Stripes suffer second defeat

by Ayrton Galea - 23rd June 2013

Yesterday evening Birkirkara suffered their second defeat in the Euro Cup friendly tournament, this time against Valletta. Despite outclassing the Citizens, especially in the first half, it was the latter who scored the winning goal ten minutes from the end to hand Valletta their first victory and the Stripes their second consecutive defeat.

The team who loses scoring chances pays a sour price and Birkirkara received another harsh lesson, as they dominated for long stretches but could not find the net.

It was a harsh result for the Stripes who dominated for long stretches especially in the first half and they created several scoring opportunities which could have seen them surged ahead. However, in the second half, the Citizens improved in their play while Birkirkara began to utilise several youngsters like they did in the previous match which weakened the team's strength.

Assistant Coach, Mr. Peter Pullicino, was once again in charge of the team in the absence of Head Coach, Mr. Paul Zammit who followed the match from the VIP section. Pullicino made three changes in the first eleven section. Edward Herrera, Paul Fenech and Joseph Zerafa replaced Michael Camilleri, David Spiteri and Fabian Zammit respectively.

Justin Haber, Gareth Sciberras, Rowen Muscat, Zach Muscat were still all missing for the Stripes.

Once again, three foreigners, namely defender Kevin Bondundi, winger Sekhana Koko and striker Gueye Pape who are currently on trial with our Club featured in the first eleven.

The First Half

The match began on a good rhythm as both teams opened on an aggresive note.

Birkirkara created their first opportunity after just four minutes. Ryan Camenzuli took a dangerous free-kick which was punched away by goalkeeper Yenz Cini and off the rebound, Shola Shodiya's strike ended over.

The Stripes were dangerous once again on the tenth minute. Shola Shodiya fired a brilliant strike which scratched past the post.

Birkirkara continued to shade the early openings and on the 12th minute, Ryan Camenzuli sent a perfect through ball in the direction of Paul Fenech and his low strike was saved by Yenz Cini in two attempts.

The Stripes were showing great confidence as they took control of the game in their hands and their aggressive game was hard for the Citizens to deal with.

Shola Shodiya should have put the Stripes ahead on the 18th minute when the Nigerian forward drifted inside the box and his powerful close range shot was blocked by Yenz Cini.

Valletta created their first opportunity of the match on the 22nd minute when Denni Dos Santos had a powerful shot from outside the box ending over.

Two minutes later, the Citizens were dangerous once again when Harrie Gommans sent a low shot which ended wide.

Birkirkara created the match's best opportunity on the 26 minutes when Sekhana Koko released Gueye Pape who all alone Cini shot wide.

Luke Dimech who was continually struggling to deal with the speed of the Birkirkara forwards was the first player to be booked in the match following a harsh tackle on Gueye Pape.

Birkirkara continued to dominate as the Stripes created another dangerous opportunity on the 32 minutes. Ryan Camenzuli sent a perfect corner in direction of Paul Fenech who was outside the box and fired a vicious shot which scratched past the crossbar.

Having been outclassed in the opening stages, one would have expected Valletta to settle down but the Stripes did not decrease their high level of play and they continued to enjoy a complete edge over their opponents.

The Stripes created another fine scoring opportunity on the 38th minute when Sekhana Koko served Paul Fenech whose low powerful shot was saved by Cini. Two minutes later, Shola Shodiya made a fine solo action but concluded wide.

Shodiya was in action once again on the 41st minute when he rounded a defender in style and his close range shot was deflected into a corner kick.

The Stripes continued to dominate as just moments later, Ryan Camenzuli had a diagonal powerful shot turned into a corner kick.

On the 45 minute, Shola Shodiya had a long distance shot ending wide.

Just before the half time whistle, Valletta protested for a penalty when Sekhana Koko seemed to handle the ball inside the box but the referee saw nothing amiss.

The first half saw Birkirkara dominating for long stretches and it would not have been a surprise if the Stripes ended the first half in the lead but the score after the first forty five minutes was still goal-less.

The Second Half

Both teams made several changes during the half time interval. For Birkirkara, Edward Herrera, Paul Fenech and Gueye Pape were replaced by Michael Camilleri, David Spiteri and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

If the first half saw both teams playing open football and creating several scoring opportunities, the second half was a different story as both teams were more cautions not to concede the goal rather than to surge ahead.

One could notice the improvement made by Valletta in the second half as the Citizens were playing better football and were now sharing possession with the Stripes.

The Stripes made their fourth change on the 63 minutes as Joseph Zerafa was replaced by McAllisther Clinch as the Stripes once again began to introduce several youngsters.

The spectators had to wait no less than 26 minutes in the second half to watch the first decent scoring opportunity. Valletta made a fast break away on the 71st minute thanks to a solo action by Dos Santos who concluded with a fine shot which was saved by Reuben Gauci in two attempts.

Luke Montebello was included in the fifth change of the Stripes as the former Livorno striker replaced Sekhana Koko on the 74th minute.

Eleven minutes from the end, Valletta scored what would turn out to be the winning goal. Gambia international striker, Mamza Barry who is currently on trial with the Citizens, fired a powerful shot from outside the box which beat Reuben Gauci to put the Citizens in the lead.

Birkirkara made two changes on the 85th minute when Reuben Gauci and Ryan Camenzuli were replaced by Jonathan Martinelli and Kurt Zammit.

Birkirkara piled-up pressure on the Citizens in order to find the equalising goal but it was the latter who created another good opportunity with a low shot which was well-saved by substitute goalkeeper, Jonathan Martinelli.

The full-time whistle found Birkirkara suffering the second defeat in the competition despite giving a great performance with the major disappointment being the large amount of scoring chances lost for the Stripes.

Birkirkara will be involved in their third and last match of the friendly tournament next Wednesday when they face Hibernians. The match will be played at the Centenary Stadium and it is scheduled to kick off at 20:00.

Birkirkara: Reuben Gauci (85' Jonathan Martinelli), Edward Herrera (45' Michael Camilleri), Joseph Zerafa (63' McAllisther Clinch), Alejandro Mendoza, Kevin Bondundi, Paul Fenech (45' David Spiteri), Sekhana Koko (74' Luke Montebello), Ryan Scicluna, Ryan Camenzuli (85' Kurt Zammit), Shola Shodiya, Gueye Pape (45' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza).

Valletta: Yenz Cini, Dyson Falzon, Yessous Camilleri, Luke Dimech, Jason Vandelannoite, Lyewlyn Cremona, Mamza Barry, Micos Stojanovic, Jose Luio Gil Zipata, Harrie Gommans, Denni Dos Santos.

Yellow Cards: 30' Luke Dimech (Valletta), 84' David Spiteri.

Scorers: 79' Mamza Barry (Valletta).

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