Stripes suffer first defeat

by Ayrton Galea - 14th September 2015

Birkirkara FC suffered the first defeat in the BOV Premier League on Sunday evening, when despite scoring the opening goal, Valletta came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory and maintain their perfect start with maximum points from three matches.

It was an entertaining match played on a high-tempo, between two of the main challengers for the BOV Premier League.In a match of two halves, the first forty-five minutes belonged to the Stripes who right from the start created more scoring opportunities and were the most aggressive start. However, after taking a deserved lead, their efforts quickly fell flat as the Citizens equalised before the half-time, and after enjoying an edge for most of the second half, they notched the winner thanks to a late goal by Priso.

Giovanni Tedesco, the Birkirkara Coach, made no less than five changes from the last match. Edward Herrera and Rowen Muscat, both available following an injury replaced Cain Attard and Emerson Marcelina. Edmond Agius replaced Gareth Sciberras while Ryan Camenzuli and Ellinton Morais replaced Frank Temile and Vito Plut respectively. Shola Shodya is still recovering from an injury.

The Stripes opted for a 4-1-3-2 formation with Miccoli and Morais composing the attacking department while Valletta fielded a 3-4-3 formation with Benites and Falcone up-front, and Briffa roaming behind the two strikers.

Before the match, former Birkirkara FC Head Coach Paul Zammit was presented with a momentum by the Birkirkara Ultras while received a standing ovation by the supporters as an appreciation of his spell with the Club.

The First Half

The Stripes started brightly and they went close after three minutes. Camenzuli's cross was deflected into a corner kick and from the resulting set-piece, Miccoli's cross saw Nikola Vukanac having his header ending just over the bar.

Birkirkara were on attack again three minutes later when Camenzuli, one of the most active players in the opening stages, served Morais who raced forward and went down inside the box from a challenge of the Valletta defender, but Referee Andre Arciola adjudicated nothing wrong, despite the Birkirkara protests.

Valletta had their first scoring opportunity on the eleventh minute when Claudio Pani had a long-distance shot ending wide. On the other side of the field just two minutes later, Miccoli had a rising-shot ending over from the edge of the box.

The Stripes continued to show the better ideas as they created another dangerous opportunity on the fifteenth minute. Miccoli delivered an accurate curling cross from the left that saw Morais' header ending wide by inches, with Bonello beaten.

Valletta did not hold back and despite suffering possession for most of the opening twenty minutes, they also went close when Jhonnattann Benites created havoc inside the box by his dazzling run, but his shot from a tight angle was parried by Haber. Three minutes later, Morais had a powerful shot blocked by Bonello in another dangerous opportunity for the Stripes.

The match developed as a tug-of-war for possession in the midfield, as now there was little to separate both sides as scoring opportunities fell short bar a shot by Falcone for Valletta after being served by Ramao.

The Stripes surged ahead on the thirty-ninth minute. Miccoli played a short free-kick to Morais who raced forward inside the box and had his diagonal shot taking a deflection by Camilleri and ending past goalkeeper Bonello.

Valletta lifted themselves and produced two scoring chances. First, Cruz Gill's drive was charged down by Muscat and moments later Benites had a first-time effort parried by goalkeeper Haber following a cross by Azzopardi.

However, with the Citizens increasing their tempo, there was nothing that Haber could do, one minute from the break. Albert Bruce, one of the City's latest signings, played a main-role in the goal by delivering a precise ball over the Birkirkara defence and prolific striker Federico Falcone showed great ability to chip over Haber.

The first-half ended in a parity.

The Second Half

There was very-balanced opening to the second half as both teams remained tactically disciplined, and the rhythm of the match remain unchanged.

The Stripes created their first opportunity of the second-half just before the hour-mark, when Miccoli had his shot ending over, after being served by Camenzuli. Valletta replied thanks to a shot by Falcone twenty minutes into the second half, which was held by Haber.

Three substitutions, one for the Citizens and two for the Stripes took place as the last twenty minutes approached. In the match's first-substitution, Llywelyn Cremona replaced Roderick Briffa, while for the Stripes Spanish Juan Barreso replaced Edmond Agius before a minute later Vukanac had to be replaced by Zach Muscat.

Valletta included Njongo Priso on the seventy-sixth minute in their second change. The Stripes were forced into their third substitution, as Ellinton Morais, a constant target of a number of challenges from the Valletta defenders, was unable to continue playing and he was replaced by Vito Plut.

The inclusion of Priso quickly gave fruit to the Citizens, as with five minutes remaining, they surged ahead. Priso drifted from the right side and cut to the middle before hitting a powerful low shot past Justin Haber.

Birkirkara tried a desperate reaction when Plut had his header ending over. Juan Quero was blocked by goalkeeper Henry Bonello before he could put the trigger. The Stripes' efforts were cut short by the full-time whistle, that condemned them to the first defeat in the BOV Premier League.

Tireless midfielder Rowen Muscat was voted the BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Edward Herrera, Mauricio Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac (68' Zach Muscat, Joseph Zerafa, Paul Fenech, Edmond Agius (67' Juan Quero, Rowen Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli, Ellinton Morais (77' Vito Plut), Fabrizio Miccoli.

VALLETTA: Henry Bonello, Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, Ryan Camilleri, Juan Gill Cruz, Roderick Briffa (67' Llywelyn Cremona), Albert Bruce, Federico Falcone, Claudio Pani, Jhonnattann Benites (85' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Romeu Ramao (76' Njongo Priso).

Referee: Andre Arciola.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow Cards: 29' Joseph Zerafa, 61 Paul Fenech (Birkirkara), Claudio Pani, Albert Bruce (Valletta)

Scorers: 39' Ellinton Morais (Birkirkara), 44' Federico Falcone, 85' Njongo Priso (Valletta)

BOV Player of the Match: Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara).

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