Dramatic defeat continues Birkirkara's crisis in the Premier League
by Ayrton Galea - 9th January 2012
Birkirkara suffered another defeat, when after playing for a whole half with a player more, they suffered a goal by Sliema Wanderers, in the injury time of the second half.
It was another match when luck was not on our side but surely this cannot be considered as the only factor for this loss. We saw poor conclusion in goal attempts and some careless passes. One should mention that this was the third defeat in five matches, and the fourth game out of five without scoring a goal.
Both teams had some players missing as Birkirkara lacked Ryan Camenzuli, Andrew Decesare and Shola Shodiya. On the other hand, Sliema Wanderers lacked the services of the two foreigners Jackson Lima Sequira and Jorge Santos Silva, as both made an official request for their release over unpaid salaries.
Reuben Gauci for Birkirkara and Ryan Fenech for Sliema was making their debut.
The match had several controversial decisions especially the goal disallowed for Birkirkara a few moments before the half time whistle.
The First Half
Birkirkara were dominant through the first half where they had two goals disallowed. In the final moments, Beppe Muscat for Sliema Wanderers was sent off.
0' - Referee Alan Mario Sant blew the starting whistle.
1' - Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza had a low shot saved by Reuben Gauci.
2' - Terence Vella slotted the ball past Sliema's goalkeeper Henry Bonello but the goal was disallowed for an offside position.
3' - Moises Avila Perez was fouled.
8' - Rowen Muscat fouled.
9' - Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza fouled Angus Buhagiar.
9' - Alan Tabone fouled.
11' - Birkirkara were given a freekick following a hands ball.
12' - Sliema won a corner after Reuben Gauci put the ball into safety following pressure by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.
14' - Terence Vella was fouled.
15' - Shaun Bajada was fouled.
16' - Terence Vella fouled Rumen Galabov.
17' - Joseph Zerafa fouled.
18' - Shaun Bajada fouled.
18' - Reuben Gauci found no problem to save a long distance shot.
19' - Rodrigo Pereira fouled. From the following freekick, Reuben Gauci was fouled.
20' - Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was caught in an offside position.
22' - Moises Avila Perez was caught in an offside position.
24' - Birkirkara won a corner after Angus Buhagiar cross was deflected. From the corner, a freekick was given to Sliema following a hands ball.
24' - Joseph Zerafa was shown a yellow card. This was his fourth yellow card collected and therefore he will miss the next match against Marsaxlokk.
25' - Injured Joseph Zerafa was replaced with Ryan Scicluna.
26' - Angus Buhagiar was fouled.
27' - Sliema had an attempt on goal ending wide.
29' - Shaun Bajada was fouled.
30' - Birkirkara won a corner.
30' - Sliema won a corner. From the following corner, Reuben Gauci was fouled.
32' - Sliema protested for a penalty but the referee waved play on.
32' - Alan Tabone was fouled.
34' - A low shot by Moises Avila Perez was saved by Henry Bonello.
35' - Alan Tabone was fouled.
37' - Gareth Sciberras was shown the yellow card following a foul. Gareth will also miss the next match.
40' - Paul Fenech had an attempt on goal ending wide.
41' - Alan Tabone was fouled.
42' - Paul Fenech fouled.
45' - One minute of extra time was shown.
45' - Beppe Muscat was sent off for double booking.
45+1 - Following the foul by Beppe Muscat, Alan Tabone scored a wonderful direct freekick. However, controversially, this was disallowed. The referee deemed that Terence Vella fouled a player in the Sliema's wall. As expected, this brought huge protestes by all the Birkirkara players and supporters.
45+2' - Referee Alan Mario Sant signalled the half time.
The Second Half
Making the best of the situation that Sliema had a player less, Birkirkara were dominant through the whole 45 minutes but they did not manage to create good enough chances to score. When the match was heading towards a goal-less draw, Jeremiah Ani, who ironically also scored the winning goal for Sliema against Birkirkara in the first round, scored the winning goal.
0'' - In the half time, Sliema's coach Mr. Danilo Doncic made the first substitution as Cleaven Frendo was replaced with Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
0' - Gareth Sciberras was fouled.
