Stripes threw away two-goal lead
by Ayrton Galea - 23rd November 2015
Birkirkara FC threw away a two-goal lead to ten-men Naxxar Lions FC, to take the second point from the last two matches, in a disappointing draw at the start of the second round of the BOV Premier League.
The Stripes seemed to be heading to a routine victory as they were enjoying a two-goal lead, and Naxxar being down to ten men, ten minutes into the second half. With fifteen minutes remaining, nobody would have predicted the match to end in a draw but a late rally by Naxxar stunned the Stripes with two quick goals.
Following this disappointing result, Birkirkara are now in the third place, two points behind leading duo of Hibernians and Valletta. The Stripes are now sharing their spot with Balzan and Floriana.
Coach Giovanni Tedesco's preparation for this match was anything than plain-sailing as he had to do without three key players. Joseph Zerafa and Paul Fenech were suspended while Fabrizio Miccoli is still recovering from an injury. Nikola Vukanac and Gareth Sciberras, who both suffered an injury in the last match started on the bench.
The Coach fielded a 4-1-2-3 formation. Haber defended the posts with Maurizio Mazzetti and Zach Muscat as central-backs, while Cain Attard regained a first-eleven call on the right-back, with Camenzuli deployed as side-back on the left. Emerson Marcelina started in-front of the defence, supporting midfielders Rowen Muscat and Ryan Scicluna. The forward trio was composed of Juan Quero and Ellinton Morais patrolling the sides and Plut in centre.
The First Half
With the wind blowing in their favour, the Stripes went out with all guns blazing and they went close to taking an early lead. On the fourth minute, Morais sprinted forward and sent an accurate cross to Plut, but the latter's effort ended over.
Birkirkara had another good chance on the sixteenth minute when Camenzuli's cross was not held by goalkeeper Azzopardi, and from the rebound, Rowen Muscat's effort was parried by the Naxxar goalkeeper. A minute later, Emiliano Lattes had a shot ending over for Naxxar.
The Stripes wasted a golden opportunity on the eighteenth minute. Camenzuli showed great skill to shift the ball to the right side with an excellent cross to Morais, and the latter delivered a fine cross only for Scicluna to fire over from an ideal position.
Birkirkara almost paid the ultimate price for being careless in-front of the goalkeeper, as on the twenty-first minute, Marcelina failed to clear into safety, and the ball ended in the path of Ousson Sidoine who all alone against Haber shot over from close-range.
Naxxar goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi produced a fine save on an effort by Ellinton Morais on the twenty-sixth minutes as the Stripes continued to push forward, and four minutes later Ryan Camenzuli had a direct free-kick from a diagonal angle ending wide.
On the other side of the pitch, Justin Haber had to rush out and anticipate the ball from the onrushing Sidoine, who had been sent clear by Debono.
Birkirkara broke the deadlock five minutes from half-time. Plut powered himself inside the box before delivering a low cross with Ryan Scicluna meeting the ball inch-perfect, to hit past goalkeeper Azzopardi for the opening goal.
One became two, in the space of two minutes as the Stripes were quick to profit from their momentum. The technique of Juan Quero was creating countless problems for the Naxxar defence. The Spanish forward dribbled past his marker and had his cross deflected into the path of Morais who slammed the ball home.
The Second Half
Trailing by two, Naxxar had to face another set-back ten minutes into the second half as Angus Buhagiar floored Vito Plut outside the box and he was sent-off for a double booking. From the resulting free-kick, Plut had his effort blocked by the wall and deflected into a corner kick.
In Birkirkara's first substitution, Mauricio Mazzetti was replaced by Gareth Sciberras on the sixty-third minute. This change led to a tactical adjustment as Marcelina was deployed at the back, while Sciberras was introduced in midfield.
Sciberras was quickly involved in the action as the Naxxar goalkeeper denied the Birkirkara midfielder from a close-range effort twenty minutes in the second half, while two minutes later Zach Muscat had the ball at the back of the net following a cross by Quero but the goal was ruled-out for an offside position.
Juan Quero, who undoubtedly had his best performance with our Club so far, was replaced by Frank Temile in Birkirkara's second substitution on the seventieth minute.
Naxxar received a life-line as they got back in the match fourteen minutes from time. Scicluna's back-pass was intercepted by Demba Toure and the Senegalese striker hit past goalkeeper Justin Haber.
This goal should have been the wake-up call for the Stripes to get out of their casual approach, but instead it boosted Naxxar as the latter made the score level four minutes later. Substitute Duane Bonnici's shot was parried by Haber, Toure's follow-on effort was blocked by Scicluna but Cardozo swooped on the loose ball to drill a low shot into the net to the joy of his team-mates.
Birkirkara tried to rally. They should have regained the lead when substitute Edward Herrera's corner dropped to Zach Muscat via Liliu, but he shot high in front of a gaping goal.
Late on, Azzopardi made himself big to save Marcelina's header from another Herrera corner, and the Stripes had to settle for a draw and a point.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Cain Attard (86' Edward Herrera), Zach Muscat, Mauricio Mazzetti (64' Gareth Sciberras), Ryan Camenzuli, Emerson Marcelina, Rowen Muscat, Ryan Scicluna, Ellinton Morais, Vito Plut, Juan Quero (71' Frank Temile).
NAXXAR LIONS: Julian Azzopardi, Blazo Rajovic, Andrew Scicluna, Demba Toure, Moise Zady Gnenegbe, Richard Carlos Cardozo, Sidoine Oussou (46' David Fenech), Jurgen Debono (74' Duane Bonnici), Angus Buhagiar, Emiliano Lattes (73' Daren Falzon), Armando Tarlazis Vieira dos Santos.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono.
Additional Assistant Referees: Marco Borg, Stefan Pace.
Fourth Official: Luke Portelli.
Yellow Cards: Angus Buhagiar, Mandinho, Moise Zady Gnenegbe, Andrew Scicluna (Naxxar Lions)
Red Cards: 55' Angus Buhagiar (Naxxar Lions)
Scorers: 40' Ryan Scicluna, 42' Ellinton Morais (Birkirkara) 76' Demba Toure, 80' Richard Cardozo (Naxxar Lions)
BOV Player of the Match: Emerson Marcelina (Birkirkara).
