Shodiya hands Birkirkara precious points
by Ayrton Galea - 9th December 2013
Birkirkara FC confirmed their brilliant form by clinching their sixth consecutive league victory and keeping their joint-leadership when they overcame the resilient challenge of Balzan. Shola Shodiya gave the killer blow with a wonderful strike, twelve minutes from the end to hand Birkirkara a 2-1 victory.
The Stripes enjoyed possession throughout the ninety minutes but they were short of ideas as Balzan were rock-solid at the back and their tactical organisation frustrated their opponents. The Stripes struggled to penetrate and their frustration resulted in erratic passes for most of the time.
Head Coach Mr. Paul Zammit once again tweaked his formation following the last match against Vittoriosa in the U*BET FA Trophy. This time rounded he fielded a 4-4-2 formation. Shola Shodiya and Rowen Muscat, who were making their return after being ruled out in the last matches, were drifted in the first-eleven selection. Alejandro Mendoza replaced the injured Matheus Bissi.
The Stripes were also without the services of Ryan Camenzuli, who was suspended after collecting his fourth yellow card in the last league match against Rabat Ajax.
On the other hand, Balzan had goalkeeper Dani Miguelez, Firaz Aboulez and Mark Spiteri missing. The first-eleven selection by Mr. Jesmond Zerafa featured four former Birkirkara namely Rodrigo Pereira, Joselito Dos Reis, Luke Sciberras and Andrew Scicluna.
The First Half
The initial minutes of the match gave an idea of the what the match will produce, as there was nothing to separate both sides, who failed to make any notable actions.
The Stripes enjoyed most of the possession and Balzan were defending in numbers from the opening minutes. Birkirkara's attacks were lacking from ideas and they were being cancelled out in a comfortable way by Balzan's rearguard, led by veteran player Rodrigo Pereira.
Despite suffering possession, it was Balzan who created their first scoring opportunity on the twelfth minute. Following some loose marking inside the box, Balzan had a powerful shot ending over from am ideal position.
The Stripes had a call for a penalty turned down on the fifteenth minute. A cross from the right seemed to be have been touched by hand inside the box, but Referee Fyodor Zammit waved play-on.
Balzan could have surged ahead on the twenty-first minute. Alejandro Mendoza's back pass was intercepted by Jose Luis Armario Negrin, who tried to dribble past Justin Haber, but he showed brilliant skill by stealing the ball from Negrin's feet.
Just a minute later, it was the Stripes' turn to have an opportunity to surge ahead. Goalkeeper Michael Falzon picked the ball following a back pass and referee Zammit ordered an indirect free-kick from inside the box. Nikola Vukanac saw his effort scratching past the left post.
The Stripes were denied from taking the lead on the twenty-fourth minute when they hit the upright. Paul Fenech delivered an excellent second-post free-kick, and on rushing goalkeeper Michael Falzon failed to deal with it. Terence Vella saw his header hitting the upright with the ball ending in the safe hands of goalkeeper Falzon.
Rodrigo Pereira had a threatening free-kick from outside the box ending over Justin Haber's post on the thirty-second minute.
The Stripes broke the deadlock four minutes from the end of the first half. Ryan Scicluna's free-kick was parried by goalkeeper Falzon, but he got tangled with his team-mate Steve Bezzina and dropped the ball. An alert Shodiya served Paul Fenech, who had an easy task slotting the ball home into an empty net.
Balzan were unable to have any sort of reaction and referee Fyodor Zammit's whistle found the Stripes enjoying a one-goal lead at the end of the first half.
The Second Half
Two minutes into the second half, Terence Vella tried his luck with a powerful shot from outside the box, but his attempt ended totally over, without troubling goalkeeper Falzon.
Ryan Scicluna made some fine foot-work and he concluded his action with a fine strike which was parried by goalkeeper Falzon on the fifty-first minute.
Balzan's efforts were rewarded with the equalising goal on the fifty-fourth minute. Rodrigo Pereira exchanged the ball with Joselito Dos Reis, who showed excellent skill with a through ball in the direction of Jose Luis Armario Negrin. Negrin drifted inside the area and served Dylan Grima, who beat Justin Haber with a close-range shot.
Coach Paul Zammit sensed his team struggling to penetrate and he was quick to change things. On the sixty-second minute, he ordered a double substitution. He withdrew Zach Muscat and Ryan Scicluna to be replaced by Edward Herrera and Jhonnattann Benites.
These changes enabled Birkirkara to create more space in front of goal as Edward Herrera's surging runs, and Jhonnattann Benites' brilliant skills in front of goal, troubled Balzan who saw their challenge increasing in its difficulty by the minute.
Paul Fenech, who won countless balls in midfield, had a fine strike from outside the box scratching past the right post on the sixty-seventh minute.
Just a minute later, the Stripes hit the post for the second time. Off a cross by Terence Vella, Andrew Scicluna risked committing an own goal in attempt to clear into safety, when his header hit the crossbar. From the rebound, Jhonnattann Benites' shot hit the outside of the net.
Balzan could have surged ahead for the first time in the match. A dangerous run by Jose Luis Armario Negrin saw him drifting inside the area, but his shot ended just centimetres wide.
While Mr. Paul Zammit preparing his third and final substitution, the Stripes regained the lead with what turned out to be the winning goal, on the seventy-eight minute. Frank Temile's penetrated with a surging run on the left flank. His cross found Terence Vella who served Shola Shodiya who beat goalkeeper Falzon with a powerful strike.
Daniel Zerafa was included instead of Frank Temile on the seventy-ninth minute.
Mr. Jesmond Zerafa tried to salvage a point for Balzan by including Ryan Darmanin off Luke Sciberras, to give a boost in the forward line. However, but they hardly created any scoring opportunities.
Birkirkara could have sealed the issue on the ninety-minute mark. In a fast break-away, Jhonnattann Benites served Shola Shodiya, who dribbled past a player, but his central shot was parried by goalkeeper Falzon.
The full-time whistle found Birkirkara keeping its leadership in the BOV Premier League after chalking up its sixth consecutive league victory. On the other hand, Balzan were left feeling unlucky and they left the Hibernians Stadium with nothing to show for their resilient performance.
Birkirkara: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat (62' Edward Herrera), Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Rowen Muscat, Ryan Scicluna (62' Jhonnattann Benites), Paul Fenech, Frank Temile (79' Daniel Zerafa), Shola Shodiya, Terence Vella.
Balzan: Michael Falzon, Justin Grioli, Andrew Scicluna, Rodrigo Pereira, Steve Bezzina, Fabio Vignoroli, Luke Sciberras (83' Ryan Darmanin), Dylan Grima, Lydon Micallef, Joselito Dos Reis (73' Erjon Bue), Jose Luis Armario Negrin.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Albert Borg Cardona.
Additional Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri.
Yellow Cards: Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara), Rodrigo Pereira, Erjon Bue, Jose Luis Armario Negrin (Balzan)
Scorers: 41' Paul Fenech, 78' Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara), 54' Dylan Grima (Balzan).
BOV Man of the Match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).
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