel Sakic was sent off by the referee following a second caution.  The Tigers could have sealed the issue on 89 minutes but a header by Christian Bugeja from a cross by Joseph Cefai was saved in corner with difficulty by goalie Courtney Mercieca.  In the dying moments Kercem tried to put some pressure over their opponents but Xewkija’s goalie Jonathan Xuereb was not called to make any difficult interventions.  Kercem’s best opportunity to score arrived in the third minute of stoppage time through an effort by Frankie Camilleri following a personal action that ended high.

Referee: Feodor Zammit

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