Paul Fenech knocks-out City and send Stripes to final

by Ayrton Galea - 17th May 2015

Paul Fenech inspired Birkirkara FC to be the first finalists of the Malta FA Trophy, when after coming on as a substitute he scored a dramatic winning goal in the extra-time period for a win over Valletta FC.

It has been a decisive and dramatic week for Fenech, who ended all speculation on his future by signing a fresh contract with Birkirkara FC. He went on by scoring the winning goal in yesterday's match to put the Stripes in the final following an absence of six years. The Stripes will now wait for the second finalist to be determined in today's match between Hibernians and Qormi.

In a match that attracted over two-thousand spectators to the National Stadium, the Stripes proved to be the better side for long stretches, but failed to convert their superiority into goals, despite having a large number of scoring chances. However, when the match was approaching the penalty shoot-out, the Stripes scored the all important goal five minutes from time to break the City's hearts and end their season.

Coach Paul Zammit affected two changes from the last league match against Balzan. Haber made his return between the posts replacing Mirza Hamzabegovic while Rafael Ledesma was preferred up-front at the expense of Ellinton Morais. Nassir Maachi was called-up with the eighteen-man squad following an absence of several weeks.

The Stripes' formation featured a 4-1-4-1 selection. Vukanac, starting the match as team captain, and Mazzetti, formed the central-backs. Zach Muscat and Zerafa started as side-backs. Bissi was the deployed in front of the defence, supporting midfielders Rowen Muscat and Ryan Scicluna. Herrera and Camenzuli started on the wings continually pushing forward to support central striker Ledesma.

Goalkeeper Mirza Hamzabegovic, Antoine Borg and Shola Shodiya were not called-up, with the latter recovering from a knee operation.

The First Half

The Stripes went out aggressive and they threatened twice in the opening two minutes. A shot by Herrera was saved by goalkeeper Nicholas Vella, and a free-kick by Bissi from long-range ended over.

Birkirkara sent another warning shot after just six minutes, when Scicluna served Camenzuli who from inside the box fired over. Two minutes later, Ledesma had a powerful shot from distance ending wide.

Valletta struggled to match Birkirkara's aggression, and the latter threatened again on the sixteenth minute. Zach Muscat, advanced down the right channel, delivered a cross inside the box and Herrera had his header parried by goalkeeper Vella.

Following such a strong start by Birkirkara, the Citizens tried to step-up their level and the match became more balanced. The Stripes were penetrating thanks to the speed of their wingers Camenzuli and Herrera, while for Valletta, the tireless Ryan Fenech was the centre of attention in the build-up of their attacks.

There was a sense of panic in the Birkirkara defence on the thirty-eighth minute following. A loose ball in the box was not cleared into safety, and a cross from the right was then blocked by Zerafa with his chest. An alert Justin Haber, who had hardly been tested till then came out to collect the ball. Two minutes later, Llywelyn Cremona headed wide off a corner by Nafti.

Both teams continued to exchange possession as the match was now more balanced. With half-time approaching, both teams opted to be cautious and not to concede goals. Just before the half-time whistle, Valletta had a dangerous free-kick cleared into safety.

The end of the first half found both teams heading to their dressing rooms in a goal-less draw.

The Second Half

The Second Half started quietly, but the Stripes created the first scoring opportunity seven minutes into the second half, with a to shot from outside the box by Scicluna which was parried by the Citizens' goalkeeper.

Birkirkara created the most dangerous opportunity on the fifty-sixth minute. Ledesma lobbed the ball over the defence in the path of Ryan Camenzuli, who raced forward and unleashed a powerful strike that was denied by an excellent block of goalkeeper Vella.

Valletta quickly replied and went close as they quickly transferred the ball, with Ryan Fenech serving Abdelkarim Nafti inside the box who fired over from a tight angle. Two minutes later, Nafti had a direct free-kick saved by Haber.

Coach Paul Zammit strengthened his forward line with the inclusion of Ellinton Morais off Matheus Bissi. Scicluna was deployed as a defensive midfielder while Ledesma was now roaming behind Morais.

Morais was quickly involved in action. Following a solo-run by Joseph Zerafa, the latter sent a dangerous cross that saw the Brazilian striker unlucky not to make contact, when just a few yards out from the goal-line.

The aggressive pressing on the Valletta defenders was almost made to count on the seventy-second minute when Herrera stole possession off the erratic Camilleri, but his low shot was denied by Vella. Six minutes later, Morais headed over off a Rowen Muscat cross.

Valletta created their most dangerous chance ten minutes from half-time. Captain Ryan Fenech drifted inside the box, but his shot was blocked into a corner thanks to an excellent save by Haber who enjoyed a solid display. A minute later, Shaun Bajada saw his shot ending over from inside the box.

On the eighty-third minute the Birkirkara supporters gave a standing ovation to the team's captain Paul Fenech who replaced Ryan Scicluna in Birkirkara's second substitution.

Birkirkara almost registered a dramatic winner on the eighty-sixth minute, when off a corner by Ledesma, Zach Muscat saw his header ending inches wide. Two minutes later, Morais stole another ball off Camilleri, but his shot hit the side netting.

The Stripes went close once again in the dying stages. One minute from time, from a cross by Zach Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli dived full stretch but his header ended over. A mMinute later, Rafael Ledesma had a shot ending wide as the match was forced into the extra-time period.

The Extra Time

Valletta went close after three minutes when Nafti was left unmarked, but his low shot brought the best out of Justin Haber, who denied the Valletta striker.

Seven minutes later, the Stripes scored the all-important winning goal. A cross by Morais saw Zach Muscat heading the ball to the centre of the box and following a deflection by substitute Nassir Maachi, the ball rolled in the path of Paul Fenech who hit home from close-range to put the Stripes into the Final. The full time whistle found the Birkirkara supporters in seventh heaven, celebrating this important win.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa (108' Nassir Maachi), Matheus Bissi (60' Elllinton Morais), Rowen Muscat, Edward Herrera, Ryan Scicluna (82' Paul Fenech), Ryan Camenzuli, Rafael Ledesma.

VALLETTA: Nicholas Vella, Ian Azzopardi, Ryan Camilleri, Ryan Fenech, Hamza Barry, Roderick Briffa, Ikenna Hillary (113' Djamel Leeflang), Shaun Bajada (117' Christian Caruana), Llywelyn Cremona (60' Lateef Elford Alliyu), Abdelkarim Nafti, Luke Dimech.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Luke Portelli.

Additional Assistant Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Malcom Spiteri.

Fourth Official: Peter Abela.

Yellow Cards: 12' Ryan Scicluna, 43' Rafael Ledesma, 68' Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara), 22' Ryan Fenech, 54' Abdelkarim Nafti, 66' Ikenna Hillary, 103' Luke Dimech (Valletta).

Scorer: 110' Paul Fenech

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