Fenech's strike hands Birkirkara precious points
by Ayrton Galea - 31st March 2014
Birkirkara FC returned to winning ways and remained on course for winning back-to-back titles, when in a hard fought match they beat Balzan FC last Saturday.
It was Paul Fenech's goals twenty minutes from the end of the match that managed to break Balzan's resistance. Balzan played a defensive match which frustrated the Stripes for long stretches.
The Stripes started as favourites to take the three points, but following a goalless first half, Balzan received a lifeline on the hour mark when Birkirkara's Joseph Zerafa was sent off. However, their hopes were quickly dashed by Fenech's strike, and Vignaroli's sending off in space of just three minutes.
Birkirkara Coach, Mr. Paul Zammit was forced to make one change from the previous outing against Valletta, as the injured Alejandro Mendoza was replaced by Matheus Bissi.
Bissi joined Nikola Vukanac and Zach Muscat in the three-line defence. Paul Fenech and Gareth Sciberras composed the midfield department, continuously supported by wingers Joseph Zerafa and Edward Herrera. Frank Temile, Shola Shodiya and Jhonnattann Benites formed the forward line trio.
Daniel Zerafa was also missing for the Stripes, but Ryan Scicluna was back after serving a one match ban.
The First Half
Fielding an offensive formation, the Stripes had an edge over their opponents from the opening minutes.
They threatened first on the sixth minute when Paul Fenech sent an inviting pass to Jhonnattann Benites inside the box, but the Balzan goalkeeper made a fine interception to deny the Birkirkara forward.
Balzan replied with their first scoring opportunity on the eleventh minute. Off a cross from the right, Pedro Calcado hit wide.
A header by Nikola Vukanac on the eighteenth caused miscommunication between goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo and defender Andrew Scicluna, but Bartolo parried the effort.
Just past the twenty-minute mark, Jhonnattann Benites sent an in-swinging corner kick in the path of Nikola Vukanac, and his lay-off found Paul Fenech who hit low and wide.
Birkirkara were struggling to penetrate and their task continued to shape-up as a tough one, as Balzan were playing their hearts out, and having all their players behind the ball and defending deeply when suffering possession.
The Stripes had their most dangerous opportunity on the thirty-third minute. Jhonnattann Benites raced inside the box and managed to conclude a fine strike but goalkeeper Bartolo pushed away into a corner kick. From the resulting corner-kick taken by Benites, Nikola Vukansc rose high and hit a powerful header but his effort ended wide.
On the thirty-eighth minute, Shola Shodiya tried his luck with a long-distance drive which sailed wide.
The Stripes increased their efforts as the first half reached its dying minutes, but they were unable to open the solid Balzan defence. The first forty-five minutes ended in a goalless draw.
The Second Half
In the second half Balzan continued where they left in the first one, by trying to neutralise Birkirkara's hunger for goal.
The Stripes produced their first opportunity of the second half on the fifty-first minute when Matheus Bissi drifted inside the area from the left, before hitting a powerful strike which ended wide by a matter of inches.
Balzan replied four minutes later when they were awarded a dangerous free-kick, which was taken by Pedro Calcado but his drive hit the Birkirkara wall.
Birkirkara's Coach tried to put some new life in his forward line by introducing Ronaille Calheira off Frank Temile, just before the hour mark.
However, Birkirkara's aspirations suffered a major setback just two minutes later when Joseph Zerafa was sent off for a reckless tackle on Pedro Calcado. Referee Arciola showed a straight red card to Zerafa without a moment's hesitation.
With the match turning into an uphill struggle for the Stripes, who were now with one player less, Mr. Paul Zammit included Ryan Camenzuli off Zach Muscat.
However, Birkirkara showed great attitude and after a shot by Shodiya which ended wide, they managed to surge ahead on the sixty-eight minute. Goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo collected a back-pass in the area and the referee ordered an indirect free-kick. Jhonnattann Benites took the free-kick and intelligently served Paul Fenech, whose powerful shot gave no chance to Bartolo.
The Birkirkara supporters erupted in joy as they saw their beloved players playing taking the lead despite playing with a player less.
Things continued to shape up for the Stripes as the teams regained numerical equilibrium on the seventeenth minute, when Fabio Vignaroli was sent off for a dangerous tackle on substitute Ryan Camenzuli.
Birkirkara began to defend in their own half and hitting on the counterattack. In one of these occasions, Paul Fenech raced forward in a three-versus-two situation, before picking Jhonnattann Benites but he was in an offside position.
Five minutes from time, Birkirkara had a penalty claim turned down, when Jhonnattann Benites was pushed down inside the box by Bilbao Zarate, but referee Andre Arciola showed no interest in Birkirkara's harsh protests.
As the referee Arciola blew the final whistle, the Birkirkara supporters were ecstatic and were found thanking their players for a solid performance that saw them maintaining their top spot of the league table.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat (66' Ryan Camenzuli), Nikola Vukanac, Mathias Bissi, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Shola Shodiya (76' Ryan Scicluna), Frank Temile (59' Ronaille Calheira ), Jhonnattan Benites.
BALZAN: Manuel Bartolo, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Andrew Scicluna, Kurt Magro (85' Mark Spiteri), Fabio Vignaroli, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Edison David Balbao Zarate, Jose Luis Armario Negrin, Dylan Grima (46' Lydon Micallef), Ryan Darmanin.
Yellow Cards: 66' Gareth Sciberras, 76' Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara), Manuel Bartolo, Fabio Vignaroli.
Red Cards: 60' Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), 72' Fabio Vignaroli (Balzan).
Scorers: 70' Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).
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