Birkirkara easily beat Floriana
by Ayrton Galea - 26th June 2012
Shola Shodiya was instrumental in Birkirkara's win over Floriana by scoring once and serving two assists, in a match that ended with a score of 3-0.
Birkirkara's performance improved a lot from their last outing against Hibernians when they were heavily beaten with a 5-0 score. This time Birkirkara were the better team for long stretches with Rueben Gauci hardly being tested.
Two foreigners, Omar El-Ghaouti and Christer Johanson, who are on trial with our Club, made their first appearance.
The First Half
In the first attempt of the game, a diagonal free kick by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza on the 4th minute ended over the bar.
On the 5th minute, Ryan Scicluna had a shot blocked inside the box and it was turned into a corner.
Ryan Camenzuli tried his luck with a long diagonal shot on the 6th minute, which offered no danger to the Floriana goalkeeper.
Goalkeeper John Agius neutralised a good attempt by Shola Shodiya on the 9th minute. Within moments, Mifsud Triganza sent a fine through ball towards Ryan Scicluna but the latter was caught in an offside position.
A Shola Shodiya dangerous low shot was saved by John Agius on the 15th minute.
In the first shot for Floriana on the 18th minute, Clyde Borg's long distance effort ended over by some distance.
Birkirkara took the lead on the 20th minute. Following a perfect drop kick by Rueben Gauci which landed exactly behind the Floriana's defence, Shodiya advanced before lobbing the ball over Agius.
Floriana almost grabbed the equalising goal on the 26th minute, when Patrick Borg's back header was not strong enough and Ryan Darmanin tried a long distance shot which ended over.
A weak shot by Rowen Muscat on the 26th minute ended wide.
Floriana started to play better football and the match became a more balanced affair, but they still failed to attempt their shots on goal.
A long distance shot by Shodiya on the 31st minute from almost the half of the pitch ended wide.
Patrick Borg had a header saved by Agius on the 35th minute.
Ryan Darmanin had a powerful header ending over the bar on the 41st minute.
Antonio De La Torres for Floriana had a long distance shot ending wide on the 42nd minute.
A dangerous Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza diagonal free kick on the 45th minute was turned into a corner.
The first half ended with Birkirkara in a 1-0 lead.
The Second Half-
During half time break, trialist Omar El-Ghaouti replaced Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.
On the 48th minute a low cross by Shodiya was parried by Agius.
In the first substitution for Floriana on the 50th minute, Kelvin Onosiughe was replaced with Christian Caruana.
Rowen Muscat made the impossible on the 52nd minute. Following a cross by Jorge Santos Silva which was short cleared by the defence, Rowen Muscat took his time to position the ball but his shot went over the post from an ideal position.
In the second substitution for Birkirkara on the 54th minute, Fabian Zammit was replaced with the other trialist Christer Johansen
A long distance shot for Floriana on the 56th minute by Brooke Farrugia ended over.
Floriana also utilised their second substitution on the 56th minute when Jermian Brincat replaced Ryan Darmanin.
Birkirkara doubled the lead on the 63th minute when Shola Shodiya dribbled in style a defender and served Jorge Santos Silva who slotted the ball into an empty net.
Antonio De La Torre had a direct free-kick from outside the box ending wide on the 65th minute.
On the 66th minute Ryan Camenzuli and Sacha Borg bumped head to head in an attempt to head the ball, and both had to be attended to by the medics. Luckily enough both continued the match.
Jorge Santos Silva sent Ryan Scicluna a fine wall pass but he was caught in a doubious offside position on the 68th minute.
Reuben Gauci made a short clearance on the 71st minute which was first timed by a Floriana player and was then cleared to a corner by Birkirkara.
Sacha Borg was unlucky on the 72nd minute to hit the post following dribbling no less than two players inside the box.
In the third substitution for Birkirkara on the 72nd minute, Andre Cassar replaced Joseph Zerafa.
A header by Alejandro Balanos Garcia ended wide on the 78th minute following a cross from the right.
A volley by Jorge Santos Silva ended over on the 75th minute. On the other end of the pitch, Rueben Gauci made a fine outing to neutralise a good through ball.
Birkirkara began to control their opponents much more, opting to play a possession game shifting from one side to another with short and simple passes.
On the 80th minute, Shola Shodiya sent a perfect pass to Omar El-Ghaouti but his first touch was too strong and Agius neutralised the danger.
In the third substitution for Floriana on the 81st minute, Clyde Borg was replaced with Joseph Borg.
Joseph Borg had an over head kick ending wide on the 83th minute.
Reuben Gauci made a fine save off a header from the left on the 84th minute.
Jorge Santos Silva had a fine shot blocked by the defence on the 88th minute following served by Omar El-Ghaduti.
In the first of the three extra minutes, Birkirkara made them three when Shola Shodiya sent a perfect ball and Omar El-Ghaouti headed the ball into an empty net.
The full time whistle found Birkirkara grabbing their first three points in the competition and now they are on three points with Valletta, three behind Hibernians and three above Floriana.
Birkirkara Rueben Gauci, Ryan Scicluna, Patrick Borg, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa (72' Andre Cassar), Fabian Zammit (54' Christer Johansen), Rowen Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli, Jorge Santos Silva, Shola Shodiya, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (45' Omar El-Ghaouti)
Floriana: John Agius, Alejandro Balanos Garcia, Antonio De La Torre, Duncan Pisani, Francesco Guzman, Manolito Micallef, Brooke Farrugia, Clyde Borg (81' Joseph Borg), Sacha Borg, Kelvin Onosiugne (50' Christian Caruana), Ryan Darmanin (Jermain Brincat)
Scorers: 20' Shola Shodiya, 63' Jorge Santos Silva, 91' Omar El-Ghaouti (Birkirkara)
Yellow Card: Clyde Borg (Floriana), Andre Cassar (Birkirkara)
comments powered by Disqus
