Smrekar's late goal hands the Stripes precious points
by Ayrton Galea - 14th March 2016
Birkirkara FC came back from behind and registered another late victory for the second week running, when a direct free-kick by Matija Smrekar handed them a 2-1 victory over Sliema Wanderers, after Frank Temile cancelled-out Njongo Priso's opening goal in the first-half.
With this win, the Stripes kept the pace and increased their grip on the fourth position in the leagye. It was a tough match that saw them going one-goal down, but they were quick to draw level. Sliema had a number of chances where they could have regained the lead, but when the match was heading towards a drab draw, Smrekar scored the all-important goal to give the Stripes maximum points.
Head CoachDrazen Besek made two changes from the last victory over Tarxien Rainbows. Returning from suspension, Cain Attard and Edison Bilbao were drafted back to the starting-eleven, at the expense of Edmond Agius and Matthew Guillaumier.
The Stripes were still without a number of key players. Edward Herrera, Mauricio Mazzetti, Mislav Andelkovic and Nikola Vukanac were all ruled-out injured while Joseph Zerafa was ruled-out suspended after collecting his fourth yellow card in the last match.
Besek went out with a 4-4-2 formation. Kopric defended the posts, Attard and Bubalovic started as centre-backs, while Scicluna and Mujanovic retained their place at the side-backs. Sciberras and Bilbao composed the midfield, with Camenzuli and Temile patrolling the wings.
The First Half
There was nothing to separate both sides in the opening twenty minutes. The likes of Priso and Denni were the most dangerous men for the Wanderers, but they were being well taken care of by the alert centre-back duo of Attard and Bubalovic.
On the other hand, the Stripes looked short of ideas up-front. The attacking tandem of Seydi and Smrekar was certainly being outclassed by the defensive display of Biancardi and Gatt Baldaccinho, as the Birkirkara forwards struggled to penetrate.
The first scoring chance resulted in the opening goal as Sliema Wanderers surged ahead on the twenty-fourth minute. Marko Potezica was clear on the right before delivering a low cross which was slightly deflected and surprised Kopric, as the ball travelled across the goal before Njongo Priso slammed the ball home from close-range.
However, this served only as a wake-up call for the Stripes who made the score level just three minutes later. Sciberras won possession and served Camenzuli who had his attempt blocked. Temile picked-up the loose ball and controlled the ball before his curling drive hit past goalkeeper Zammit. For the Nigerian forward, this was the second goal in the last two matches.
The Stripes now had momentum. They had a good scoring opportunity thanks to Ryan Camenzuli when he advanced forward and had his shot from outside the box saved by the Wanderers goalkeeper. Five minutes later, the same player tried to surprise Zammit with a cross-shot but his effort ended wide.
Birkirkara should have surged ahead on the thirty-seventh minute. It was all owed to Frank Temile who produced a wonderful solo-action as he dribbled past two markers, drifted inside the box and served L'imam Seydi but the latter's weak shot failed the target.
Four minutes before half-time the Stripes went close once again. A corner kick by Camenzuli saw Bubalovic heading the ball towards Matija Smrekar, who with his back to the post, had a low shot that ended wide by inches, as the first-half ended all-square in a 1-1 draw.
The Second Half
Sliema went out aggressive in the second half and they piled the pressure quickly on the Stripes. Their efforts almost saw them regaining the lead three minutes into the second half, when Jean Paul Farrugia burst into the box but his shot from inside the box was denied by the upright.
Both teams struggled to keep possession as the match remained balanced. On the hour mark, Edison Bilbao delivered a fine cross on the second post that saw Ryan Camenzuli at the right position but his header was easily saved by goalkeeper Zammit.
The Stripes went close on the sixty-sixth minute. Ryan Camenzuli struck a wonderful curling free-kick from the right but his effort was tipped into a corner kick by goalkeeper Zammit as they tried to pile-up some pressure.
Sliema Wanderers were forced to make their first substitution when Armando Tarlaziz suffered an injury and was replaced by Peter Xuereb on the seventy-first minute. On the other hand, in the first change for the Stripes, six minutes later Edmond Agius replaced Edison Bilbao.
The Wanderers should have surged ahead on the seventy-seventh minute. Njongo Priso was quick to win possession following an erratic pass at the Birkirkara back and he sprinted forward before supplying a perfect pass to Jean Paul Farrugia who all alone in-front of Kopric saw his low drive ending incredibly wide.
The match seemed to be heading to a draw but Matija Smrekar, who till then had another below average performance turned out the hero as he notched the winning goal. The Croatian strike had a wonderful direct in-swinging free-kick that gave goalkeeper Zammit no chance, to put the Stripes ahead.
Sliema had no time to react and the Stripes held on for a very important victory to keep them alone in the fourth place, three points under Balzan but three over fifth-place Floriana.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Ryan Scicluna, Cain Attard, Christian Bubalovic, Goran Mujanovic, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Camenzuli, Edison Bilbao (77' Edmond Agius), Frank Temile (90+4' Ryan Darmanin), L'Imam Seydi, Matija Smrekar (90+1' Matthew Guillaumier).
SLIEMA WANDERERS: Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, Stefano Biancardi, Armando Dos Santos (71' Peter Xuereb), Doding Priso, Clifford Gatt Baldaccinho, Marko Potezica, Johann Bezzina, Denni Dos Santos, Gary Muir, Jean Paul Farrugia (82' Aiden Friggieri).
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Deobono.
Additional Assistant Referees: Fyodor Zammit, Malcolm Spiteri.
Fourth Official: Ryan Aquilina.
Yellow Cards: Johann Bezzina, Gary Muir, Marko Potezica (Sliema Wanderers).
Scorers: 27' Frank Temile, 88' Matija Smrekar (Birkirkara), 24' Njongo Priso (Sliema Wanderers).
BOV Player of the Match: Njongo Priso (Sliema Wanderers).
