Stripes remain on top after demolishing Mosta

by Ayrton Galea - 7th April 2014

Champions Birkirkara FC stayed on course of winning back to back titles on Sunday afternoon when in a convincing display they scored twice in each half to overcome the challenge of Mosta FC.

It was yet another convincing display for the Stripes who registered their second consecutive victory after beating Balzan with a narrow goal last week. The Stripes were streets ahead of their opponents who failed to handle the Stripes' forwards and in a high-tempo attacking match, Birkirkara edged even closer their fifth title in their history.

There was little doubt where the points were going after Ronaille Calheira broke the dead-lock after just twelve minutes. The Stripes tormented Mosta apart and added their second five minutes before the break thanks to Jhonnattann Benites before completing their rout by two late goals thanks to Matheus Bissi and another goal from Ronaille Calheira.

Birkirkara fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ronaille Calheira who replaced Frank Temile began as Birkirkara's only striker, continually supported by Shola Shodiya and Jhonnattann Benites on flanks. Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech and Ryan Scicluna composed the midfield department with the latter roaming behind the Birkirkara striker. The back-line of the Stripes featured drastic changes as Edward Herrera and Ryan Camenzuli patrolled the side backs while Zach Muscat and Matheus Bissi filled the central-backs position.

The Birkirkara Head Coach had to do without first-team central backs Alejandro Mendoza and Nikola while left back Joseph Zerafa was suspended. Daniel Zerafa was also side-lined with injury but on the plus side, the Stripes were boosted by the return of Rowen Muscat following missing the last two months.

The First Half

With the Stripes matching their expectations with no less than the three precious points, it was no surprise that Mr. Paul Zammit's troops were quick to show their attacking intentions right from the start.

When the match was just three minutes old, Shola Shodiya disposed possession of the Blues defender Rodriguez Ekani and sent an in-swinging cross-shot which was pushed away by the alerted Mosta goalkeeper, Kurt Rizzo.

The Stripes remained on the attack and just two minutes later, Gareth Sciberras and Ryan Camenzuli combined well before the promising left back sent an inviting cross in direction of Benites who did well to turn past his marker but his strike was handled by goalkeeper Rizzo.

However, it was Mosta who come the closest on the eighth minute. Youngster Kurt Zammit sent Gianmarco Piccioni a fine through ball that managed to unzip the Birkirkara defence. Piccioni managed to somehow deflect the ball past goalkeeper Haber, but Matheus Bissi was alerted to clear into safety.

The Stripes regrouped after this scare and in an immediate reaction, they surged ahead on the twelfth minute. Edward Herrera made a devastating run on the right flank before sped past the Mosta defender and served Ronaille Calheira who inside the box found no problem to fire home past goalkeeper Kurt Rizzo for his first goal in the Birkirkara shirt.

Boosted by the opening goal, Birkirkara continued to be superior and despite Mosta tried to react, the Stripes almost doubled their lead when Shodiya had a powerful drive pushed away by goalkeeper Rizzo mid-way through the first half.

The woodwork saved Mosta from falling two goals behind on the thirty-ninth minute when Jhonnattann Benites picked Calheira inside the box but the latter's drive came off the upright before the Mosta defenders cleared into safety.

However, there was nothing to save the Blues four minutes later as in total control, the Stripes doubled their lead. Edward Herrera once again tears up the Mosta defence with another mazy run on the right flank before picking Benites inside the box that stabbed at the back of the net.

Mosta didn't throw the towel in and in a quick reaction they almost pulled one back when just two minutes later, Zammit once again the provider of a fine through ball to Piccioni with the latter having a powerful strike from inside the box smashing the crossbar with the Birkirkara goalkeeper beaten.

Chris Lautier's half-time whistle found the Stripes heading to their dressing rooms leading by two goals thanks to goals by Calheira and Benites.

The Second Half

One would have expected the Blues to make some sort of reaction but it was the Stripes who remained clearly superior. Five minutes into the second half, Jhonnattann Benites threatened to increase Birkirkara's lead but his in-swinging free-kick was blocked by goalkeeper Rizzo.

The Stripes were denied by the woodwork for the second time in the match as Calheira was once again left blaming his lack of luck, when after being served by Sciberras, the Birkirkara forward's strike smashed against the upright.

Rowen Muscat made his return for Birkirkara, following an injury, on the fifty-eight minute when he replaced Gareth Sciberras in Birkirkara's first substitution.

Calheira continued to create countless problems to Mosta's defence. Just before the hour mark, the Birkirkara forward dispossessed possession of the Blues defender and raced forward, but his conclusion ended wide by a matter of inches.

Mosta had to wait for no less than twenty minutes inside the second half to have their first scoring opportunity. Substitute Harouna Bara picked Piccioni with the latter having his fierce strike from inside the box ending over.

The Stripes continued to torment their opponents as they kept piling pressure on the Mosta defence. On the seventy-third minute, Ronaille Calheira went close once again, when his header ended just over the bar after being served by Shola Shodiya.

In the second substitution of the day for Birkirkara, fifteen minutes from the end, Frank Temile replaced Jhonnattann Benites.

Birkirkara increased the lead on the seventy-seventh minute. From a short corner taken by substitute Temile, Ryan Camenzuli picked Bissi inside the area, and the Brazilian defender created space to hit a close-range drive past goalkeeper Rizzo.

Youngster Antoine Borg, who had an excellent season in the Youths League Section A, was included in Birkirkara's third substitution as he replaced Paul Fenech ten minutes from time.

The Stripes were not done yet, as they rounded off their magnificent display with the fourth goal three minutes from time. In a fast break-away, Ryan Camenzuli raced forward before serving Ronaille Calheira who managed to hit home with a close-range effort.

Chants of Campioni, Campioni hit the National Stadium as Referee Chris Lautier's final whistle found the Stripes edging closer in their league title defence.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Ryan Scicluna, Matheus Bissi, Ronaille Calheira, Edward Herrera, Gareth Sciberras (59' Rowen Muscat), Paul Fenech (80' Antoine Borg), Haruna Shola Shodiya, Ryan Camenzuli, Jhonnattann Benites (75' Frank Temile).

MOSTA: Kurt Rizzo, Jonas Ekani Rodriguez, Tyrone Farrugia (46′ Alex Cini), Ishmael Grech (48′ James Brincat), Antonio Carrozza (32′ Harouna Bara), Ryan Grech, Mark Brincat, Ian Zammit, Manolito Micallef.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Albert Borg Cardona.

Additional Assistant Referees: Paul Caruana, Malcolm Spiteri.

Fourth Official: Sammy Attard

Yellow Cards: 57' Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara).

Scorers: 12′ Ronaille Calheira, 41′ Jhonnattann Benites, 77′ Matheus Bissi, 87′ Ronaille Calheira (Birkirkara).

BOV Player of the Match: Edward Herrera (Birkirkara).

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