BOV Premier League - Hamrun Spartans FC 1-2 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 27th October 2018
Birkirkara FC's poor run in the BOV Premier League took another twist to worse yesterday evening, as Hamrun Spartans came from behind to emerge victorious with a 2-1 score. This was the third defeat in the last four matches for the Stripes.
The Stripes failed to keep the pace with the front-runners for another week as despite having several good moments in yesterday's match, they were unable to maintain their early lead as two goals by Caetano Calil gave Hamrun Spartans three precious points.
Coach Paul Zammit made two changes from the last match. Petar Orlandic suffered a minor injury and was replaced by Michael Mifsud, while in the other change Matthew Guillaumier replaced Jake Grech. Thiago Brito started on the substitutes' bench after missing the last match.
The First Half
Hamrun Spartans threatened first on the fifth minute. Caetano Calil intercepted a pass by Marcelo Henrique and dashed forward, before his powerful shot from outside the box was saved by goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
However, it was the Stripes who surged ahead on the ninth minute. In an excellent build-up towards goal, Mifsud lay-off the ball to Guillaumier and served Marcelo, who had his curling shot blocked, but from the rebound Carlos Chavarria drilled a low shot home. This was his first goal with our Club.
Marcelo, the Brazilian rapid-winger, was being a key-figure in Birkirkara's attack as the Stripes went close again on the fifteenth minute. Chavarria did fine footwork before serving Marcelo Henrique who hit a fine curling shot that was saved by goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.
Birkirkara continued to dictate matters. Their neat passes were tormenting the Spartans' defence as they struggled to keep up with the Stripes' tempo. Marcelo's shot was saved by goalkeeper Bartolo, while moments later, Michael Mifsud's shot from inside the box ended wide.
Despite their edge over their opponents, the Stripes were punished for flat-out defending on the thirty-fifth minute as Hamrun Spartans equalised against the run of the play. A low cross by Alain Moukanza found Caetano Calil unmarked and the latter hit home from close-range.
Birkirkara were quick to re-settle and they close twice before half-time. Danilo Chapoval hit a fine header off a free-kick by Marcelo, but his effort was saved by Bartolo, while moments later Chavarria concluded a fine action that ended wide by a whisker.
The Second Half
Goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski's over-confidence dribble was almost punished two minutes inside the second half, but the Birkirkara goalkeeper managed to put the ball into safety as the Spartans started the second half on the attack.
Hamrun could have turned the score in their favour with a glorious scoring opportunity on the fourty-ninth minute. Moukanza was the provider once again as this time he put Wilfried Domoraud all-alone in-front of Naumovski but the Birkirkara goalkeeper turned his effort into a corner kick.
The Stripes began to settle and replied two minutes later. Guillaumier pushed forward in possession, before unzipping the defence with a fine pass towards Michael Mifsud, but the veteran forward miscued his kick as his effort ended wide.
Birkirkara went close to regain the lead with a swift counter-attack on the fifty-fourth minute. They were quick to transfer the ball forward towards Mifsud who served Andelkovic who dashed forward before he saw his shot denied by a brilliant save of goalkeeper Bartolo.
The Stripes' Coach, Paul Zammit made a double change on the sixty-third minute. Forward Thiago Brito replaced Michael Mifsud as the Birkirkara Coach sought for a fresh-pair of legs upfront while Edward Herrera replaced Cain Attard in the other change.
Hamrun Spartans turned the score in their favour on the seventy-third minute. It was once again Caetano Calil involved in action as the Italian forward struck a thunderous shot from outside the box that gave goalkeeper Naumovski no chance.
Trailing late in the match, the Stripes put everything forward and were unlucky not to save a point two minutes from time. Marcelo hit a curling shot that seemed to surprise goalkeeper Bartolo, but his effort scratched past the post as the Stripes left the match empty-handed.
Caetano Calil, scorer of a brace for the Spartans, was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Matthew Guillaumier (74' Jake Grech), Mislav Andelkovic, Paul Fenech, Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Michael Mifsud (63' Thiago Brito), Cain Attard (63' Edward Herrera), Marcelo Henrique, Carlos Chavarria.
HAMRUN SPARTANS: Manuel Bartolo, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Wilfried Joselin Sabaley Domoraud, Matthew Gauci, Njongo Priso, Karl Micallef, Alain Moukanza Donneil, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Caetano Calil.
Referee: Darryl Agius.
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Dusan Petrovic.
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna.
Yellow Cards: 37' Mislav Andelkovic, 42' Cain Attard (Birkirkara), 30' Triston Caruana, 37' Enrico Pepe, 39' Matthew Gauci, 57' Antonio Monticelli, 85' Njongo Priso (Hamrun Spartans).
Scorers: 9' Carlos Chavarria (Birkirkara), 35', 73' Caetano Calil (Hamrun Spartans).
BOV Player of the Match: Caetano Calil (Hamrun Spartans).
comments powered by Disqus
