Stripes chalk up tenth straight league victory
by Ayrton Galea - 6th January 2014
On Sunday, Champions Birkirkara FC chalked their tenth consecutive league victory, when they outclassed Floriana FC in a match that ended 3-0.
In light of Floriana's drastic improvement in their recent performances, many had predicted a tricky encounter for Birkirkara, but they rose to the occasion and dominated the match for long stretches.
This was a significant victory to the Stripes, as they consolidated their place at the table of the table, as they restored their four points advantage over Valletta. More than that, this victory also meant that they reached the Club's record established back in 2000, of ten straight wins in the league.
Mr. Paul Zammit, Birkirkara's Head Coach, once again kept faith in the 3-5-2 formation, but he was forced to make one change from the previous outing against Hibernians. Jhonnattann Benites was suspended, and Nigerian Frank Temile was rewarded for his improved performances as he was once again drifted inside the first-eleven selection.
The Stripes were also without the services of Ryan Scicluna who was suspended and Daniel Zerafa who was sidelined due to injury. On a brighter note, Joseph Zerafa was back following serving a one match suspension but he was benched as Mr. Zammit kept faith in Ryan Camenzuli following his excellent performance against Hibernians in the previous outing.
Despite having key-players like Benites, Scicluna and Zerafa missing, their absence was made-up for with, what so far has been the secret of success for Birkirkara, their team work.
Crowned as man of the match for his tireless work in the midfield department and with a splendid goal to his name, Paul Fenech had a superb performance, along with Rowen Muscat and Gareth Sciberras who also played a big part in yesterday's victory. Temile repaid Mr. Paul Zammit's trust by giving another positive performance.
The First Half
With both teams aware of the importance of the match, Birkirkara and Floriana went out on an aggressive note and it was the latter who created the first opportunity. Christiana Caruana back-heeled the ball in direction of Joseph Borg who saw his shot easily parried by an alert Birkirkara goalkeeper, Justin Haber.
Birkirkara settled down to begin dictating matters and they managed to break the dead-lock on the seventh minute. Rowen Muscat switched the ball with Ryan Camenzuli who produced a cross-shot which surprised the Floriana goalkeeper Daniel Hanford, and the ball ended at the back of the net.
The Stripes could have doubled their lead just five minutes later. One of Justin Haber's precise drop-kicks, saw Shola Shodiya making the best out of the defensive blunder, by winning possession and rounding the goalkeeper. He then went on to do the impossible by shooting wide, in front of an empty net.
Birkirkara continued to enjoy superiority in the match. On the fourteenth minute, Zach Muscat connected well with a header following a corner by Edward Herrera.
Floriana made their first reaction on the sixteenth minute when Igor Coronado tried to surprise goalkeeper Justin Haber with a shot from outside the box but the Birkirkara goalkeeper neutralised without any particular difficulty.
Boosted by the opening goal, Birkirkara once again produced the better ideas. Just past the twentieth minute mark, Frank Temile drifted inside the box before skilfully dribbling past Giacomo Favero, but his attempt was pushed away by Hanford into a corner kick.
From the resulting corner kick, Edward Herrera delivered a brilliant second-post corner-kick, which saw Shola Shodiya rising high to head the ball inches wide.
The first half was producing a balanced encounter but Birkirkara, who could easily have gone two goals ahead inside the first twelve minutes, were showing the best ideas. On the other hand, the team led by Mr. Ian Dawes kept improving by time.
On the half-hour, the Greens should have blame themselves for not equalising. Steve Pisani's cross was deflected into the direction of Igor Coroando, who released Joseph Borg but his close-range effort was blocked by an excellent save of Justin Haber.
Ryan Camenzuli sent a second-post cross, but Alejandro Mendoza hit wide from a diagonal position.
Six minutes from half-time, Igor Coronado drifted outside the centre of the box but his shot was too central to worry goalkeeper Haber. Just two minutes later, the same player had another attempt on goal but his strike ended wide.
The end of the first half found Birkirkara leading by Ryan Camenzuli's early goal, despite having a number of occasions, where they could have easily increased their lead.
The Second Half
Birkirkara produced the better ideas early in the second half. Frank Temile had a powerful drive ending over, after having been served by Paul Fenech. Two minutes later, the same Nigerian striker, made a solo-action which he concluded with a shot from distance , but it was parried by goalkeeper Hanford.
Floriana should have equalised twelve minutes in the second half when they caught Birkirkara's rear-guard on the back foot. Igor Coronado won possession and sent an excellent through ball to Steve Pisani, who on the run saw his drive scratching past the post and ending wide.
The Greens paid the sourest price for this golden opportunity wasted, as Birkirkara doubled their lead on the fifty-eight minute. Following a corner kick by Herrera, Steve Pisani was adjudicated to have handled the ball inside the box and referee Marco Borg ordered a penalty-kick without hesitation. From the spot, Frank Temile made no mistake and doubled Birkirkara's lead.
In Birkirkara's first substitution, on the sixty-fourth minute, Ryan Camenzuli who suffered a knock before the end of the first half was withdrawn and replaced by Joseph Zerafa.
The Stripes wrapped up their victory twenty minutes in the second half with the third goal. Temile's close-range effort was denied by the post, following an inviting pass by Gareth Sciberras. Off the rebound, Shola Shodiya served Paul Fenech who had a superb shot from outside the box beating Hanford.
Mr. Paul Zammit effected his second substitution on the seventy-first minute when Terence Vella replaced Edward Herrera.
Demoralised, and all their hopes of getting something from the match dashed, the Greens were unable to make any sort of reaction, and the Stripes continued to dictate matters. Their domination almost led to the fourth goal, when Shodiya had a fierce drive sallying wide of the far post.
This was Shodiya's last action in the match, as four minutes later, on the eightieth minute, he was replaced by Demba Toure in Birkirkara's last substitution.
Floriana almost pulled one back nine minutes from time when Gary Muir had a brilliant free-kick pushed away by the Justin Haber. This was followed with Coronado's effort being turned into a corner-kick.
On the other side of the pitch, Birkirkara should have made them four, when off an inviting cross, Demba Toure headed the ball in direction of Terence Vella but the latter mishot his attempt on goal.
With Floriana down and out, Birkirkara continued to outclass the Greens. Five minutes from time Nikola Vukanac saw his splendid long distance free-kick deflected into a corner kick by goalkeeper Hanford.
The last few minutes of the match were a formality for Birkirkara, who easily kept possession and held on to the end, to clinch their tenth straight win.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Ryan Camenzuli (64′ Joseph Zerafa), Gareth Sciberras, Frank Temile, Rowen Muscat, Shola Shodiya (80′ Demba Toure), Paul Fenech, Edward Herrera (71′ Terence Vella).
FLORIANA: Daniel Hanford, Andre Scicluna (75′ Jonathan Xerri), Sunday Eboh, Giacomo Favero, Christian Caruana, Igor Coronado, Clyde Borg, Joseph Borg (68′ Brooke Farrugia), Steve Pisani (61′ Diogo Pinheiro de Sousa), Gary Muir, Sacha Borg.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Edward Spiteri.
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow Cards: 70' Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara) 45' Clyde Borg, 62' Christian Caruana (Floriana).
Scorers: 7′ Ryan Camenzuli, 58′ Frank Temile, 65′ Paul Fenech.
BOV Player of the Match: Paul Fenech.
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