Birkirkara book place in Quarter-Finals

by Ayrton Galea - 23rd January 2014

Birkirkara FC booked their place in the Quarter Finals of the U*BET FA Trophy, when in a one-sided match, they defeat St. Andrew's with a comfortable 4-0 score.

Ryan Camenzuli opened and sealed the issue for the Stripes, who won their fourteenth consecutive victory in the BOV Premier League and the U*BET FA Trophy, with Matheus Bissi, and substitute Jhonnattann Benites, adding the other two goals.

With one eye on this Saturday's Premier League clash against Tarxien Rainbows, Birkirkara Head Coach Mr. Paul Zammit, opted to rest most of his regular players. Despite the changes, the Stripes still proved to be too good for their opponents who failed to make any sort of reaction.

Mr. Paul Zammit made six changes to the starting XI. Reuben Gauci replaced Justin Haber between the posts, while Ryan Camenzuli, Matheus Bissi, Zach Muscat Daniel Zerafa and Terence Vella replaced Joseph Zerafa, Nikola Vukanac, Edward Herrera, Rowen Muscat and Jhonnattann Benites.

The First Half

With Birkirkara quickly settling down, they did the expected, as they took an early edge over their opponents, who showed clear signs right from the start that they will be adopting a defensive-style of play, in order to leave the Victor Tedesco Stadium with a respectable result.

The Stripes threatened first on the sixth minute, when Shola Shodiya had a powerful strike from a free-kick outside the box blocked by a St. Andrew's defender.

On the ninth minute, Daniel Zerafa passed to Frank Temile who had a good shot ending over the bar.

Having found their tempo, Birkirkara were quick to surge ahead. Shola Shodiya drifted through the centre of the pitch before precisely sending a ball in the path of Ryan Camenzuli, who placed the ball at the back of the net, to beat the St. Andrew's goalkeeper, Matthew Towns.

With Birkirkara taking the early lead, the match turned into a drab encounter. Birkirkara players maintained possession and they dominated for long stretches, but failed to engage the second gear.

On the twenty-seventh minute, Shodiya served Ryan Camenzuli on the left, who tried an ambitious shot from distance that sailed wide off Towns' posts.

The Stripes' variety of ideas in the forward line seemed to be too much for the Saints. The second goal was just a matter of time, and on the twenty-sixth minute, they made them two. Ryan Camenzuli delivered a brilliant second-post corner kick, Zach Muscat tapped the ball in the direction of Matheus Bissi, who hit past goalkeeper Towns with a powerful drive from inside the box.

The last action of the first-half was St. Andrew's first goal scoring opportunity. Five minutes from half-time, Trayo Grozev had two attempts blocked by the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Reuben Gauci.

Referee Mario Apap's half-time whistle found Birkirkara comfortably enjoying a two-goal lead over opponents St. Andrew's.

The Second Half

The second half had a slow start. Birkirkara continued to dominate their opponents, and they opted to hold possession rather than hit St. Andrew's with more goals.

St. Andrew's threatened first in the second half on the fifty-sixth minutes when they had a header ending wide off a corner kick from the right.

The Stripes were enjoying possession for long stretches, but they rarely converted their dominance into scoring opportunities. Mr. Paul Zammit effected his first change on the sixty-sixth minute when he included Jhonnattann Benites off Ryan Scicluna, to inject more creativity in Birkirkara's forward line.

St. Andrew's opted to get out of their own half with caution as they sought to push forward. Twenty minutes from time, in a rare scoring opportunity for the Saints, Emiliano Lattes had a shot ending over the bar.

Just two minutes later, Shola Shodiya served Frank Temile who had a fine shot from inside the box pushed away into safety thanks to a save by goalkeeper Towns.

Jhonnattann Benites' left its mark shortly afterwards, as he scored a brilliant goal. Ryan Camenzuli served Shola Shodiya, who sent the ball in the path of the Brazilian forward. Benites produced a cute lob over an onrushing Matthew Towns, to make them three for the Stripes on the seventy-fourth minute.

In Birkirkara's second substitution of the day, Joseph Zerafa replaced Frank Temile, with Camenzuli advancing to the Nigerian's position and Zerafa taking his usual left-back position.

Ten minutes from time, Benites delivered a corner kick on the first post, but Ryan Camenzuli's effort ended wide.

Under-19's player, Russell Gatt De Raffaele made his debut with the Senior Team, when on the eighty-third minute he replaced Shola Shodiya.

With the match heading into the final moments, Birkirkara sealed the issue with the fourth goal. Russell Gatt De Raffaele sent an excellent first-post cross, with Ryan Camenzuli rising high to hit a bullet-header past Matthew Towns, to seal the Stripes' victory.

Referee Mario Apap's full-time whistle, found Birkirkara registering a comfortable victory to book their place into the Quarter-Finals of the U*BET FA Trophy. The draws will be held this Monday, at noon, inside the National Stadium.

BIRKIRKARA: Reuben Gauci, Ryan Camenzuli, Alejandro Mendoza, Matheus Bissi, Zach Muscat, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna (66' Jhonnattann Benites), Daniel Zerafa, Shola Shodiya (83' Russell Gatt De Raffaele), Frank Temile (75' Joseph Zerafa), Terence Vella.

ST. ANDREWS: Matthew Towns, Neil Chetcuti, Brian Said, Jonathan Briscoe White, Dale Micallef (83′ Kain Roomes), Andrew Amato, Joseph Farrugia, Matthew Guillaumier (71′ Nicki Vella Petroni), Alex Podda (56′ Kieran Nwoko), Emiliano Lattes, Trayo Grozev.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Paul Apap.

Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri

Scorers: 12' Ryan Camenzuli, 32' Matheus Bissi, 74' Jhonnattann Benites, 88' Ryan Camenzuli.

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