Champions cruise to thirteenth straight victory
by Ayrton Galea - 30th January 2014
Champions Birkirkara FC extended their winning streak to thirteen consecutive matches in the BOV Premier League when on Monday evening, they defeated Tarxien Rainbows with a 3-1 score.
A goal by Jhonnattann Benites just before the half-time whistle by paved the way, and then it was followed with goals by Shola Shodiya and Daniel Zerafa, to make sure of the Stripes' victory.
The Maltese Champions ensured that they will be starting the Championship Pool phase on the top of the table thanks to another empathic win. This victory also means that the Stripes maintained their six point lead over their nearest rivals Valletta before this Sunday's big match.
It was a drab encounter which did not offer any particular entertainment to the present supporters at the Hibernians stadium, but the Stripes enjoyed possession for long stretches and their win was a deserved one.
Mr. Paul Zammit's selection underlined his belief in the old saying of ‘never change a winning team', as he kept his trust in the starting-eleven selection that outclassed Naxxar last week. The Birkirkara Head Coach opted for a 4-3-2-1 formation. Jhonnattann Benites, continuously supported by Frank Temile and Shola Shodiya composed the forward line.
The First Half
Birkirkara did what was expected from them as they were quick to take the initiative and they shaded the opening stages. However, Tarxien opted for a very defensive style which was closing all the gaps for the Birkirkara forwards.
Jhonnattann Benites for Birkirkara threatened Tarxien's goalkeeper Nicholas Vella on the fifteenth minute. The Brazilian player had a volley parried by Vella.
Five minutes later, the Stripes created their first dangerous attack. Edward Herrera made a surging run on the right flank, and delivered a second-post cross which Shola Shodiya headed wide.
Birkirkara could have surged ahead on the twenty-sixth minute when they fashioned their best chance in the first half. Shodiya sent an inviting cross in direction of Jhonnattann Benites with the Brazilian player completing the ball in direction of Frank Temile who hit wide from close range.
The Stripes were enjoying swathes of possession but they could not find the way through, as their efforts were being dealt in a comfortable way by the Tarxien defenders.
Three minutes from half time, Frank Temile served Jhonnattann Benites on the right and the Brazilian had a diagonal shot scratching past Nicholas Vella's first post.
The counter-attack plot by Tarxien Rainbows almost resulted in the opening goal of the match on the forty-third minute. Jorge Santos Silva's fine skills caught the Birkirkara's rearguard on the wrong foot. He served Ronaille Calheira Seara whose powerful drive was turned into a corner thanks to an excellent save by Justin Haber.
From the resulting corner kick, Carlos Mendez Hevia delivered a cross, and from William Barbosa's acrobatic scissor-kick, the ball was cleared off the goal-line by Alejandro Mendoza.
With the match heading towards the half-time break and the Rainbows threatening to surge ahead, Birkirkara punished them with a fast break-away which put them in the lead. Tarxien defender Fernando Lopez Alcantara lost his balance when he was about to close down Paul Fenech's through-pass with Benites depositing the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper Nicholas Vella.
Tarxien had no time to try any sort of reaction and Birkirkara were found leading by one at Referee Malcolm Spiteri's half-time whistle.
The Second Half
The first attack of the second half, close to the hour mark, was a reminder by the Rainbows of the qualities they enjoy in their forward line. Jorge Santos Silva delivered a precise free-kick on the unmarked Josef Mifsud, but the latter who had both space and time, headed wide.
On the other side of the pitch, just a minute later, Paul Fenech almost made them two for the Stripes, as the MFA Footballer of the Year had a brilliant in-swinging drive scratching past the far post with goalkeeper Vella beaten.
Birkirkara stepped-up their performance in the second half, and on the seventy-first minute, they doubled the lead. Shodiya made a run which zipped-up the Rainbows defence, and then arrowed a strike which hit hard past goalkeeper Vella.
Mr. Paul Zammit effected two substitutions on the 73rd and the 79th minute. He introduced Ryan Camenzuli and Daniel Zerafa, to replace Shola Shodiya and Ryan Scicluna.
Frank Temile was unlucky not to make them three ten minutes from time. He sprinted and hit past Nicholas Vella, but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the goal-line by Steven Bonnici, into a corner kick.
From the resulting corner kick, Nikola Vukanac saw as his drive from inside the box hitting the foot of the post, and the ball was then cleared into safety.
Frank Temile was once again unlucky not to put his name on the score sheet on the eighty-fourth minute. He received an excellent pass by Edward Herrera but his close-range effort was turned into a corner kick by goalkeeper Vella.
Against the run of the play, Jorge Santos Silva threw Tarxien Rainbows a life-line, two minutes from time. His firm drive from inside the box beat goalkeeper Justin Haber to put the Rainbows back in the match.
However, Tarxien's consolation did not last long, as Birkirkara sealed the issue with the third goal just minute later. Substitute Daniel Zerafa showed brilliant skills when from a wonderful solo-action he concluded with a low shot that hit past the Tarxien goalkeeper.
With the Birkirkara supporters chanting ‘Campioni, Campioni', Jhonnattann Benites was given a deserved standing ovation as he was replaced by Zach Muscat in the third change by Mr. Zammit on the ninetieth minute.
The full time whistle by Referee Malcolm Spiteri found Birkirkara chalking up their thirteenth straight win as they maintained their six point lead over rivals Valletta before this Sunday's showdown.
BIRKIRKARA:Justin Haber, Joseph Zerafa, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Edward Herrera, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Ryan Scicluna (79' Daniel Zerafa), Frank Temile, Shola Shodiya (73' Ryan Camenzuli), Jhonnattann Benites (90' Zach Muscat).
TARXIEN: Nicholas Vella, Manuel Caruana, Fernando Lopez (76' Miguel Ciantar), Andrew Agius (54' Karl Pulo), Luca Martinelli, Ronalie Seara, William Barbosa (45' Josef Mifsud), Ryan Sammut, Carlos Mendez Hevia, Steven Bonnici, Jorge Santos Silva.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Jurgen Spiteri.
Fourth Official: Chris Lautier.
Yellow Cards: 28' Joseph Zerafa, 51' Gareth Sciberras, 80' Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara), 21' Andrew Agius, 48' Ryan Sammut, 90+2' Carlos Mendez Hevia (Tarxien)
Scorers: 45' Jhonnattann Benites, 71' Shola Shodiya, 89' Daniel Zerafa (Birkirkara), 88' Jorge Santos Silva (Tarxien).
BOV Man of the Match: Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara).
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