Lack of killer instinct denies Stripes

by Ayrton Galea - 28th January 2013

For the second time in less than seven days, Birkirkara failed to turn their dominance into goals and once again they paid a sour price, losing two precious points in a goal-less draw against Sliema Wanderers.

With Valletta and Hibernians winning their games, pressure continued to pile up. Despite creating the best goal scoring chances, Birkirkara failed to surpass the previous Wednesday's disappointment in the knock-out competition, as the killer instinct was missing in the Stripes forward line which cost them two precious points .

The final score might give the idea that it was a dull encounter between these two teams but both teams managed to keep up the pace, with Birkirkara holding the initiative for long stretches as they created the best scoring opportunities.

4-1-4-1 was preferred over the 3-5-2 formation by Mr Paul Zammit with Shola Shodiya the central striker for the Stripes, continually helped by Edward Herrera and Ryan Camenzuli on the wings. Goalkeeper Justin Haber made his much awaited debut while Joseph Zerafa returned to the first eleven selection replacing Jhonnattann who was still nursing an injury.

On the other hand, Sliema were buoyed by the return from suspension of Luca Martinelli and Paltemio Barbetti. Coach Alfonso Greco made four changes from the team's previous outing as Shaun Bajada earned a first-team recall and Ian Zammit was immediately thrown into the fray after joining from Valletta last week.

The First Half

Birkirkara threatened first when the ball reached Shola Shodiya Haruna in the six-yard box but Clifford Gatt Baldacchino made a providential tackle to dispossess the Nigerian.

The ball was moved quickly to Zammit at the other end. Matias Muchardi timed his run to pull Haber off the line but Alejandro Mendoza came to his goalkeeper's rescue.

Sliema's wing-back Martinelli was then in the right place to clear Ryan Camenzuli's inswinger off the line.

The Wanderers' inability to penetrate their opponents' defence was summed up by a penalty shout turned down after 16 minutes when Bajada appeared to fall under the challenge of Mendoza.

The Stripes' aggressive start had Sliema skipper Alex Muscat hooking Haruna's headed effort off the line again on 20 minutes.

After 34 minutes, Haruna glanced a header just off the far post from an inviting Camenzuli centre.< /p>

The modus operandi was the same a few moments later as Fenech's cross soared towards the far side of the Sliema box but Haruna's header was saved by Glenn Zammit.

The Blues tried to break Birkirkara's sustained pressure with hopeful shots from the distance. A Woods effort just before half-time finished wide of Haber's upright.

The Second Half

Three minutes into the second half, Birkirkara wasted an inviting opportunity to forge ahead when Herrera's floated pass released Haruna who glided past his marker but his shot was high and wide.

Birkirkara's frustration to carve any openings culminated in the 68th minute when, in a devastating counter-attack, Herrera slipped just before he was about to square the ball for the unmarked Haruna and Sliema cleared the danger.

Zammit's response to this situation was to bring on Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza for Camenzuli and switch to 4-3-3 in which Herrera had the liberty to roam and create openings for his fellow forwards.

Birkirkara's renewed urgency had Zammit stretching himself to turn to corner a Yosimar Hernandes free-kick on 70 minutes. Two minutes later, Haruna released Herrera whose angled drive flashed over the bar.

Birkirkara laid siege on Sliema's goal in the closing stages but creating only a few clear chances. The best of them fell to Haruna six minutes from time when he received a fine pass from Fenech but Zammit stopped the Nigerian's grounder with his feet.

Hard working midfielder Paul Fenech of Birkirkara was voted as the man of the match.

Birkirkara: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Rodrigo Pereira, Alejandro Mendoza, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera, Rowen Muscat (69' Yosimar Hernandez), Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Ryan Camenzuli (60' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Shola Shodiya (88' Joselito Dos Reis)

Sliema W.: Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, Luca Martinelli (75' John Mintoff), Paltemio Barbetti, Mark Scerri, Ian Zammit, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Ivan Woods (89' Alan Faccini), Shaun Bajada, Matias Muchardi, Stefano Bianciardi.

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