Match Report Birkirkara FC Vs. Lija Athletic - 4-1

by Clayton Schembri - 1st February 2021

Birkirkara FC confirm their recent fine form as they extend their unbeaten run to eleven matches. Two goals in each half enabled The Stripes to defeat Lija Athletic with a 4-1 score yesterday evening at the National Stadium.

The Stripes moved back in fourth place on thirty-one points together with Sliema Wanderers and three points behind third place Gzira United.

Birkirkara Coach Mr. Andre Paus made two changes from the team which defeated Mosta, as Cain Attard and Federico Falcone replaced Roderick Briffa and Caio Prado who began on the substitutes' bench. Attard patrolled the right wing while Falcone led the attack.

The Stripes took the lead thanks to Federico Falcone on 23 minutes who hit low past goalkeeper Luke Bonnici following a cross from the right by Luke Montebello.

Birkirkara continued to dictate matters and eight minutes later, Alex De Paixao did a good run on the left following a cross for Luke Montebello, but Ismael Borg hit the ball past Bonnici for an unfortunate own goal.

The Stripes were quick to make their efforts count in the second half, as they surged ahead after just eight minutes. When Paul Mbong showed his match-vision by supplying an inch-perfect cross towards Luke Montebello, and the latter beat the Lija custodian with an angled shot.

Lija Athletic pulled one back on 64 minutes, when Fernando Brandan pounced on a long through pass by Leon Muscat, anticipating Oscar Carniello and Enrico Pepe on the run before hitting home past goalkeeper Guarnone.

However, the Stripes regained their three-goal lead late in the match to add further gloss on their victory. When Luke Montebello advanced on the left and served Cain Attard whose conclusion hit the crossbar with the ball bouncing beyond the goal line.

BIRKIRKARA: Alessandro Guarnone, Enrico Pepe, Yannick Yankam, Luke Montebello (89' Caio Prado), Paul Mbong (89' Glending Farrugia), Kurt Zammit, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Claudio Bonanni, Oscar Carniello, Alex Da Paixao Alves (77' Isaac Ntow).

LIJA ATHLETIC: Luke Bonnici, Pedro Gusso, Leon Muscat, Ismael Borg, Harry Wood (62' Neil Micallef), Fernando Brandan, Walter Serrano, Miguel Perez Jimenez (89' Beppe Antignolo), Clayton Giordimaina, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano (89' Daniel Scerri), Carlos Flores.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Virano, Attard, Gusso, Zammit, Bonanni
BOV Player of the Match: Luke Montebello

Photo by Joe Borg

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