Birkirkara eliminated from FA Trophy

by Ayrton Galea - 23rd January 2012

In what could be described as a shocking and disappointing defeat, Birkirkara were eliminated from the U*BET FA Trophy yesterday, when they were beat by Hamrun Spartans with a 3-2 score.

It was an entertaining match especially in the first half. After Hamrun Spartans took an early two goal lead, Birkirkara reacted well and managed to draw level till the half time whistle. In the second half, it was all one sided for Birkirkara who continually pressed their opponents for the third goal. Against the run of play, Hamrun managed to find the net for the third time, which turned out to be the winning goal for them and a fatal one for Birkirkara.

Once again, Birkirkara's main problem was clear to notice - the lack of a deadly striker that finishes an action. All one has to consider is the huge amount of goal scoring opportunities created by Birkirkara which were not concluded successfully.

The First Half

After suffering two goals in the space of just three minutes, everyone thought that it was already over for Birkirkara. However the goals suffered acted as a wake-up call for Birkirkara. Thanks to total domination on the field the managed to draw level before the half time whistle.

In the first action of the game, on the 6th minute, Reuben Gauci performed a great save and turned the ball into a corner kick following a shot from outside the box.

On the fifteen minute mark, Moises Avila Perez had a volley ending wide.

Hamrun went ahead on the 16th minute, when Joseph Zerafa lost the ball possession in the middle of the field to Dene Sheilds, who advanced on the right, and sent a fine low cross which was slotted home by Gaetan Spiteri.

Just two minutes later, Hamrun made them two. Gareth Sciberras brought down Dene Shields, and although it seemed that this happened outside the box, the referee controversially ordered a penalty kick. The same Sheilds made no mistake to make it 2-0 for Hamrun.

On the 31st minute, Birkirkara almost pulled one back when after a fine cross, Jorge Santos Silva's header was denied by a great save by Omar Borg. Birkirkara continued to insist, and just to minutes later, it was once again a fine save by Borg that denied Birkirkara following a low shot by Gareth Sciberras.

However, Omar Borg could do nothing on the 38th minute to prevent Birkirkara from pulling one back. From a perfect cross by Shaun Bajada, Rodrigo Pereira headed the ball home for his third goal of the season.

Birkirkara equalised three minutes later. A wonderful attempt from a scissors kick by Moises Avila Perez was denied by Omar Borg, and then the ball his the post. From the rebound Gareth Sciberras slotted the ball home with a flying header to the joy of the Birkirkara supporters.

Joseph Zerafa almost put Birkirkara ahead in the last action of the first half when his long distance shot ended wide on the 43rd minute.

The Second Half

Birkirkara dominated right from the start of this half, trying to score the third goal. This never happened, and disappointingly for 'The Stripes' it was the 'Spartans” that notched the third goal, against the run of the play.

Birkirkara opened the second half well, and on the third minute, Jorge Santos Silva rounded two players but his shot from long distance ended wide.

On the 56th minute, Birkirkara had a fine opportunity to take the lead when Trevor Cilia served Jorge Santos Silva who had his low shot saved by Omar Borg.

Birkirkara continued searching for the third goal and it was Jorge Santos Silva who tried his luck with another long distance shot which ended wide.

On the 73rd minute, in the first action for Hamrun, a low shot by Dene Shields ended wide. Two minutes later, it was the same Shields who had a powerful shot ending over the bar.

Against the run of the play, Hamrun took the lead on the 78th minute. Following a cross from the middle of the field, Anderson Mendes Riberio controlled the ball before his low shot beat Reuben Gauci to score the winning goal for Hamrun Spartans.

Six minutes from time, Birkirkara ended playing with one player less as Joseph Zerafa was sent off for a double booking.

Mr. Paul Zammit put everything forward with the inclusion of Terence Vella instead of Shaun Bajada but the efforts were not enough as the 3-2 result was not changed and Birkirkara were eliminated in this early stage from the second most prestigious cup in Malta.

Next Week, 'The Stripes' will be involved in a difficult and crucial match against Floriana with Birkirkara's main aim being to reduce the gap between these two teams.

BIRKIRKARA: Reuben Gauci, Ryan Scicluna (82' Leighton Grech), Rowen Muscat, Rodrigo Pereira, Joseph Zerafa, Paul Fenech, Gareth Sciberras, Shaun Bajada (88' Terence Vella), Jorge Santos Silva, Moises Avila Perez, Trevor Cilia (78 Angus Buhagiar)

HAMRUN SPARTANS::Omar Borg, Gianluca Calabretta, Matthew Gauci, Steve Bonnici, Massimo Grima, David Camilleri, Kevin Sammut, Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, Lee James Agius, Dene Shields, Gaetan Spiteri (60' Daniel Zerafa)

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