Birkirkara finish third thanks to good win
by Ayrton Galea - 12th May 2012
Birkirkara finished third in the league standings, and on a high note when in a one-sided match, they beat Balzan Youths with a score of 3-0.
It was once again a satisfactory performance for the yellow-reds who were searching for the important three points to confirm their 16th consecutive year always ending in the top three. This also means the 16th consecutive qualification to the UEFA competitions.
Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was missing for Birkirkara and Rowen Muscat was on the substitutes bench. Five players returned with the starting eleven, that is, Angus Buhagiar, Rodrigo Pereira, Nikola Vukanac, Shaun Bajada and Jorge Santos Silva.
Goalkeeper Karl Magri was included in the first eleven for the first time ever, following his debut against the same Balzan in the previous round when he was included as a substitute.
Without any doubt, Shola Shodiya and Jorge Santos Silva caught the eye of everyone present at the Hibernians Stadium. Shodiya made two assits and scored a goal while Jorge Santos Silva scored a brace.
The First Half
The match started on a slow tempo but Birkirkara started to dominate their opponents.
In the first goal scoring opportunity for Birkirkara, a shot by Angus Buhagiar on the 9th minute ended totally over.
Following a free-kick by Shaun Bajada on the 16th minute, Rodrigo Pereira hit wide.
A perfect pass by Ryan Scicluna towards Jorge Santos Silva seemed to penetrate the Youths' defence on the 20th minute, but the linesman flagged an offside.
Jorge Santos Silva had a dangerous shot inside the area blocked by the defender, who turned into a corner on the 22nd minute.
A direct free-kick by Shaun Bajada was parried by the goalkeeper on the 24th minute.
Birkirkara took the lead on the 25th minute when Shaun Bajada lobbed the ball over the Balzan's defence in the direction of Shola Shodiya. Shola served Jorge Santos Silva who went round a defender and beat goalkeeper Tabone.
On the 31st minute Paul Fenech served Jorge Santos Silva but his shot ended wide.
Shola Shodiya had a great solo action but his pass was cleared into a corner, on the 33rd minute.
Birkirkara doubled the lead on the 34th minute when once again Shola Shodiya sent a fine pass to Jorge Santos Silva who beat Tabone from a close range.
From a perfect cross by Ryan Scicluna on the 36th minute, Shaun Bajada's header ended wide by inches.
A shot from outside the box by Paul Fenech ended wide on the 40th minute.
On the 44th minute, A long distance volley by Shaun Bajada ended over.
One minute into the added time, Angus Buhagiar was sent off for Birkirkara after he retaliated to being fouled Pedro Dos Santos Calcado. This was the fourth player sent off in four matches.
The first half ended with Birkirkara having a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The Second Half
On the 51st minute, Shola Shodiya served Paul Fenech whose long distance shot was saved by goalkeeper Tabone.
Following a short clearance by the Balzan defenders on the 53rd minute, Jorge Santos Silva stole the ball and had a powerful shot ending over by inches.
In the first substitution for Balzan Youths, on the 54th minute, Miguel Ciantar was replaced by Michael Borg.
Birkirkara made their first substitution on the 56th minute, when Paul Fenech was replaced with youngster Fabian Zammit.
In the second substitution for Balzan Youths on the 57th minute, Bjorn Bondin was replaced with Nicholas Zammit.
A long distance shot by Shaun Bajada ended over on the 62nd minute.
A shot for Balzan Youths on the 63rd minute ended over.
Birkirkara were awarded a penalty on the 65th minute when a Balzan Youths defender handled the ball inside the area. From the eleven metres, Shola Shodiya converted into a goal.
Ryan Camenzuli replaced Joseph Zerafa in the second substitution for Birkirkara on the 66th minute.
Shola Shohdiya on the 67th minute had a great solo action concluded with a weak shot from an ideal position.
On the 70th minute Shola Shodiya gave a back heel pass to Ryan Camenzuli, who followed it with a powerful run, and he was only stopped with a foul.
In the third substitution for Balzan Youths on the 73th, the injured Yessous Camilleri was replaced with Jurgen Muscat.
Rodrigo Pereira's free-kick following a foul on Camenzuli was saved by Tabone on the 74st minute. Just one minute later, a powerful shot by Shaun Bajada was saved by the goalkeeper.
A shot by Nikola Tasic on the 76th minute ended wide.
In the third substitution for Birkirkara on the 78th minute, Shaun Bajada was replaced with Michael Camilleri.
A free-kick by Pedro Dos Santos Calcado on the 79th minute ended over the bar.
Shola Shodiya served Ryan Camenzuli who had a very dangerous shot ending wide by mere millimetres, on the 83rd minute.
On the 82nd minute, Nicholas Zammit for Balzan, had a low shot ending wide.
Michael Camilleri sent a fine through ball towards Jorge Santos Silva on the 88th minute but goalkeeper Tabone reached the ball and saved the danger.
The end of the match found the Birkirkara supporters celebrating the 16th consecutive qualification to the UEFA Competitions.
BIRKIRKARA: Karl Magri, Angus Buhagiar, Nikola Vukanac, Rodrigo Pereira, Joseph Zerafa (66' Ryan Camenzuli), Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna, Shaun Bajada (78' Michael Camilleri), Paul Fenech (56' Fabian Zammit), Jorge Santos Silva, Shola Shodiya,
BALZAN YOUTHS: Fredrick Tabone, Rennie Forace, Bledjon Guda, Nikola Tasic, Yessous Camilleri (73' Jurgen Muscat), Roderick Farrugia, Bjorn Bondin (57' Nicholas Zammit) Miguel Ciantar (54' Michael Borg), Glenn Bonello, Pedro Dos Santos Calcado, Martin Deyanov.
Scorers: 25', 34' Jorge Santos Silva, 65' Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara)
Yellow Cards: Paul Fenech, Shaun Bajada, Michael Camilleri (Birkirkara) Bjorn Bondin (Balzan Youths)
Red Cards: Angus Buhagiar (Birkirkara)
Man of the match: Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara)
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