Match corresponding to the 1st Round of the 2018/19 Gibraltarian Premier Division and played on Tuesday 14th August 2018 at 20:30. Match report brought to you courtesy of Quantocoin.
Gibraltar United 4 – 0 Lions Gibraltar F.C.
Mouehli (2)
Negrette
Bosio
Gibraltar United
1 Kyle ‘Chino’ Goldwin
4 David Gomez Prieto
15 Aymen Mouelhi
3 Gonzalo Gujiaro
2 Xavier Carmona
24 Jamie Bosio
6 Carlos Carrasco
20 Michael Negrette
17 Chico Rubio
10 Daniel Ponce de Leon
9 Alvaro Castiella
SUBSTITUTES
Achraf Nait on for Chico Rubio
Steffan Cardona on for Xavier Carmona
Gernan Cortes on for Michael Negrette
Lucas Cazorla sets out his first team as Gibraltar United manager. Debuts for Prieto, Guijaro, Carmona, Rubio and Castiella. Elsewhere we have the familiar stalwart faces of last season as Erin misses out due to a suspension carried over from last season. Chino retains ownership of the armband as we face Lions looking for the first three points of the season.
Photo Credit to Neil Wilson
Back Row (l to r): Chino (C), Prieto, Gonzalo, Castiella, Mouehli, Carrasco Front Row (l to r): Carmona, Rubio, Negrette, Bosio, Ponce de Leon
The ball rolls again! United kicked the match off bang on 20:30 under the orders of Mr Borg as the 18/19 season began. It was a lightning start however and a bit of a rarity as well as Aymen Mouheli headed in the first cross of the day from the boots of David Prieto to give United the lead barely a minute into the game. Aymen scored our last goal last season and opened our account this year, some nice symmetry there.
Photo Credit Neil Wilson
1-0, Aymen Mouehli
Lions looked shell shocked as they, as the game was to prove, had set out their stall to hold United off and were clearly not expecting such an early set back. Indeed they entrenched themselves deep and looked for the long ball towards Caravaca ploughing the lone furrow up front. Despite a cagey moment or two both Mouehli and Prieto had the matter well in hand. United had most of the ball while Lions relied on their tough defence to keep the Red and Whites at bay.
An unsavoury incident clouded the first 10 minutes. Lions kicked the ball out following an injury to Dani and the ball was not returned to them which incensed a number of Lions of players who perceived the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the action. There were handbags in the area and in several areas of the pitch to which Mr Borg responded to with a flurry of yellow cards. To his credit Lucas remonstrated with the players in question and reminded them about the spirit in which the game has to be played in.
United’s second goal was a moment of sheer brillance from the boots of Michael Negrette. He gained the byline following some fancy footwork with Carmona and cut inside the Lions full back. Looking up he lobbed the onrushing Mateo and from an almost impossible angle the ball went into the goal coming off the inside of the far post. A well desereved goal if the balance of play was to be taken into account. United were having both the possession of the ball and playing their football inside the Lions half. Indeed Chino had largely been a spectator for large swathes of the game.
Lions kick off the second half
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first. United with the ball and Lions fighting tooth and nail for every tackle and ball. There was a certain needle in the game as frustration sometimes got the better of the Lions player and Mr Borg’s whistle seemed to be going off quite regularly.
Photo Credit to Neil Wilson
Bosio and Breakspear go in for the ball
Mateo was the busier of the keepers with shots coming in from Dani, Castiella and Carrasco. Indeed he pulled off two great saves, one at almost from point blank range from Carlos. Cazorla moved his bench 60 minutes in giving Nait his debut and sending on Cardona for a tiring Carmona. The nature of the game did not change however and Gonzalo was able to assist Bosio for our third goal on 83 minutes. A tidy finish from the Gibraltar International that has obviously kept his shooting boots from last season. Speaking to us after the game Jamie was happy with the points and the professional performance but keen to stress that minds should now turn to the St Joseph’s game.
Supporters were eager to see Achraf Nait in action and the young Dutchman showed glimpses of his talent playing from the left side of midfield. His fancy footwork almost ended in an acrobatic attempt from fellow sub Gernan Cortes, the latter also guilty of a glaring miss sending a close range shot wide of the post following some great ball work from Castiella.
The last act of the match was to fall to Mouheli once again. Coming up for a corner he whipped in a Ponce cross to leave the forlorn Mateo helpless to stop Aymen claiming his brace and United our 4th. It was literally the last kick of the game as the referee brought proceedings to a close to leave United with the first three points of the season in the bag.
Photo Credit to Neil Wilson
We spoke to Chino and Aymen after the game. The skipper was very happy with the ‘great start to the season’ highlighting the perfomance and the clean sheet. Aymen likewise lauded the clean sheet and the goals but had his mind already set ‘on a very important and touch match against St Joseph’s’.