Stripes denied by late goal

by Ayrton Galea - 1st February 2015

Birkirkara FC squandered a golden opportunity to reduce the gap with leaders Hibernians, when a goal three minutes from time saw Birkirkara and Sliema Wanderers sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

The Stripes were in total control of the match, and they surged ahead in the first twenty minutes of the match. When the match seemed to be heading for a narrow victory for the Stripes, a defensive blunder gifted Sliema the equaliser to snatch a point from the Stripes.

Despite the Stripes extending their unbeaten streak to nine matches, they failed to pounce on the opportunity to close on leaders Hibernians, as they remained fifteen points under the Paolites but they closed the gap with second-placed Valletta who lost to Balzan.

Birkirkara had two changes from last week's draw against Hibernians. Zach Muscat, suspended, was replaced by Eliandro Gonzaga, while Mauricio Mazzetti was given the nod for his debut with our Club, as he replaced Alejandro Mendoza who joined Qormi. Mirza Hamzabegovic, Nassir Maachi and were not called-up, while Rowen Muscat's registration was not yet filed with the Malta Football Association.

Mr. Paul Zammit fielded a 4-2-1-3 formation. Haber defended the posts while Mazzetti and Vukanac were the central-backs, supported by wing-backs Camenzuli and Herrera. The midfield trio featured Sciberras, Fenech and Scicluna, with the forward trio being Gonzaga, Ledesma and Shodiya.

The First Half

The Stripes could have registered an opener after just six minutes. Shodiya running down on the right side had his pass inside the box deflected, and Ledesma had his close-range effort blocked by Zammit. Sliema replied with a free-kick by Trevor Cilia ending over three minutes later.

Birkirkara went close to surging ahead on the tenth minute. Gonzaga did some excellent work to win possession inside the box, and his shot was blocked by Zammit. From the rebound, Ledesma saw his shot cleared off the goal-line by Biancardi.

Birkirkara deservingly opened their scoring account on the nineteenth minute. Gonzaga served Sciberras who was quick to deliver a cross inside the box, with the opportunistic Ledesma heading home.

The Stripes went close to double the lead when Fenech unzipped the defence with an excellent through ball, and Camenzuli had his shot hitting the side netting.

The match produced goal scoring opportunities on each side, before the half-time. First it was the Stripes who threatened to double their lead with Gonzaga's header, but Zammit saved well. On the other side of the pitch, Djumo Bocar had an in-swinging shot ending wide.

The end of the first half saw the Stripes enjoying an edge over their opponents and they headed to their dressing room leading thanks to Ledesma's goal.

The Second Half

The Stripes had the first scoring opportunity of the second half after three minutes, when Ledesma had a powerful direct free-kick saved by goalkeeper Zammit.

Mr. Paul Zammit affected the first substitution twenty minutes into the second half when Ryan Scicluna was replaced with Edmond Agius, as the Birkirkara Coach sought for a fresh pair of legs in midfield.

The Stripes thought they doubled the lead on the sixty-eighth minute, when Gonzaga's strike was not held by Zammit and Camenzuli hit home. However, his goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Birkirkara were unlucky not to double the score on the seventy-first minute, when substitute Agius won possession inside the Sliema box, but his fierce strike smashed against the crossbar. A minute later, Shodiya had a cross-shot ending wide.

The Stripes were forced to make a substitution, as Eliandro Gonzaga suffered an injury on the seventy-fifth minute, and he was replaced by Kurt Zammit.

Birkirkara hit the post for the second time in the game, and it was once again Agius who was denied by the woodwork, from a powerful shot from inside the box, ten minutes from time.

Mr. Paul Zammit was forced to make the second forced substitution on the eighty-seventh minute, when Gareth Sciberras was replaced by Mattheus Bissi.

The Stripes seemed to be heading for an important victory, but just two minutes from full-time, they gifted Sliema the equaliser. Hesitation and miscommunication at the back, left Trevor Cilia in a perfect position to slot into an empty, with Haber out of his place, for a dramatic equaliser.

The Referee's full-time whistle found the Stripes dropping two precious points in their bid of closing on leaders Hibernians before facing Valletta next week.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Edward Herrera, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Ryan Camenzuli, Gareth Sciberras (87' Matheus Bissi), Paul Fenech, Ryan Scicluna (65' Edmond Agius), Rafael Ledesma, Eliandro Gonzaga (75' Kurt Zammit), Shola Shodiya.

SLIEMA: Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, Andrea Scozzese, Joseph Borg, John Mintoff (62' Peter Xuereb), Filipo Talata (69' Andrea Pisanu), Marko Potezica, Trevor Cilia, Djumo Bocar, Beppe Muscat (79' Axl Xuereb), Stefano Biancardi.

Referee: Laurent Kopriwa (LUX).

Assistant Referees: Ricardo Morais, Joaquim Da Silva (LUX).

Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow Cards: Nikola Vukanac, Ryan Scicluna, Paul Fenech, Justin Haber, Edward Herrera, Kurt Zammit (Birkirkara), Trevor Cilia, Joseph Borg, Djumo Bocar (Sliema).

Scorers 19' Rafael Ledesma (Birkirkara), 89' Trevor Cilia (Sliema Wanderers).

BOV Player of the Match: Rafael Ledesma (Birkirkara).

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