Birkirkara U-17's make it to next round of KO

by Ayrton Galea - 14th October 2013

Birkirkara Under-17's made it to the next round of the knockout competition as thanks to a much improved second half performance, they defeated Zabbar St. Patrick's with a 3-1 score.

In the first half the Stripes were struggling to find the way through, but the half-time team talk proved to be the turning point of the match. Birkirkara were a completely different team who edged out their opponents in the second forty minutes.

Clint Zammit was the protagonist for the Stripes by scoring the first two goals, with Neil Zahra scoring the third goal before Zabbar St. Patrick's reduced the gap one minute from time.

The First Half

With both teams aware of the importance of this match in the competition, in which you either live or die, the early moments proved to be balanced and aggressive as both teams did their utmost not to be edged out.

The Stripes created the first opportunity of the match after just forty-five seconds. Clint Zammit managed to find space in the box to hit a fine shot but his deflected effort was neutralised by the goalkeeper.

St. Patrick's were quick to reply as on the seventh minute they produced a dangerous free-kick from a diagonal position which ended over by inches.

Four minutes later, St. Patrick's were dangerous once again. An excellent cross penetrated the Stripes' rear-guard but St. Patrick's forward, all alone in front of the goalkeeper, failed to hit.

Following a diagonal free-kick, Clint Zammit had a fine header, which however did not trouble much the goalkeeper, as he saved without particular difficulty.

Mid-way through the first half, the referee ordered a water break due to the excessive heat and humidity on the day.

The Stripes were struggling to penetrate, as despite enjoying a slight edge over their opponents, they failed to find the way through.

Clint Zammit produced an excellent fine solo-action on the twenty-first minute. The promising youngster rounded a defender before advancing to the middle of the box to see his in-swinging drive scratching past the left post.

The Stripes were now playing better football, as their improvement in building quicker actions were leaving the desired results.

Clint Zammit, who was being the Stripes' most dangerous player, anticipated the goalkeeper on the twenty-fifth minute but before he could slot the ball into an empty net, a St. Patrick's defender made a perfect block, deflecting the effort to eliminate the danger.

The Stripes were threatening for the opening goal. Close to the half-hour mark, an excellent low-cross saw Clint Zammit failing to hit from an ideal position.

Zabbar's had a long-distance shot saved by the Stripes' goalkeeper on the thirty-fifth minute.

The first half ended goal-less with the Stripes, who enjoyed a slight edge over their opponents, knowing that they had room for improvement.

The Second Half

Coach Marco Glumac's half time speech seemed to have motivated his players, as the Stripes quickly took the match in their hands by edging out their opponents.

The Stripes piled up pressure from the earliest moments of the second half. After just a minute, Clint Zammit produced a spectacular overhead kick which ended wide by inches.

Two minutes later, Zammit made a solo action before concluding with a powerful shot which drifted wide off the left post. Moments later, the same player produced another solo action but his finishing shot had the same destiny as it ended wide by inches.

The Stripes were unlucky not to surge ahead seven minutes in the second half. On the forty-seventh minute, Clint Zammit who seemed to start the second half on fire, produced a powerful shot which brought the best of the goalkeeper with an outstanding save and off the rebound, Benjamin Galea fired over.

After have been denied in the previous three opportunities, the opening goal for the Stripes was in the air and it was little or no surprise that they surged ahead on the fifty-third minute. The brilliant performance of Clint Zammit, who tormented continuously the St. Patrick's defence, was rewarded as he managed to put the Stripes in the lead with an excellent strike which hit hard past the goalkeeper.

The same player was unlucky not to score his second personal goal in quick succession as just two minutes later, he gave a wonderful direct free-kick which smashed against the crossbar.

On the hour-mark the Stripes doubled the score. A Birkirkara player won possession in St. Patrick's box before serving Clint Zammit who hit home from close-range to score his personal goal in just few minutes.

With two goals in the lead, the Stripes were now controlling the match, and they overshadowed St. Patrick's resilient efforts, who could no longer handle the aggressiveness aimed at them .

Zabbar tried to make a reaction and ten minutes from the end, they had a direct free-kick deflected and then cleared into safety.

The Stripes sealed the issue with third goal five minutes from the end on the seventy-fifth minute. Neil Zahra made the best out of a rebound by slotting home from close-range.

One minute from time, Zabbar St. Patrick's reduced the gap, but the goal changed nothing as the final whistle saw the Stripes advancing to the next round with a deserved 3-1 result.

Birkirkara's First Eleven: Aaron Montebello, Darren Buttigieg, Maximilian Bartolo, Zachary Cassar, Michael Zammit, Gregory Busutill, Clint Zammit, Nigel Borg, Luke Chircop, Benjamin Galea, Bjorn Brincat.

Substitutes: Ryan Gauci, Neil Zahra, Carl Abela, Jean Claude Grech, Nigel Bugeja.

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