Moises' spetacular goal puts Birkirkara back on the track

by Ayrton Galea - 12th November 2011

Another spectacular goal from an over-head kick by Moises Avila Perez helped Birkirkara to turn a defeat into victory by beating Balzan Youths with a 2-1 score.

It was a very hard fought win for 'The Stripes' as they had to struggle more than probably expected especially after they went one goal down after just five minutes. However one should praise the team effort shown in the second half to turn the result in our favour.

After Balzan took an early lead they opted for a very defensive formation with all the eleven players in the box which made it almost impossible to penetrate. In the second half Birkirkara made their intentions clear and equalised after five minutes which lifted the team's morale to press for another goal which arrived thanks to Moises Avila Perez.

There were several positive factors besides the team's determination, such as the solid performance by Alexandar Canovic; the continuous positive performance by Moises Avila which was rounded with another goal to add his tally to eight goals from eleven matches, which is definitely a very good scoring rate; and the excellent performance by the team's captain Paul Fenech who showed his strong character and his important role as captain of our squad.

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Mr. Paul Zammit made two changes from last week's defeat against Tarxien Rainbows. Angus Buhagiar who was coming from a one match ban replaced Andrew Decesare. Jorge Mora place was given to Serb goalkeeper Alexandar Canovic who began the match for the first time with our Club.

The First Half

It was a frustrating half for Birkirkara, who saw Balzan Youth taking an early lead and then fell in a very defensive formation with all the players in the box, with the only attacks for Balzan coming from counter-attacks.

0' - Marco Borg blew the starting whistle.

3' - Rodrigo Pereira was fouled.

3' - In a golden opportunity for Birkirkara, Terence Vella was well served by Angus Buhagiar and in an open chance for goal, his weak shot was turned into a corner. From the resulting corner it was saved by goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri.

4' - Birkirkara paid a very harsh price for the goal scoring opportunity lost. From the following counter attack after Birkirkara took the corner, Dylan Grima served Kris Bright whose low powerful shot beat Canovic and put Balzan ahead.

5' - Joseph Zerafa was fouled.

7' - Rodrigo Pereira fouled.

9' - Dragan Perisic fouled.

11' - Moises Avila Perez fouled.

11' - Rodrigo Pereira was fouled.

12' - Terence Vella was fouled.

13' - Balzan won a corner. From the following corner, goalkeeper Canovic punched into safety.

14' - Gareth Sciberras was fouled.

17'' - Joseph Zerafa's solo run was cleared into a corner kick.

17' - Gareth Sciberras tried his luck with a shot which ended wide.

20' - Terence Vella fouled.

21' - Joseph Zerafa was fouled. The Balzan player was shown the yellow card.

22' - Paul Fenech was fouled. From the resulting freekick, Rodrigo Pereira's effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.

25' - Terence Vella's cross was turned into a corner kick.

26' - Moises Avila Perez shot ended wide.

27' - Joseph Zerafa fouled.

28' - Terence Vella was fouled.

29' - Dragan Perisic fouled and was shown the yellow card.

30' - Moises Avila Perez fouled.

32' - Angus Buhagiar's shot was deflected into a corner kick.

34' - Gareth Sciberras fouled.

34' - Moises Avila Perez was fouled.

37' - Birkirkara had a good opportunity to equalise but after the first two attempts was blocked by the goalkeeper, Rowen Muscat's double kick ended wide.

38' - Angus Buhagiar was fouled. From the resulting freekick, a cross by Terence Vella was met with a header by Rodrigo Pereira which ended wide.

41' - Trevor Cilia fouled.

41' - Balzan made their first substitution as Miguel Ciantar was replaced by David Fenech.

44' - Angus Buhagiar's cross was turned into a corner kick.

45' - Two minutes of extra time were shown.

45 + 2' - Trevor Cilia's cross was turned into a corner kick. The corner kick was temporarily cleared.

45 + 2' - Marco Borg signalled the half time.

The Second Half

If the first half was a frustrating one for Birkirkara, the second half was frustrating for our opponents. Thanks to complete domination and determination by the Birkirkara squad they managed to keep coming forward to turn the result in their favour. In the last minutes of the game, Balzan tried to equalise but they were denied with the solid defence and precise goalkeeper's outings.

45' - Referee Marco Borg whistled the start of the second half.

46' - Birkirkara player fouled.

50' - Birkirkara equalised! From a fine cross from the right, Paul Fenech hit home from a close range.

52' - A long distance shot was saved by Matthew Camilleri.

53' - A Birkirkara player fouled.

54' - A Balzan player fouled.

58' - Balzan won a corner after they had a shot deflected. From the resulting corner, they won another corner and then headed wide.

62' - Angus Buhagiar tried his luck with a long distance shot which caused no danger and ended in goal kick.

63' - Paul Fenech fouled.

65' - Joseph Zerafa was fouled.

66' - Rodrigo Pereira fouled.

67' - Birkirkara went ahead with a wonderful goal! A cross by Trevor Cilia, Moises Avila Perez unexpectedly over head kicked the ball which gave no chance to Camilleri and put Birkirkara ahead.

71' - Balzan's coach Ivan Zammit made the second change as Roderick Farrugia was replaced by Lydon Micallef.

72' - Joseph Zerafa fouled.

72' - In the first substitution for Birkirkara, Terence Vella was replaced by Alan Tabone.

73' - Rowen's long distance shot caused no problem and ended in a goal kick.

74' - Moises Avila Perez was in an offside position.

75' - Moises' shot ended over the bar.

76' - Balzan were caught in an offside position.

77' - Angus Buhagiar fouled.

78' - Alan Tabone was fouled. From the resulting freekick, Rodrigo Pereira's effort was totally off target.

79' - In the third substitution for Balzan, Nikola Tasic was replaced by Fagner Lins Bernandes.

80' - Gareth Sciberras was fouled.

80' - Mr. Paul Zammit made the second substitution as Andrew Decesare replaced Trevor Cilia.

81' - Freekick for Balzan.

84' - Moises Avila Perez fouled.

84' - Rowen Muscat fouled.

85' - Moises Avila Perez was shown the yellow card.

86' - Freekick for Balzan.

88' - Angus fouled and was shown the yellow card.

88' - Paul Fenech was fouled.

89' - Moises Avila Perez was fouled.

90' - Four minutes of extra time were shown.

90 +2' - Balzan were in an offside position.

90+3' - In the third and final substitution for Birkirkara, Ryan Camenzuli made the first appearance this season in the Premier League as he replaced Rowen Muscat.

90+4' - Referee Marco Borg blew the full time whistle.

After Floriana's dramatic win, 'The Stripes' are now fourth, one point behind Floriana and two points ahead of Qormi. The latter will face Hibernians today evening.

Line Ups

Birkirkara: Alexandar Canovic, Angus Buhagiar, Rodrigo Pereira, Dragan Perisic, Joseph Zerafa, Rowen Muscat (90+3' Ryan Camenzuli), Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Terence Vella (73' Alan Tabone, Trevor Cilia (80' Andrew Decesare), Moises Avila Perez

Balzan Y.:Matthew Camilleri, Roderick Farrugia (71' Lydon Farrugia), Bledjon Guga, Jonathan Francica, Renie Forace, Yessous Camilleri, Nikola Tasic (79' Fagner Lins Bernandes), Dylan Grima, Pedro Dos Santos Calcado, Kris Bright, Miguel Ciantar (41' David Fenech)

Yellow Cards

Angus Buhagiar, Dragan Perisic, Moises Avila Perez - Birkirkara

Blejdon Guga, Jonathan Francica - Balzan

Man of the match

Moises Avila Perez - Birkirkara

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