St Malifast 2 - 4 Houth Villa

Key Events:

• 12' Yellow card to Houth Villa Allan Carroll
• 17' Houth Villa Michel Lemoine scores
• 29' St Malifast Pedro Chagas scores, assisted by Branko Bartolić
• 43' Yellow card to St Malifast Pedro Chagas
• 45' Yellow card to Houth Villa Jorge Alvez
• 48' Yellow card to Houth Villa Zdravko Ivanišević
• 49' Houth Villa Zdravko Ivanišević scores, assisted by Michael Brown
• 63' Yellow card to St Malifast Jorge Alvez
• 67' Houth Villa Zdravko Ivanišević scores
• 71' Houth Villa Philippe Robert scores, assisted by Allan Carroll
• 77' St Malifast Nilson Pires scores, assisted by Philippe Robert

The match was characterized by a flurry of goals following a cautious start. Houth Villa took the lead early through Michel Lemoine at 17', capitalizing on their dominance in possession and shots. St Malifast responded with a well-placed goal from Pedro Chagas in the 29th minute, assisted by Branko Bartolić. However, Villa’s resilience was evident as they regained the lead just before halftime with Zdravko Ivanišević scoring twice in quick succession after the break, first at 49' and then again at 67'. The visitors sealed the game with Philippe Robert’s goal in the 71st minute, assisted by Allan Carroll, before Nilson Pires pulled one back for the hosts in the 77th minute, assisted by Philippe Robert. Despite the late effort, the home side couldn’t bridge the gap, and Villa’s clinical finishing proved decisive.

The xG figures reflect the game’s flow: Houth Villa’s 3.34 xG contrasted sharply with St Malifast’s 1.09, underlining the visitors’ attacking dominance and efficiency. Villa’s high shot count and on-target accuracy suggest their approach was both aggressive and precise, while the hosts’ lower xG indicates limited quality chances. Villa’s ability to convert their opportunities was the key difference, with their players often finding space and executing with clinical precision. Defensively, Villa’s disciplined approach kept Malifast at bay, despite the hosts’ efforts to push forward late in the game.

For St Malifast, no players reached the 7.0+ threshold, but Pedro Chagas’s goal and overall effort earned him a respectable rating.

The statistics reinforce the narrative: Villa’s control and shot volume translated into a convincing victory, while Malifast’s efforts were hampered by a lack of shooting opportunities and less precise finishing. The game’s outcome was a testament to Villa’s attacking efficiency and disciplined defending, securing a well-earned three points in a match that was as much about tactical resilience as it was about scoring.