0' - Terence Vella was fouled.
3' - Birkirkara were given a freekick following a hands ball.
3' - Ryan Scicluna fouled.
3' - Birkirkara had a good shot ending wide.
5' - Alan Tabone fouled.
7' - Sliema won a corner.
7' - Birkirkara won a corner.
8' - Ryan Scicluna was caught in an offside position.
9' - Angus Buhagiar was fouled. From the following freekick, it was headed totally over.
10' - In the second substitution for Sliema, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was replaced with Jeremiah Ani.
10' - Alan Tabone fouled.
11' - Sliema had a low weak shot ending wide. On the other side of the pitch, Rowen Muscat also had a low, weak shot ending wide.
12' - Birkirkara were given the freekick following a hands ball.
13' - Ryan Scicluna was caught in an offside position.
14' - Mr. Paul Zammit made the second substitution as Terence Vella was replaced with Leighton Grech.
15' - Rodrigo Pereira was fouled.
16' - Sliema had a shot ending totally wide.
16' - Rowen Muscat was fouled. Shaun Bajada's effort ended over.
18' - Leighton Grech had a shot ending wide.
19' - Reuben Gauci turned the ball into a corner.
21' - Birkirkara were given a freekick.
23' - In a very good opportunity for Birkirkara, Moises Avila Perez served Rowen Muscat who passes Shaun Bajada and his first time effort ended wide by inches.
25' - Birkirkara won a corner.
26' - Moises Avila Perez fouled for extended foot.
27' - Alan Tabone was shown a yellow card after slamming the ball to the ground in protest.
28' - Alan Tabone was fouled.
29' - Rowen Muscat had a shot ending over the bar.
30' - Birkirkara won a corner.
31' - Birkirkara won a corner.
32' - Alan Tabone was fouled.
33' - In third substitution for Sliema, Ryan Fenech was replaced with Ryan Grech.
35' - Alan Tabone fouled.
36' - Rodrigo Pereira was fouled.
37' - Angus Buhagiar was fouled.
38' - Paul Fenech fouled.
38' - In third and final substitution for Birkirkara, Trevor Cilia replaced Alan Tabone.
40' - Leighton Grech was fouled.
41' - Trevor Cilia powerful shot was deflected into a corner kick.
42' - Rowen Muscat was fouled.
42' - Ryan Scicluna fouled.
43' - Reuben Gauci saved a freekick following a foul outside the box.
45' - Four minutes of extra time were shown.
45+1' - Rowen Muscat was fouled.
45+2' - Sliema dramatically took the lead when a cross by Danial Mitev, Jeremiah Ani gave no chance for Reuben Gauci.
45+5' - Referee blew the full time whistle.
Line Ups:
SLIEMA W: Henry Bonello, Josef Mifsud, Mark Scerri, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (55'; Jeremiah Ani), Danial Mitev, Steve Bezzina, Ryan Fenech (78' Ryan Grech), Rumen Galabov, Roderick Bajada, Cleaven Frendo (45' Clifford Gatt Baldacchino), Beppe Muscat.
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Ryan Dalli, Andrew Caligari, Timothy Thomas.
Coach: Danilo Doncic
Assistant Coach: Saviour Debono Grech.
BIRKIRKARA: Reuben Gauci, Angus Buhagiar, Terence Vella (59 Leighton Grech), Joseph Zerafa (24' Ryan Scicluna), Shaun Bajada, Paul Fenech, Gareth Sciberras, Alan Tabone (83 Trevor Cilia), Rowen Muscat, Rodrigo Pereira, Moises Avila Perez.
Subs not used: Karl Magri, David Spiteri, Fabian Zammit, Michael Camillieri.
Coach: Paul Zammit
Assistant Coach: Peter Pullicino
Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referee: Alan Camilleri, Alex Grech
Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna
Yellow Cards: Joseph Zerafa, Beppe Muscat, Gareth Sciberras, Alan Tabone, Shaun Bajada
Red Cards: 45' Beppe Muscat
