Stripes keep marching on

by Ayrton Galea - 4th November 2013

Birkirkara FC continued to build their momentum in the BOV Premier League as another spirited performance earned them their third consecutive win by beating Floriana FC with a score of 3-1.

Birkirkara's squad seems to be gearing up and to be on the right track. Following a shaky start, Paul Zammit's side is finding its feet. Yesterday afternoon they gave another excellent performance to ease out Floriana, thanks to a brace by Jhonnattan Benites. Substitute Frank Temile scored the other goal after Floriana had narrowed the gap.

The early goal by Jhonnattann Benites, scored after just four minutes, paved the way for a comfortable match for the Stripes. Following this goal, Birkirkara enjoyed an edge over Floriana for long stretches, and then doubled the lead five minutes from half-time.

The goal by Igor Coronado for Floriana nine minutes in the second half could have changed the story of the match, but the Stripes were quick to regain the two goal lead and seal the issue with a third goal.

The Stripes were boosted by the return of Paul Fenech, following a one match suspension. The return of Fenech enabled Head Coach Mr. Paul Zammit to once again reshuffle his first eleven selection from the last outing.

From a 3-5-2 to an offensive 4-3-3 formation, the first eleven selection featured two major changes. Frank Temile and Edward Herrera were omitted and they were replaced with Paul Fenech and Terence Vella. Gareth Sciberras, who is still nursing a shoulder injury, was the only player missing for Paul Zammit's side.

On the other hand, Floriana had Emmanuel Ibok and Gary Roberts suspended, while Sunday Eboh failed to recover in time from his injury. On a brighter note for the Greens, Andre Scicluna was back from an injury and he was among the first eleven to boost the Greens' rearguard.

The First Half

The Stripes went out with all guns blazing seeking an early opener.

Hardly a minute passed, and the Champions went close. Jhonnattann Benites delivered a first-post cross from the right, and Terence Vella hit a powerful header which however ended wide.

The Stripes kicked off their match on an aggressive note and this rewarded them with an early goal, as they surged ahead on the fourth minute. Shola Shodiya won possession outside Floriana's box, before serving an excellent through-ball towards Jhonnattann Benites, who calmly placed the ball at the back of the net.

Floriana tried to regroup and regain concentration. The Greens had the illusion of grabbing the equaliser on the ninth minute when Steve Pisani headed past goalkeeper Justin Haber from close range. However, his goal was disallowed for an offside position.

The Stripes continued to show better ideas in the early stages. On the tenth minute mark, Shola Shodiya sent an excellent cross inside the box but Terence Vella, in an ideal position and alone against Handford, failed to connect.

Just one minute later, the Stripes remained on the attack. Rowen Muscat tried his luck with a long distance drive, however his weak effort was easily stopped by the Greens' goalkeeper.

Birkirkara produced a fast break-away on the twenty-third minute. Paul Fenech served Shola Shodiya who sent the ball in direction of Jhonnattann Benites. The Brazilian was in an ideal position but he saw his drive ending wide.

Two minutes later, Terence Vella should have concluded better his effort with a diagonal shot but it ended over.

Three minutes past the half-hour, the Stripes could made them two thanks to Jhonnattann Benites. The Brazilian forward, who was tormenting the Greens' rearguard, found space inside the box to hit a powerful shot but goalkeeper Daniel Handford made an excellent save.

However, five minutes from the end of the first half, the same goalkeeper could do nothing and Birkirkara doubled the lead. Rowen Muscat showed great vision by delivering a precise cross over the Greens' defence which caught them on the wrong foot. Jhonnattann Benites, beat the offside trap, and kept his cool to lob the ball over goalkeeper Handford.

With the Greens left with little time to make any sort of reaction, the end of the first half saw the Champions deservingly ending the first forty-five minutes in the lead.

The Second Half

Floriana's Head Coach Ian Dawes, performed a double substitution at the start of the second half. He withdrew youngsters Brooke Farrugia and Francesco Guzman and introduced Giacomo Favero and Diago Pinheiro De Souza.

The Stripes could have sealed the issue with the third goal as quick as the first minute of the first half. An excellent pass sent Jhonnattann Benites through, who from a diagonal angle saw his shot scratching past the left post.

Nine minutes in the second half, Birkirkara produced another excellent opportunity. Jhonnattann Benites sent an excellent cross and Matheus Bissi hit a powerful header which was parried by goalkeeper Handford.

However, against the run of the play, Floriana managed to narrow the lead, ten minutes in the second half. Gary Muir won possession in Birkirkara's half, served Igor Coronado who beat the offside trap, and all alone against Haber placed the ball at the back of the net.

Having seen his team struggle to settle down after suffering the goal, Paul Zammit made a double substitution on the sixty-third minute. Midfielder Ryan Scicluna and forward Terence Vella were replaced by Daniel Zerafa and Frank Temile.

The Nigerian substitute was quick to leave his mark. Jhonnattann Benites delivered a fine corner kick which saw Temile rising high to see his header beating goalkeeper Hanford, aided by a deflection of Sacha Borg, to restore a two goal lead for the Stripes.

With the three points practically in the bag, Paul Zammit effected his third and last substitution, when he introduced youngster Kurt Zammit to replace Shola Shodiya on the seventy-eight minute.

Kurt Zammit almost had a dream start in the game. Hardly a minute after being included in the match, the promising youngster was unlucky when from a cross by Frank Temile, his powerful and skilful header was denied by the crossbar.

In the final ten minutes, Floriana had two different occasions where they could have narrowed the gap, but they found Justin Haber in an excellent form to deny his former team.

First, substitute Diago Pinheiro De Souza saw his powerful yet central shot being turned into a corner kick by Justin Haber. Just few minutes from the end, Igor Coronado performed a good solo action before concluding with a powerful low strike which was once again brilliantly pushed away by Haber.

The Stripes controlled the match well in the dying moments of the match, to bag another precious three points, and to keep the pace with leaders Hibernians and Valletta who both registered wins on Saturday.

Scorer of a brace, Jhonnattann Benites, was named as the BOV Man of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Matheus Bissi, Alejandro Mendoza, Zach Muscat, Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Scicluna (63' Daniel Zerafa), Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat, Terence Vella (63' Frank Temile), Jhonnattann Benites, Shola Shodiya (78' Kurt Zammit).

FLORIANA: Daniel Hanford, Steve Pisani, Christian Caruana (84' Luca Casha), Igor Coronado, Clyde Borg, Joseph Borg, Brooke Farrugia (46' Giacomo Favero), Francesco Guzman (46' Diago Pinheiro De Souza), Andre Scicluna, Gary Muir, Sacha Borg.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Thomas Debono.

Additional Referees: Kevin Azzopardi, Glenn Tonna.

Fourth Official: Duncan Sultana.

Yellow Cards:Ryan Scicluna, Daniel Zerafa (Birkirkara), Joseph Borg, Giacomo Favero (Floriana).

Scorers: 4' Jhonnattann Benites, 40' Jhonnattann Benites, 73' Frank Temile (Birkirkara).

BOV Man of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites (Birkirkara).

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