Birkirkara finish league commitments with a draw
by Ayrton Galea - 30th April 2016
Birkirkara FC wrapped-up the third place of the BOV Premier League and ended the league commitments on a positive note when they remained unbeaten in the last league eight matches after sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw against Balzan FC.
In a match where there wasn't much at stake, bar the opportunity for the Stripes to finish in the second place, both teams assured themselves on ending their league commitments without a defeat. The Stripes enjoyed an edge over their opponents for most of the time but needed a goal by Ryan Camenzuli to cancel an unfortunate own goal just two minutes earlier and to extend their fine form.
By this result, it was the Stripes who walked out with heads held high as they produced another satisfactory performance to retain the their third place in the league as they finished with three points over Balzan and made them eight matches unbeaten.
Both teams will now be shifting all their attention on the FA Trophy as they are two of the four semi-finalists. Next week, the Stripes will take on Sliema Wanderers while Balzan will take on Pembroke Athleta.
Head Coach Mr. Drazen Besek was forced to make two changes from last Sunday's victory over Hibernians as Frank Temile was suspended after collecting his fourth yellow card while Joseph Zerafa was only fit to start on the substitutes' bench. Matthew Guillaumier and Kurt Zammit were given the nod for a first-eleven start and in the other substitution, Edison Bilbao replaced Edmond Agius.
The Croatian Coach fielded a typical 4-2-3-1 cum 4-3-3 formation. Kopric defended the posts and Bubalovic and Mazzetti formed the centre-backs while Mujanovic was deployed as side-back on the left and Attard started on the right. Sciberras and Andelkovic started in-front of the defence while Edison Bilbao roamed behind the Birkirkara forward trio composed of Guillaumier and Zammit who started at the either side of Vito Plut.
The First Half
The Stripes opened better and they could have surged ahead in their first shot on target. Attard made a fine run on the run before his low cross found Kurt Zammit who had his close-range shot saved by goalkeeper Cassar in two attempts.
The opening twenty-five minutes proved to be balanced, despite the Stripes had a slight edge for most of the time. They enjoyed more ball possession while once again the defence looked steady.
Balzan produced their first scoring opportunity on the twenty-seventh minute when Alfred Effiong stole possession from Gareth Sciberras and the Nigerian forward did all the work with a powerful run inside the box but his shot ended wide.
The Stripes created a fine chance on the thirty-eighth minute when Plut did fine work to hold the ball before serving Zammit who was quick to deliver a second-post but Guillaumier's first-time shot was blocked and deflected into a corner by the Balzan defender.
The first-half ended goal-less.
The Second Half
Birkirkara produced the first scoring opportunity of the second half as a low direct free-kick by Mazzetti was saved by goalkeeper Cassar. A free-kick by Matthew Guillaumier from long-distance was turned into a corner kick by Cassar.
In Birkirkara's first substitution, Ryan Camenzuli, back from an injury, replaced Kurt Zammit on the hour mark. There were no tactical changes by Besek as Camenzuli was included on the left wing while Mujanovic remained as the left side-back.
The Stripes went close on the sixty-second minute. Guillaumier delivered an excellent ball past the Balzan defenders and Plut had a powerful shot blocked by Cassar before the Balzan defender cleared the ball into a corner kick.
Birkirkara were dangerous again just moments later. It was another long ball that unzipped the defence and Ryan Camenzuli hit a powerful drive that forced Cassar to dive full stretch and block his drive with an excellent save.
Balzan produced a fine chance on the sixty-ninth minute. Pedro Calcado sprinted forward unchallenged before serving substitute Aleksandar Vukacic but his weak central shot was easily saved by the alert Kopric.
Mr. Besek made his second substitution on the seventy-first minute when Mislav Andelkovic was replaced by Ryan Darmanin. Darmanin was included as a central-striker as Plut moved to the right wing while Bilbao joined Sciberras as holding midfielder and Guillaumier in front of the midfield.
Balzan went ahead on the seventy-eighth minute. It looked to be a routine save for Kopric following a cross from the right by Lydon Micallef but a lack of communication between him and Cain Attard saw the latter heading the ball backwards and unfortunately into his own net.
However, the Stripes took just two minutes to make the score level. It was a throw-in from the right and the ball was headed down to Ryan Camenzuli who hit a wonderful first-time strike past helpless goalkeeper Cassar.
The Stripes pushed for the winning goal but the score remained unchanged.
Birkirkara forward Vito Plut was named the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Mauricio Mazzetti, Christian Bubalovic, Goran Mujanovic, Mislav Andelkovic (71' Ryan Darmanin), Edison Zarate, Gareth Sciberras, Kurt Zammit (60' Ryan Camenzuli), Matthew Guillaumier, Vito Plut.
BALZAN: Christian Cassar, Bojan Kaljevic (70' Alan Da Silva Souza), Maxim Focsa, Steve Bezzina, Pedro Dos Santos Calcado, Sean Cipriott, Alfred Effiong (64' Aleksandar Vujacic), Luke Sciberras (76' Jamie Zerafa), Lydon Micallef, Elkin Valero.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Chris Francalanza.
Additional Assistant Referees: Fyodor Zammit, Sandro Spiteri.
Fourth Official: Thomas Debono.
Yellow Cards: 51' Dylan Grima (Balzan), 67' Goran Mujanovic (Birkirkara).
Scorers: 78' Own Goal (Balzan), 80' Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Vito Plut (Birkirkara).
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