Stripes too superior for Mosta

by Ayrton Galea - 2nd March 2015

Birkirkara FC on Sunday afternoon as registered a 3-0 win over Mosta FC to consolidate their second place in the BOV Premier League.

Two first-half goals by Camenzuli and Ledesma, paved the way for Birkirkara, before Shodiya added the third goal to cement their second place, and register the twelfth unbeaten match in the Premier League.

The Stripes' aggression in the first half gave them an edge over their opponents. Mosta tried to make a reaction in the second half, but the Stripes sealed the issue with the third goal to make them three wins out of three matches against the Blues.

Boosted by the return of Rafael Ledesma, Coach Paul Zammit gave him the nod to regain a first-eleven start. In the other change, Zerafa started the match, at the expenses of Maachi. Scicluna and Morais were ruled-out injured.

The Birkirkara Head Coach fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation. Haber defended the posts with Vukanac and Mazzetti as the central-back duo, while Zerafa and Zach Muscat patrolled the wing-backs. Rowen Muscat and Paul Fenech composed the midfield. Herrera and Camenzuli were deployed on the wings, with Rafael Ledesma roaming behind striker Shola Shodiya.

The First Half

There was a balanced opening to the match, but the Stripes had their first scoring opportunity on the eighth minute. Fenech served Ledesma who raced forward but his shot from outside the box ended over.

Birkirkara went close to surging ahead on the twelfth minute. Zach Muscat advanced before serving Herrera on the right, who delivered a brilliant first-post cross that saw Ledesma hitting a fine header scratched past the far post.

The Stripes surged ahead on the seventeenth minute. Zach Muscat sent through Herrera on the right channel, who delivered an accurate low cross that saw Camenzuli hitting home from close-range.

On the twentieth minute, a direct free-kick by Dyson Falzon for Mosta, found goalkeeper Haber turning the ball into a corner kick.

The Stripes remained in command and they threatened to double their lead mid-way in the first-half, when the Mosta defence failed to clear the ball into safety, and Paul Fenech had his low shot parried by goalkeeper Omar Borg.

Birkirkara's superiority resulted in the second goal just before the half-hour mark. From another accurate cross by Herrera, Camenzuli was unlucky not to complete his brace as his header smashed against the woodwork, but from the rebound, Ledesma created havoc inside the box, before hitting a powerful shot past goalkeeper Borg.

Two almost became three five minutes from half time. Zerafa's low cross saw Herrera back-heel the ball to Camenzuli, who had his shot blocked by Borg. From the rebound, Fenech served the same Camenzuli who had his low shot scratching past the post.

Mosta, struggling to match Birkirkara's aggression, tried to make a reaction, but the half-time ended with the Stripes enjoying a two-goal lead.

The Second Half

The Stripes continued where they left off. Fenech sent a long ball to Herrera who showed quick reflexes to dribble past his marker but his shot ended over. Four minutes into the second half, Ledesma fired over from outside the box.

Close to the hour-mark, the Stripes went close to scoring the third goal. In a fast break-away, Shodiya served Camenzuli who had his shot blocked by Borg, and from the rebound, Herrera hit high.

Hardly a minute later, Zach Muscat delivered a fine cross inside the box, and Shodiya's fierce first-time effort ended wide by mere inches. Two minutes past the hour mark, Herrera's cross saw Ledesma header scratching past the post, with Borg left staring.

In Birkirkara's first substitution, twenty minutes from time, Rafael Ledesma was replaced by Edmond Agius.

Birkirkara continued to attack, and on the seventy-second minute, substitute Agius and Zach Muscat combined brilliantly before Muscat's cross saw Camenzuli heading over from inside the box.

Ryan Camenzuli was replaced by Nassir Maachi on the seventy-eighth minute. Camenzuli was given a much-deserved standing ovation for his brilliant performance.

Birkirkara put their mind at rest six minutes from time with the third goal. Substitute Maachi produced a terrific run on the right, before dribbling past his marker, then served Fenech who back-heeled the ball to Shodiya who slotted into an empty net.

This was Shodiya's last action, as in Birkirkara's third change, he was replaced by Kurt Zammit on the eighty-fifth minute.

Zammit immediately took possession, raced inside the box but his uprising shot just ended over the bar. The Stripes remained in command till the referee's full-time whistle.

Edward Herrera was named the BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Edward Herrera, Nikola Vukanac, Shola Shodiya (86' Kurt Zammit), Rafael Ledesma (71' Edmond Agius), Paul Fenech, Zach Muscat, Rowen Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli (79' Nassir Maachi), Joseph Zerafa, Mauricio Mazzetti.

MOSTA: Omar Borg, Ian Zammit, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, Mark Brincat, Mickael Nicoise Dawood (46' Udo Fortune), Alieu Darbo, Dyson Falzon, Karl Pulo (55' Ousman Koli), Gary Roberts, Kurt Magro (85' James Brincat), Tyrone Farrugia.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Assistant Referee: Mitchell Scerri, Thomas Debono.

Fourth Official: Marco Borg.

Yellow Cards: Joseph Zerafa, Paul Fenech, Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), Omar Borg (Mosta).

Scorers: 17' Ryan Camenzuli, 29' Rafael Ledesma, 84' Shola Shodiya

BOV Player of the Match: Edward Herrera

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