Stripes back to business
by Ayrton Galea - 13th December 2015
Birkirkara FC produced a spirited performance and showed great resilience to hold on to a precious victory after they had to play with one player less for the last twenty-five minutes as they returned to winning ways thanks to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Pembroke Athleta.
Still smarting themselves from the 4-0 defeat against Valletta, the Stripes were back in business as they returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory. It was a merited victory for the Stripes who right from the start produced the better ideas and held strong after Temile's dismiss twenty-five minutes from the end.
Set out in a 4-4-2 formation by Coach Mr. Josef Mansueto who has been appointed the care-taker coach after the Club parted ways with Mr. Giovanni Tedesco, the Stripes looked very compact and their tactical discipline earned them a clear edge over their opponents throughout the ninety minutes.
Morais and Camenzuli certainly stole the lime-light on the day as while Morais set-up two goals and won the BOV Player of the Match for his rich display, Camenzuli opened the score while served substitute Edmond Agius the third goal to seal the issue. Another sigh of relief for the Stripes was Plut's display as the Slovenian striker has found the net following an absence of seven league matches.
Mr. Mansueto started with Akpan defending the posts, Mazzetti and Vukanac forming the central-backs while Zach Muscat and Zerafa started as side-backs. Rowen Muscat and Gareth Sciberras composed the midfield with Temile and Camemzuli patrolling the sides. Morais and Plut started up-front.
The First Half
Birkirkara opened well and they treated twice in the opening stages. First, a volley by Morais from outside the box ended over while moments later, a first-time effort by Gareth Sciberras was saved by goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.
Ellinton Morais could have made better on the eighteenth minute when he stole possession off Patmore Shereni just outside the box but his lob was weak and was easily saved by Farrugia. Moments later, Plut was unlucky to have his header cleared off the goal-line after a fine corner by Temile.
The Stripes were enjoying more possession as they dictated matters in midfield thanks to the spirited display of midfielders Rowen Muscat and Gareth Sciberras. On the other side, Pembroke were being steady at the back as they were leaving no space to the Birkirkara forwards.
Morais was in-action once again on the twenty-seventh minute when his direct free-kick from outside the box was saved by Farrugia. Ten minutes later, the Pembroke's defence failed to deal with Camenzuli's cross but Temile's shot ended over.
The Stripes broke the dead-lock on the forty-first minute. Morais was quick to profit of Shereni's blunder and provided an excellent through-ball to Ryan Camenzuli who had his drive off the right post and went in to put his side in the lead.
Referee Fyodor Zammit's whistle found the Stripes leading thanks to Camenzuli's goal at the break.
The Second Half
There was a slow start inside the second half as Birkirkara remained compact and left no space to their opponents. Compact at the back and precise up-front, the Stripes made them two in their first scoring opportunity.
They doubled their lead on the hour mark when after Temile and Morais interchanged their possession, Morais surged forward on the right flank before his low cross found Plut who was at the perfect position to slot home from close-range.
Birkirkara might have put their heads at rest with two goals up with half-hour to go but they were quick brought up on their feet as after just six minutes, they ended-up playing with one player less. Temile, cautioned just minutes earlier, made an erratic late tackle and received his second booking in space of ten minutes.
More woes were on the pipe-line for the Stripes just minute later when goalkeeper Ini Akpan intercepted a cross from the left, with the ball landing at the feet of Ariel Laudisi but his volley was blocked off the goal-line by Gareth Sciberras.
Enjoying a numerical advantage, Pembroke pushed on to get back in the match as fifteen minutes from time Kyle O'Brien had a fine shot saved by the alerted Akpan while the same goalkeeper denied O'Brien three minutes later as he pushed into safety his direct curling free-kick.
Pembroke went close once again nine minutes from time. Ariel Laudisi, receiving a pass just outside the box, found space to turn to face the goal and his fierce shot ended wide by inches as Winston Muscat'side remained unable to get back in the match.
With just five minutes to go, Mr. Mansueto included Edmond Agius off the hard-working midfielder Gareth Sciberras and Agius' impact couldn't been better as the Stripes wrapped-up their victory one minutes from time.
It was quick counter by the Stripes that saw Ryan Camenzuli sprinting forward down the left channel before delivering a perfect cross that saw confident Agius cleverly back-heeling the ball in the net as the Stripes heaved a sigh of relief by returning to winning ways.
Ellinton Morais, provider of two goals, was named the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Ini Akpan, Zach Muscat, Mauricio Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Frank Temile, Gareth Sciberras (85' Edmond Agius), Rowen Muscat (81' Emerson Marcelina), Ryan Camenzuli, Ellinton Morais, Vito Plut (70' Ryan Scicluna).
PEMBROKE: Matthew Farrugia, Alex Cini, Owen Bugeja, Paltemio Barbetti, Zoran Levnajic (90′ Tyron Fenech), Kyle O'Brien, Ariel Laudisi, Patmore Shereni, Gustavo Villalobos, Austin Martz, Rennie Tanti (72′ Siraj Arab Eddin).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri.
Yellow Cards: 56' Frank Temile, 59' Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), 26' Zoran Levnaic, 53' Alex Cini (Pembroke Athleta)
Red Cards: 66' Frank Temile (Birkirkara)
Scorers: 41' Ryan Camenzuli, 60' Vito Plut, 89' Edmond Agius (Birkirkara)
BOV Player of the Match: Ellinton Morais.
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