Stripes' late comeback salvages a point
by Ayrton Galea - 12th April 2015
Birkirkara FC had to rely on their fighting spirit to save a point on Friday evening, when they made a late comeback to share the spoils with an aggressive Qormi side in a 2-2 draw. The Stripes have now extended their unbeaten run to seventeen matches in the BOV Premier League.
This draw meant a loss of two precious points for Birkirkara, which not only gifts Hibernians the chance to increase their lead, but also an opportunity for Valletta to climb to the second place if both teams win their next matches.
The match proved to be a tale of two halves, which saw Qormi being more aggressive in the first forty-five minutes that saw them leading by one. However, despite conceding an early second-half goal, the Stripes dominated the second halve, and they should feel guilty of their inability to convert their numerous scoring chances.
Birkirkara's Coach Paul Zammit showed faith in the same first-eleven selection, and opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation. The line-up only had three foreign players, from a possible five. Vukanac, who recovered on time, was deployed at the back with Mazzetti, who was facing his former team for the first time. On the other hand, Shodiya featured in the forward line.
Ruled out for the Stripes was Ellinton Morais who is in the final stages of recovering while Gareth Sciberras was among the substitutes. Mirza Hamzabegovic and Eliandro Gonzaga were not called to the 18-man squad.
The First Half
The Stripes could have had a perfect start after just nine minutes, when Referee Sandro Spiteri adjudicated Zoran Levnaic to have handled the ball inside the box and ordered the penalty-kick. However, from the eleven meter spot, Shodiya saw his weak effort blocked by Farrugia.
The Stripes threatened again on the twelfth minute when Herrera's cross found Scicluna inside the box with the latter's shot was blocked by a defender.
On the twentieth minute, Christopher Uzah had a direct free-kick ending over.
Birkirkara stepped-up their game, and they went close to taking the lead. On the half-hour, Shodiya released Camenzuli on the left side before the left-footed player drifted inside the box but had his central shot saved by an alert Farrugia.
The Stripes should have made done five minutes from time, when Ryan Camenzuli sprinted forward to collect an accurate through-ball. Camenzuli delivered an excellent cross in the path of Shodiya but the latter had poor control and enabled Qormi to clear into safety.
Referee Sandro Spiteri was once again the centre of attention four minutes from half-time when this time he awarded a controversial penalty to Qormi when he adjudicated Vukanac to have handled the ball inside the box. From the spot, Effiong put Qormi ahead.
The Stripes had no time to react and they were found chasing the game at the break, as Qormi were leading by one.
The Second Half
With forty-five minutes to save their skins, Mr. Paul Zammit was quick to make his first offensive substitute. Rafael Ledesma was included from the start of the second half as he replaced Rowen Muscat who had suffered a knock on his neck earlier on.
Birkirkara's bright start of the second half almost saw them getting an early equalizer as just three minutes into the second half, Camenzuli found Herrera inside the box, but the latter's effort was denied by the crossbar with Farrugia beaten.
The Stripes went two down just seven minutes later. Qormi's transition proved crucial as Gustavo Villalobos's through pass penetrated the Birkirkara flat defence and Effiong race forward and slotted the ball at the back of the net.
The second goal left the Birkirkara Coach no choice but to put everything forward. On the hour mark, Nassir Maachi came off Zach Muscat. Herrera was now deployed as right-back while Maachi was inserted on the right wing.
Birkirkara went close to pulling one back on the sixty-second minute when Herrera made a typical overlap down the right flank, before his cross found Shodiya who created havoc inside the box with his up-rising shot ending just over the bar.
Birkirkara finally managed to breakdown Qormi's defence and pull one back, fifteen minutes from time. Substitute Nassir Maachi hit a powerful in-swinging shot from outside the box that gave Matthew Farrugia no chance.
Just two minutes later, Mazzetti, almost levelled matters, when after joining in the attack, the strong defender had a fierce strike surprising the Qormi goalkeeper, but the ball ended just inches over the bar, as the Stripes continued to hammer their opponents.
In Birkirkara's third and last substitution, Ryan Camenzuli was replaced by Kurt Zammit, as another striker joined the fray.
The Stripes looked desperate and on the eighty-third minute they went close once again. The ball rolled towards Ledesma, who fired a powerful volley from inside the box, that brought the best out of Farrugia's reflexes who made an outstanding save.
From the resulting corner kick, Birkirkara levelled matters. Ledesma delivered a first post corner-kick that saw Vukanac's header ending in the net, to the joy of the Birkirkara clan.
The Stripes were left blaming their luck for not completing a dramatic comeback when in the brightest moment of Shodiya in the match, he fired a thunderbolt that smashed against the crossbar. Just moments later, both Fenech and Scicluna hesitated and failed to conclude from an ideal position in-front of Farrugia, and the match ended 2-2.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat(60' Nassir Maachi), Mauricio Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Scicluna, Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat (46' Rafael Ledesma), Ryan Camenzuli (80' Kurt Zammit), Edward Herrera, Shola Shodiya.
QORMI: Matthew Farrugia, Christopher Edafe Uzeh, Alejandro Mendoza, Alfred Effiong, Clifford Gauci, Emerson Vella, Zoran Levnajic (90' Marcelo Roberto Lima de Mattos), Duncan Pisani (79' Ryan Micallef), Jonathan Bondin (67' Leighton Grech), Billy Berntsson, Gustavo Villalobos.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Sammy Attard.
Additional Assistant Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Glenn Tonna.
Fourth Official: Alan Camilleri.
Yellow Cards: Nikola Vukanac, Paul Fenech, Joseph Zerafa, Shola Shodiya, Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara), Gustavo Villalobos, Matthew Farrugia, Leighton Grech (Qormi).
Scorers: 75' Nassir Maachi, 84' Nikola Vukanac (Birkirkara), 42', 55' Alfred Effiong (Qormi).
BOV Player of the Match: Alfred Effiong (Qormi).
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