Stripes register comfortable victory

by Ayrton Galea - 21st March 2016

Birkirkara FC registered the third consecutive victory in the BOV Premier League and opened wide the race for the second and third place, when with two goals in each-half, they defeated Naxxar Lions FC with a comfortable 4-0 score.

In a one way story match, the Stripes surged ahead after just seven minutes thanks to Matija Smrekar and Ryan Camenzuli increased the lead six minutes later. The Stripes easily controlled the match in the second-half before two late goals by Edmond Agius and Edison Bilbao added more gloss on the victory.

By this victory, the Stripes regained a sole fourth place position with thirty-six points, three over Floriana. They narrowed the gap with second-place Hibernians to just three points and to Balzan who are now just a point ahead.

The Stripes were boosted by the return of two key players as Joseph Zerafa was back from suspension while Mauricio Mazzetti recovered from an injury. Both players regained a quick first-eleven selection for the expenses of Ryan Scicluna and L'Imam Seydi.

Head Coach Mr. Drazen Besek, who was still without the services of Edward Herrera, Mislav Andelkovic and Nikola Vukanac while Ini Akpan was ruled-out injured, fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw a number of tactical adjustments.

Kopric defended the posts, Attard was shifted to his preferred right-back position with Bubalovic and Mazzetti formed the centre-back while Zerafa was back as left-back. Bilbao and Sciberras started in-front of the defence with Camenzuli taking an advanced role. Mujanovic and Temile started at the either side of Camenzuli while Smrekar retained his position up-front.

The First Half

The Stripes dictated matters right from the start and they went close after just two minutes. Goran Mujanovic produced a wonderful solo-action that saw the Croatian player dribbling a number of players but his powerful strike from the edge of the box ended over.

Birkirkara's aggressive opening led to the opening goal as early as the seventh minute. Matija Smrekar did an excellent job to drive the ball forward before serving Cain Attard on the right flank. Attard delivered an accurate cross inside the box that found the same Smrekar who placed the ball at the back of the net past goalkeeper Alberto Gallinetta with a fine header.

One became two just six minutes later and it was Smrekar who was involved into action once again. The Croatian forward's second post cross found Mauricio Mazzetti who headed the ball down to Ryan Camenzuli who hit a powerful shot past Gallinetta.

The match remained one-way traffic and the Stripes had the ball at the back of the net for the third time on the twenty-fourth minute when from following havoc inside the box, Frank Temile hit home from a close-range but the goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Birkirkara went close on the twenty-sixth minute when Matija Smrekar, from a free-kick on the left, served Goran Mujanivoc outside the box and the latter had a powerful low shot ending wide by inches while six minutes later, the same player had a close-range effort ended wide after brilliant work by Temile.

Three minutes from half-time, Goran Mujanovic served an eye-catching back-heel pass to Gareth Sciberras who delivered an accurate cross that saw Smrekar's fine header blocked by goalkeeper Alberto Gallinetta as the Stripes ended the first-half on the attack.

The Second Half

After suffering a knock just before the end of the first-half, Joseph Zerafa was unable to continue playing and he was replaced by Ryan Scicluna at the start of the second half. The inclusion of Scicluna led to a number of changes as he was included in-front of defensive midfield duo as Camenzuli moved to the left side of midfield while Mujanovic was deployed as left-back.

Naxxar opened the second-half better and they were able to produce the first scoring opportunity after fifty-six minutes. Eduardo Casado had a dangerous low shot deflected into a corner kick following a quick counter. Kopric then did well to clear the ball off the goal-line from a direct curling corner kick by Daren Falzon. Four minutes later, the same player had a shot ending over.

The Stripes seemed to be struggling in the opening twenty minutes of the second half but they went close when they accelerated forward in search of the third goal. On the sixty-eighth minute, Cain Attard, overlapping on the right flank, sent another in-swinging cross that saw Ryan Camenzuli hitting a powerful header which ended wide by inches.

Frank Temile who undoubtedly has been one of Birkirkara's best players thanks to his recent positive performances received a standing ovation on the sixty-ninth minute, when the Nigerian forward was replaced by Edmond Agius in Birkirkara's second substitution.

Edmond Agius left quick impact as the Stripes wrapped their victory on the seventy-ninth minute. Ryan Scicluna drove forward before shifting the ball on the right side to Camenzuli who flicked the ball in the path of Agius and the latter slotted past Gallinetta.

The Stripes added further gloss to their victory as in a fast counter-attack one minute in added time, Gareth Sciberras delivered an excellent ball towards Edison Bilbao who all-alone against Gallinetta kept calm and placed the ball at the back of the net.

Scorer of the second goal, Ryan Camenzuli was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Mauricio Mazzetti, Christian Bubalovic, Joseph Zerafa (46' Ryan Scicluna, Gareth Sciberras, Edison Bilbao, Frank Temile (69' Edmond Agius), Goran Mujanovic (83' Kurt Zammit), Ryan Camenzuli, Matija Smrekar.

NAXXAR: Alberto Gallinetta, Alvaro Rosero (61' Angus Buhagiar), Andrew Scicluna, Eduardo Casado, Daren Falzon, Jose Pereira, Ishmael Grech, David Fenech (84' Joel Ellul), Mark Fenech (89' Gianluca Grima), Nikola Tasic, Demba Toure.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Luke Portelli.
Additional Assistant Referees: Esther Azzopardi, Stefan Pace.
Fourth Official: David Castillo.

Yellow Cards: 25' Alvaro Rosero, 66' Demba Toure (Naxxar Lions), 75' Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara).
Scorers: 6' Matija Smrekar, 12' Ryan Camenzuli, 79' Edmond Agius, 90+1' Edison Bilbao.

BOV Player of the Match: Ryan Camenzuli.

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