Second half goals put Stripes in quater-finals

by Ayrton Galea - 22nd January 2015

Birkirkara FC stormed to the last eight of the Malta FA Trophy yesterday evening, when a brace by Ryan Scicluna and a goal by Shola Shodiya were enough to beat Second Division side, Siggiewi FC.

For the second time in four days, Ryan Scicluna stole the limelight and inspired the Stripes to another victory. The tireless midfielder opened and closed the scoring tab, while substitute Shola Shodiya who was included in the second half, tore Siggiewi apart and scored the second goal while assisting the third.

Although there was never any doubt as to Birkirkara's technical supremacy over their modest yet determined opponents, they struggled to break through and it was a goal twenty minutes from time to pave the way to victory.

Birkirkara's Head Coach, Mr. Paul Zammit, first-eleven selection featured no less than six changes. Ini Akpan, Nikola Vukanac, Matheus Bissi, Edmond Agius and Nassir Maachi all made it to the start at the expenses of Haber, Herrera, Fenech, Sciberras and Shodiya.

The 4-2-3-1 formation featured Akpan defending the posts, with Vukanac and Mendoza forming the central-backs, supported by Antoine Borg and Muscat who patrolled the side-backs. Bissi and Agius were deployed in front of the defence, and Ryan Scicluna roaming behind striker Eliandro Gonzaga, who was continuously supported by wingers Kurt Zammit and Nassir Maachi.

The Club's latest signing Mirza Hamzabegovic, and midfielder Rafael Ledesma were not called to the squad, while Ellinton Morais was ruled out injured.

The First Half

Both teams threatened with scoring opportunities in the opening stages. It was the ambitious Siggiewi side to have their first scoring attempt on the fifth minute, when a direct free-kick by Kim Buhagiar ended wide. On the other side of the pitch, after exchanging possession with Nassir Maachi, Edmond Agius had a shot blocked by the Siggiewi goalkeeper, Warren Cuschieri.

Playing in a more advanced position, Matheus Bissi had more chance to try his shooting skills and on the ninth minute, he had a powerful shot saved in two attempts by Cuschieri, and five minutes later the same player had another shot from distance ending over.

The Stripes began to step up their game, and they went close twice, in quick succession, on the twentieth minute. From a cross by Muscat, Zammit had his shot blocked by a defender, and from the rebound, Agius fired wide.

Hardly a minute later, Birkirkara were unlucky not to take the lead when Antoine Borg dribbled past his marker to see his deflected cross hitting the foot of the post before the ball was cleared into a corner kick.

With the Stripes unable to find the break-through, Siggiewi continued to play their hearts out and their bold defensive display was keeping the Birkirkara forwards rarely involved in action.

On the thirty-eight minute, Antoine Borg had an in-swinging shot from outside the box ending over. Two minutes later, Maachi served Kurt Zammit, and from his cross, Eliandro Gonzaga headed wide by inches.

In the last action of the first half, Ini Akpan turned a tight-angle shot into a corner kick, and from the resulting corner on the second post, Mark Camilleri headed wide.

The first-half ended in a goal-less draw.

The Second Half

At the start of the second half, in Birkirkara's first substitution, Shola Shodiya replaced Nassir Maachi.

On the fiftieth minute, Edmond Agius tried his luck with a shot from outside the box, but his effort ended over.

Mr. Paul Zammit made a double substitution on the hour mark, when he withdrew Matheus Bissi and Kurt Zammit who were replaced by Paul Fenech and Ryan Camenzuli.

Camenzuli was involved in action moments after being included, when his fierce strike ended over. Two minutes later, the same player had another shot ending wide.

Twenty minutes into the second half, Shola Shodiya made a good movement, and served Ryan Scicluna who had his low shot ending wide. The Stripes remained on the attack and Paul Fenech had a volley ending over.

Birkirkara broke the dead-lock and settled their nerves on the seventieth minute. In an action involving short-passes and quick movement, Paul Fenech found space in the box to deliver a threatening cross which Ryan Scicluna hit home past goalkeeper Cuschieri.

The Stripes took only eight minutes to double the lead. Siggiewi failed to clear the ball from their box with the ball reaching Shola Shodiya who had a routine task of placing the ball at the back of the net.

Birkirkara put their minds at rest with the third goal four minutes from time. Mendoza did fine work to serve Shola Shodiya, who unzipped the defence and served Ryan Scicluna, whose low shot beat the Siggiewi goalkeeper.

The referee's full-time whistle found the Stripes booking their place in the final eight of the Malta FA Trophy.

BIRKIRKARA: Ini Akpan, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Alejandro Mendoza, Antoine Borg, Matheus Bissi (60' Paul Fenech), Edmond Agius, Nassir Maachi (46' Shola Shodiya), Ryan Scicluna, Kurt Zammit (60' Ryan Camenzuli), Eliandro Gonzaga.

SIGGIEWI: Warren Cuschieri, Ian Darmanin, Emanuel Muscat, Karl Mizzi, Edward Bugeja, Dennis Baldaccinho (76' Nathan Caruana), Francois Guihard (83' Jason Camilleri), Stephanie Tape, Mark Camilleri, Kim Buhagiar (86' Ayrton Buhagiar), Eman Ciappara.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Christopher Francalanza.

Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi.

Scorers: 70' Ryan Scicluna, 78' Shola Shodiya, 86' Ryan Scicluna.

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