Shodiya shines as Stripes bounce back
by Ayrton Galea - 23rd December 2014
Shola Shodiya struck at the end of each half to handle Birkirkara FC a 2-0 victory over Qormi FC, in a hard-fought match that consolidate their joint second place in the BOV Premier League.
The 2-0 score might suggest that Birkirkara did not have to sweat to return to winning ways, but it was a frustrating afternoon that saw them struggling and forced to defend in their own half for the most of the second half.
There was not much to write home about, but certainly the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Justin Haber and the much improved Shola Shodiya were the key notes of why the Stripes earned the three points.
Facing problems to compose his midfield department due to the absence of the suspended Ryan Scicluna and Paul Fenech, and the ruled-out due to injury, Rafael Ledesma, Mr. Paul Zammit shifted his team's shape to a 3-1-4-2 formation and he made three changes from the last match. Ryan Scicluna and Paul Fenech were replaced with Edward Herrera and Edmond Agius. In the other change, Matheus Bissi, back from a one-match ban, replaced Eliandro Gonzaga.
The first-eleven selection featured Haber defending the posts, with Muscat, Mendoza and Vukanac formed the three-line defence while Camemzuli and Herrera patrolled the wing-backs. Bissi started in front of the defence, supporting midfielders Agius and Sciberras. The forward line featured the duo of Shodiya and Morais.
The First Half
There was a slow start to the first half, with Frank Temile of Qormi involved twice in action in the first ten minutes. First, he had a shot blocked by a defender and two minutes later, he failed to reach an inviting pass by Alfred Effiong inside the box.
Birkirkara had their first scoring attempt on the tenth minute. Edmond Agius' delivery from a free-kick was short cleared and Gareth Sciberras had a first-time volley ending over. Two minutes later, Agius had a shot from inside the box flying over.
Edmond Agius delivered a fine corner kick on the fourteenth minute, that saw Shola Shodiya rising before Farrugia but the Nigerian striker headed over.
Alfred Effiong had one of his mazy runs on the twenty-fifth minute, but his strike was blocked by Muscat and in his second attempt, his effort ended over. The Stripes replied two minutes later with a dangerous shot by Herrera, which ended over.
Just past the hour-mark, Qormi could have surged ahead when a threatening cross by Temile was not held by Haber, and from the rebound, Joseph Chetcuti fired over.
The Stripes stepped-up their game as half-time was approaching. On the thirty-eighth minute, Morais dribbled past his marker to sprint inside the box and served Shodiya, who saw his powerful strike blocked by a defender.
The Stripes were unlucky not to take the lead two minutes from half-time when Edmond Agius' corner kick was not handled by Qormi's rear-guard, and Shola Shodiya headed over Farrugia but was denied by the crossbar.
As both teams were heading for a goal-less half-time, the Stripes broke the deadlock in the only minute of added time. From a cross by Edward Herrera, Shodiya headed the ball beautifully past Farrugia, and his effort smashed against the upright and ended into the net.
With no time remaining, Birkirkara headed to their dressing room leading by one, thanks to Shodiya's opener in the last seconds of the first half.
The Second Half
Qormi started the second half on the attack, and after just forty-five seconds, Temile raced forward, but his low shot was easily parried by Haber. They threatened again seven minutes later, when Chetcuti and Effiong exchanged possession with the latter's shot ending wide.
Qormi were unlucky not to level matters on the fifty-sixth minute, when Temile sprinted forward but his shot was blocked by Haber. From the rebound, the same player hit the crossbar before the ball was cleared into safety.
Qormi's coach Mr. Josef Manseuto ordered his first substitution, and Ryan Micallef replaced Joseph Chetcuti.
Twenty minute from time, Justin Haber pushed away the ball from a corner-kick from the left, the before Effiong could finish from just one metre out.
Fifteen minutes from time, Mr. Paul Zammit made a double substitution when Edward Herrera and Ellinton Morais were replaced by Kurt Zammit and Eliandro Gonzaga.
Ten minutes from time Kurt Zammit almost put his name on the score sheet, but his effort in front of Farrugia scratched past the far post.
Justin Haber continued to enjoy a brilliant day of defending the posts, when he was the protagonist again with a spectacular save to turn, into a corner-kick Pisani's half-volley.
The Stripes put their mind at rest at the ninetieth minute mark. Kurt Zammit sent an excellent through ball in the path of Shodiya, who dribbled past his marker, and had his first shot blocked by Farrugia but from the rebound, the same player made no mistake.
In the second minute of added time, Shola Shodiya was given a deserved standing ovation by the Birkirkara supporters, when in Birkirkara's third change he was replaced by Antoine Borg.
The full-time whistle found the Stripes returning to winning ways, thanks to Shodiya's brace, to end 2014 on a good note.
Shola Shodiya was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Edward Herrera (75' Kurt Zammit), Ryan Camenzuli, Matheus Bissi, Edmond Agius, Gareth Sciberras, Shola Shodiya (90+2' Antoine Borg), Ellinton Morais (75' Eliandro Gonzaga).
QORMI: Matthew Farrugia, Albert Bruce, Bjorn Bondin (84' Carmelo Farrugia), Mauricio Matias Mazzetti Latini, Joseph Chetcuti (65' Ryan Micallef), Alfred Effiong, Frank Temile, Emerson Vella, Zoran Levnaic, Duncan Pisani, Jonathan Bajada.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Assistant Referees William Debattista, Peter Abela.
Fourth Official: Christopher Lautier.
Yellow Cards: 89' Nikola Vukanac (Birkirkara), 45' Zoran Levnaic, 55' Emerson Vella (Qormi).
Scorers: 45+1', 90' Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara).
comments powered by Disqus
