Match Report: Birkirkara FC 1-0 Balzan FC
by Ayrton Galea - 18th August 2018
Birkirkara FC registered a winning start in the BOV Premier League, as a goal by Jake Grech was enough to beat title-contenders Balzan FC with a narrow 1-0 score.
The all-important goal arrived on the fifteenth minute, when Justin Grioli floored debutant Thiago Brito inside the box and from the spot, Jake Grech opened his scoring account for this season to hand the Stripes a positive start.
It was a merited win for the Stripes for all their efforts. Following taking an early lead, the Stripes produced a bold-defensive display to ensure the first clean sheet and the first three points of the season.
The Stripes had no less than six players making their first appearance in the BOV Premier League since joining our Club this summer. Danilo Chapoval, Eduardo Dos Santos, Paul Fenech, Marcelo Henrique, Thiago Brito and latest signing Milan Basrak were all given the nod to start.
The First Half
Balzan created the first scoring opportunity on the thirteenth minute. Effiong did well to find Carlos Eduardo De Fiori Mendes on the second post, but the latter's weak header was easily saved by goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
Birkirkara surged ahead on the fifteenth minute. Thiago Brito was floored inside the box by Justin Grioli and Referee Stefan Pace pointed to the spot. From the resulting penalty kick, Jake Grech sent the ball one side and goalkeeper Steven Sultana the other to put the Stripes in the lead.
Balzan should have made the score level hardly a minute later. Mendes flicked the ball to Bojan Kaljevic but the latter did the impossible as he shot wide from underneath the crossbar, with goalkeeper Naumovski beaten.
Marcelo Henrique tried his luck with a long-distance shot on the twenty-second minute, but goalkeeper Steven Sultana saved his attempt. On the other side of the pitch, Milos Lepovic saw his shot from outside the box ending over.
Balzan went close again on the twenty-seventh minute. Justin Grioli's cross found Alfred Effiong in an ideal position inside the box, but his shot was denied by an emphatic tackle of defender Cain Attardl who showed great skill to deny the Balzan forward.
Balzan remained in control as they enjoyed most of the possession, but they lacked the desire flow to break down Birkirkara's defence, as the Stripes ended the first half enjoying a narrow 1-0 lead.
The Second Half
Balzan started the second half with all guns blazing. Justin Grioli's shot almost surprised Naumovski with a fierce shot from distance, but the ball ended in a corner. Hardly a minute later, Kaljevic headed wide following a cross from the left.
The Stripes produced a good scoring chance on the fifty-eighth minute. Rapid-winger Marcelo Henrique did a fine run before supplying an excellent through-ball towards Milan Basrak, but the latter's effort from a tight-angle ended wide.
Just past the hour mark, goalkeeper Naumovski was the protagonist to keep the lead for his team as he produced a brilliant save by diving full stretch to turn away for a corner a thunderous shot by Milos Lepovic from outside the box.
Lydon Micallef replaced Bojan Kaljevic on the seventy-first minute as Balzan were looking for fresh ideas up-front, and four minutes later Effiong's shot was deflected into a corner kick as Balzan kept pushing for the equalising goal.
The compact and tactically disciplined Birkirkara defence left no inch for Balzan in the closing moments of the match and things got worse for the latter as substitute Ricardo Correa was sent off for retaliation.
Jake Grech was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Mislav Andelkovic, Paul Fenech, Jake Grech (87' Gianluca Zammit), Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Cain Attard, Marcelo Henrique, Thiago Brito (79' Edward Herrera), Milan Basrak (65' Terence Agius).
BALZAN: Steven Sultana, Justin Grioli, Nenad Sljivic, Steven Bezzina (60' Ricardo Correa), Michael Johnson, Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, Carlos Eduardo De Fiori Mendes, Bojan Kaljevic (71' Lydon Micallef), Milos Lepovic (88' Sean Cipriott).
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, William Debattista.
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow Cards: 17' Milan Basrak, 34' Paul Fenech, 90+1' Terence Agius, 90+1' Kurt Zammit (Birkirkara), 56' Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, 60' Milos Lepovic (Balzan).
Red Cards: 90+2' Ricardo Correa (Balzan).
Scorers: 15' Jake Grech (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Jake Grech (Birkirkara).
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