St Malifast 1 - 3 Holybridd

Key Events:

• 26' St Malifast Pedro Chagas scores, assisted by Michel Lemoine
• 54' Holybridd Pedro Chagas scores
• 71' Holybridd Jorge Alvez scores, assisted by Nilson Pires
• 74' Holybridd Jorge Alvez scores
• 83' Yellow card to St Malifast Phillip Lewis

Expected Goals (xG) Analysis: St Malifast’s 1.97 xG yielded one goal, a modest shortfall against the quality of the chances recorded. Holybridd’s 2.89 xG became three goals, a close match between opportunity and finishing rather than an improbable raid on the scoreboard. The visitors also had 12 shots, 11 on target, to St Malifast’s nine and seven on target. That difference helps explain the result: with possession level at 50% apiece, Holybridd made more of its attacks count and kept testing the target. St Malifast did enough to take the lead, but the second-half response turned the match decisively, with two goals from Jorge Alvez arriving three minutes apart.

• St Malifast: No standout performers rated 7.0 or higher.
• Jorge Alvez (7.6) - Scored twice, including the goal that put Holybridd ahead, and supplied the decisive finishing in a three-goal away win.

The numbers suggest a match more competitive in possession than on the scoreboard. Both sides completed passes at 85% and made seven tackles, while the hosts committed 13 fouls to Holybridd’s six. St Malifast had enough of the ball and enough shots on target to remain involved, but Holybridd produced the more productive attacking spell after the interval. The visitors’ lead, restored at 71 minutes, was extended again by 74; in football, three minutes can be a surprisingly spacious amount of time.

For St Malifast, Pedro Chagas and Michel Lemoine combined for the opening goal, but the hosts could not turn that start into a result. Holybridd answered through its own Pedro Chagas, then Jorge Alvez took over the scoring with a brace. The 1-3 finish reflects the gap in chance quality and conversion more than possession, which remained exactly even. Holybridd leave with the points; St Malifast are left with a first-half lead and a second half that became rather less cooperative.