Brazilian duo Ledesma and Morais hand Birkirkara first win
by Ayrton Galea - 17th August 2014
Birkirkara FC earned the first three points of the new BOV Premier League campaign. A goal in each half by Rafael Ledesma and Ellinton Morais were enough to beat Pieta Hotspurs with a 2-1 score.
Birkirkara started as favourites in the opening match of the season, and they left the Victor Tedesco Stadium with what matters most, the three precious points. They gave a fine performance rounded off by two great strikes from Ledesma and Morais.
In the first half, Birkirkara enjoyed most of the possession but they could not find the way through, before Ledesma's stunning volley put Birkirkara in the lead. Early in the second half, Pieta ended playing with one player less, and then Ellinton doubled Birkirkara's lead before Cain Attard scored a consolation goal for Pieta.
Birkirkara's Head Coach, Mr. Paul Zammit, opted for a 3-5-2 formation. Haber defended the posts, while the three-line defence featured Zach Muscat, Vukanac and Bissi. Herrera and Camenzuli patrolled the wing-backs, supporting Scicluna and Fenech, who was back following a one-match ban. Ledesma took the usual position roaming behind the two strikers, Eliandro Gonzaga and Ellintoin Morais.
Goalkeeeper Ini Akpan was ruled-out injured, with a broken arm. Edmond Agius, Gareth Sciberras and Joseph Zerafa were also not available for selection.
The First Half
Birkirkara took the initiative right from the start. Just less than two minutes into the game, Ryan Camenzuli's cross found Edward Herrera but his powerful volley ended over. Two minutes later, from a corner kick by Ledesma, Bissi headed wide.
The Stripes threatened again on the eighth minute when Fenech served Scicluna who had a long-distance drive ending over. Four minutes later, goalkeeper Cassar deflected a cross by Ryan Camenzuli.
Birkirkara had most of the possession, but they were struggling to penetrate despite a strong start. Pieta, defending in numbers, were doing an excellent job at the back by neutralising the runs of Herrera and Gonzaga up front.
On the half hour mark, Edward Herrera picked a cross from the left by Camenzuli, who then sent a threatening cross, but Ledesma failed to hit in front of Cassar. Pieta replied by having their first attempt on goal on the thirty-second minute when off a cross on the far post, Christian Grech headed over.
The Stripes took a deep breath five minutes from half time, when they were rewarded for their efforts by surging ahead. A shot by Scicluna was blocked and short cleared, only to reach Ledesma who hit a stunning volley which hit against the left post, before going into the net, to the surprise of goalkeeper Cassar.
Boosted by the early goal, the Stripes remained on the attack and they went close to double their lead, first with a low shot by Camenzuli, and moments later with a direct corner by Ledesma.
The first half found Birkirkara enjoying most of the possession but it was only Ledesma's strike five minutes from half time that separated both sides.
The Second Half
At the start of the second half, Mr. Paul Zammit affected the first substitution when Kurt Zammit replaced Eliandro Gonzaga.
Pieta might have had high hopes following a fine first-half performance, but they received a cold shower four minutes inside the second half, when they had a player sent off. Rafael Xavier fouled Camenzuli, and then hit the Birkirkara player while lying on the ground, and the referee showed him the red card.
Matheus Bissi almost doubled the score for Birkirkara on the fifty-third minute, when he hit a fierce strike from distance, which was blocked and was then saved by goalkeeper Cassar. Ledesma was unlucky not to score his second goal four minutes later when his direct free-kick smashed against the upright, with the ball cleared into a corner kick.
Birkirkara went close once again twenty minutes into the second half, with another direct free-kick, this time taken by Ellinton Morais, but the ball scratched past the far post.
In Birkirkara's second substitution of the day, Leighton Grech replaced Edward Herrera on the right flank, on the sixty-eighth minute.
Birkirkara, enjoying a one-man advantage, controlled the match comfortably, and fourteen minutes from time, they doubled the lead. Substitute Leighton Grech delivered an excellent cross in the path of Ellinton Morais, who controlled the ball inside the box before firing home to hit hard past Cassar.
Ten minutes from time, Birkirkara threatened for the third goal when Camenzuli made a surging run before serving Grech, but Cassar blocked his effort. A minute later, Scicluna was denied with a brilliant save by Cassar.
In Birkirkara's third substitution, scorer of the second goal, Ellinton Morais was replaced by Antoine Borg in the final five minutes.
Pieta scored the consolation goal on the ninetieth minute mark, when defender Cain Attard beat Justin Haber with a close-range effort following a cross from the right.
Pieta increased their efforts, but their hopes were cut short with referee Philip Farrugia's full time whistle, seeing Birkirkara picking the first three points of the new BOV Premier League campaign.
BIRKIRKARA: Birkirkara: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Matheus Bissi, Ryan Camenzuli, Paul Fenech, Ryan Scicluna, Edward Herrera (68' Leighton Grech), Rafael Ledesma, Ellintoin Morais (85' Antoine Borg), Eliandro Gonzaga.
PIETA: David Cassar, Cain Attard, Christian Grech, Leonardo Dos Santos, Jurgen Pisani, Quilin Refalo, Terence Agius, Rafael Rodrigues Da Silva (77' Neil Pace), Malcolm Licari (65' Cleaven Cassar), Rafael Xavier, Dylan Agius (58' Luke Micallef).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Roberto Vella.
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri.
Yellow Cards: 20' Ryan Scicluna, 89' Paul Fenech, 90' Kurt Zammit (Birkirkara), 56' Dylan Agius (Pieta Hotspurs).
Red Cards: 49' Rafael Xavier (Pieta Hotspurs).
Scorers: 40' Rafael Ledesma, 76' Ellinton Morais (Birkirkara), 90' Cain Attard (Pieta Hotspurs).
BOV Player of the Match: Rafael Ledesma (Birkirkara).
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