Under-15's eliminate Hamrun in Knock-Out

by Ayrton Galea - 23rd December 2013

A brilliant performance and a goal in each half saw Birkirkara Under-15's Team booking their place in the Quarter Finals of the Under-15's Knock Out as they eliminated Section A's side, Hamrun Spartans with a 2-0 score.

With Hamrun Spartans in the middle of the Section A table and with Birkirkara leading the Section B section, one might have put the Spartans as slight favourites.

However, Birkirkara had other ideas and the team deserves credit for such an excellent performance that outclassed Hamrun Spartans, who failed to make any sort of reaction. The Stripes showed the best ideas from the first whistle and an early goal paved the way for a positive afternoon, which was then rounded off with a second half goal, to seal the issue and make it to the Quarter Finals.

The First Half

Making their intentions clear from the start, the Stripes went out aggressive and their continuous pressing seemed to surprise the Spartans.

The Stripes sensed Hamrun's unsettlement in the early minutes, and their aggressive start was rewarded. The Stripes struck a decisive blow early in the match, as after just three minutes they took the lead. Following Hamrun's rearguard failing to clear a corner from the left, Kyle Mifsud hit a thunderous volley which gave no chance to to the Spartans' goalkeeper.

Stunned by the early goal, Hamrun made a desperate reaction two minutes later, but a first-timer shot from inside the box ended wide.

The early minutes continued to be shaded by Birkirkara as they produced another good scoring opportunity on the eight minute but the final shot from inside the box ended wide.

Gianluca Zammit for Birkirkara produced a fine solo-action on the twelfth minute. He drifted inside the box but his effort was deflected into a corner kick.

The Stripes continued to enjoy an edge over their opponents. They were showing the best ideas on the pitch, and an excellent Birkirkara's rearguard was having an excellent day by cancelling out the isolated Hamrun's attacks.

Gianluca Zammit tried to surprise Hamrun Spartans' goalkeeper with a long distance, in-swinging shot, but his effort on the twenty-first minute sallied over the bar. Hardly a minute later, Karl Caruana had a header ending over, after connecting with a corner from the left.

The Stripes were unlucky not to double the score ten minutes from half time. Gianluca Zammit, who was tormenting the Spartans' rearguard, had an outstanding strike smashing against the upright.

On the half-hour, Neil Micallef showed good vision by sending a dangerous free-kick inside the box, but Ayrton Attard headed the ball wide from a diagonal position.

The half-time whistle found Birkirkara being awarded for their superiority in the first thirty-five minutes, as Kyle Mifsud's strike saw Birkirkara leading by one.

The Second Half

Down by one goal and with just thirty-five minutes to go, Hamrun Spartans tried to make a quick reaction in the Second Half. However, once the Stripes settled down, they continued where they left off in the first half. Seven minutes in the second half, Gianluca Zammit saw his effort from inside the box blocked by a defender.

Hardly a minute later, the Stripes could have increased their lead. Following a fast break-away which caught the Spartans' defenders off their guard, Gianluca Zammit who was in an ideal position, had his low shot easily parried by the goalkeeper.

Karl Caruana made up for the occasions lost, when he doubled Birkirkara's lead on the forty-seventh minute. His powerful shot failed to be held by the goalkeeper and the ball ended in the net, despite the second desperate attempt by the same goalkeeper.

Stunned by these two goals, Hamrun were unable to make any sort of reaction as they saw their hopes of getting something from the match being dashed following Caruana's strike. The Stripes continued to enjoy their superiority and fifteen minutes in the second half, Neil Micallef delivered a free-kick on the far post but Kyle Mifsud headed wide.

Close to the hour mark, Ayrton Azzopardi almost increased Birkirkara's lead with a wonderful volley, but Hamrun's goalkeeper performed a brilliant save, and turned the ball into a corner kick.

In the last minutes, Hamrun tried to somehow get out of their half, but the Stripes maintained the pressure in a comfortable way, to deservingly advance to the next round.

First Eleven: Clyde Aquilina, Jordan Sciberras, Justin Cardona, Nicholas Farrugia, Julian Camilleri, Gary Spiteri, Ayrton Attard, Neil Micallef, Gianluca Zammit, Kyle Mifsud, Karl Caruana.

Substitutes: Sergio Conti, Miguel Amato, Gilmour Sammut.

Scorers: 3' Kyle Mifsud, 47' Karl Caruana.

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