Stripes eliminated
by Ayrton Galea - 8th May 2016
Birkirkara FC's hopes of defending the FA Trophy were dashed on Saturday afternoon when they were knocked out after a goal by Denni Rocha Dos Santos just before half-time was enough for Sliema Wanderers to hold on to a narrow 1-0 victory.
Coming from a number of positive weeks, the Stripes were regarded as favourites for this match but they let down as they were streets behind their recent performances and it was the Wanderers who left the National Stadium delighted with a top-notch performance and with a place in the final.
The Stripes certainly let down. They were erratic for most of the times in their offensive department as despite having large swatches of possession, especially Gary Muir was sent off for Sliema twenty minutes from time, they failed to convert their numerical advantage into scoring opportunities as they hardly tested goalkeeper Entonjo Elezaj.
Frank Temile and Ryan Camenzuli regained a first-team selection for Birkirkara as they replaced Matthew Guillaumier and Edison Bilbao in the only two changes from the last match against Balzan. Joseph Zerafa was suspended while Nikola Vukanac was the only injured player.
Mr. Besek fielded a 4-2-1-3 formation. Goalkeeper Kopric defended the posts, Bubalovic and Mazzetti formed the centre-backs while Attard and Mujanovic started on the side-backs. Andelkovic and Sciberras started as holding midfielders while Zammit began in an offensive midfield position. The forward trio was composed by Camenzuli and Temile on the wings while Plut was the centre-striker.
The First Half
The Stripes went close in their first decent scoring opportunity after ten minutes. Ryan Camenzuli's curling corner found Mauricio Mazzetti who risen high to hit a fine header but his effort was only deflected into an another corner.
Birkirkara began to pile-up the pressure. Vito Plut's persistent pressing created havoc inside the box and managed to get through past the Sliema's rear-guard but had the ball cleared into safety by an excellent tackle of Stefano Biancardi before he could pull the trigger.
Sliema also went close on the fifteenth minute. Zammit's late tackle resulted in a dangerous free-kick outside the box but Gary Muir's powerful direct effort ended over. Moments later, the Wanderers had a shot from inside the box ending over again.
Birkirkara threatened past the half-hour mark when Gareth Sciberras exchanged possession with Plut and Sciberras' shot took a deflection which changed the ball's direction but alert goalkeeper Elezaj saved his attempt.
The Stripes went close four minutes from half-time. Camemzuli's corner kick was short cleared and it was the same Birkirkara player who won possession before unleashing a powerful drive but his shot ended wide by inches.
However just one minute before half-time, Sliema Wanderers surged ahead. Mark Scerri exchanged possession with Jean Paul Farrugia before surging inside the box and sent a ball towards the middle of the box where Denni Dos Santos reached before Mujanovic and he slotted home from close-range.
The Second Half
For the start of the second half, Mr. Drazen Besek made his first substitution as he included forward Ryan Darmanin off Kurt Zammit. The Stripes were now with two central striker Plut and Darmanin while Camenzuli and Temile remained on the wings.
Birkirkara were unlucky not to equalise on the fifty-eighth minute. A curling corner kick was short-cleared as the ball landed at the feet of Cain Attard who caught goalkeeper Elezaj out of his position but his effort was cleared off the goal-line.
The Stripes continued to attack and they produced another fine opportunity on the hour mark. Goran Mujanovic, attacking from the left, served Ryan Darmanin who controlled the ball before unleashing a powerful volley from distance that forced goalkeeper Elezaj to dive to his right to save his attempt.
Birkirkara almost grabbed the equalising goal twenty minutes inside the second-half. A corner kick by Camenzuli was short-cleared by Jean Paul Farrugia and Goran Mujanovic produced a powerful shot that gave the illusion of the goal but his shot ended wide by inches with the sliema goalkeeper beaten.
Sliema suffered a set-back on the sixty-seventh minute when one of their best players, Denni Rocha Dos Santos was stretchered out as he was unable to continue playing with Njongo Priso taking his place.
The pressure of the Stripes, particularly the runs of Temile, was being too much for the Sliema's rear-guard as they ended up playing with a player less. Gary Muir was sent off for two bookings in less than a minute after two late fouls on Temile.
One should have expected the Stripes to press higher and be more direct but they failed to do so. Even the introduction of Herrera down the right wing, didn't make any particular effect as Sliema remained disciplined at the back to book their place in the final and ends Birkirkara's hopes.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Christian Bubalovic, Mauricio Mazzetti, Goran Mujanovic, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Kurt Zammit (46' Ryan Darmanin), Frank Temile, Ryan Camenzuli (83' Edward Herrera), Vito Plut.
SLIEMA WANDERERS: Entonjo Elezaj, Alex Muscat, Mark Scerri, Clifford Gatt Baldaccinho, Marko Potezica, Peter Xuereb, Johann Bezzina, Denni Rocha Dos Santos (67' Njongo Priso), Gary Muir, Jean Paul Farrugia (83' Armando Dos Santos), Stefano Biancardi.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Sammy Attard.
Additional Assistant Referees: Mario Apap, Matthew Degabriele.
Fourth Official: William Debattista.
Yellow Cards: 54' Jean Paul Farrugia, 69' Gary Muir (Sliema).
Red Cards: 70' Gary Muri (Sliema).
Scorer: 45' Denni Rocha Dos Santos (Sliema).
