Shining Stripes hit seven past helpless Gzira United
by Ayrton Galea - 22nd October 2016
Birkirkara FC registered this season's biggest victory when with another shining display, they scored six goals in the second half to trounce Gzira United FC with a most comfortable 7-1 score.
The Stripes delivered another confirmation of their present rich form when they proved to be too strong for opponents Gzira United and chalked-up their second victory to strengthen their second place and keep up the pressure on leaders Balzan.
Birkirkara were superior for long stretches after they took an early lead thanks to Vito Plut but they were unable to convert their scoring chances in the first-half. However, the story completely changed in the second half as they scored three goals in the first nine minutes of the second half to put the win beyond any doubts and went on increasing their tally to seven.
Coach Drazen Besek made only change from last week's victory as Ryan Scicluna regained a first-eleven place as he replaced Rowen Muscat. Predrag Jovic was back from suspension but centre-defenders Christian Bubalovic and Nikola Vukanac both deservingly retained their place.
The First Half
The Stripes surged ahead after eight minutes. Joseph Zerafa made one of his typical overlaps as he burst forward before serving Srdjan Dimitrov who put Temile inside the box who anticipated goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi and flicked the ball to Vito Plut who had a routine task of tapping the ball home.
Birkirkara threatened to double their lead on the thirteenth minute. Srdjan Dimitrov, who was in rich form, delivered a first-post corner kick that saw Vukanac rising high to hit a fine header that left goalkeeper Azzopardi stranded but the ball was cleared off the goal-line by Zachary Scerri.
Gzira replied on the fifteenth minute when a direct curling corner kick by Rafael Ledesma hit the crossbar while two minutes later, Temile profited from a lack of communication at the rear-guard of the Maroons but his shot ended wide.
The Stripes, in control of the match, went close to double their lead mid-way through the first half when Cain Attard unzipped the defence with a pass to Plut inside the box but the Slovenian's shot scratched past the far post.
Birkirkara were unlucky again nine minutes from half-time when Nikola Vukanac's header came off the post after goalkeeper Azzopardi had fisted away Dimitrov's cross from the left. Moments later, Azzopardi had to fist the ball away from danger and the loose ball fell to Temile who saw his first-time effort ending over.
With the Stripes failing to convert their number of chances, it was Gzira who almost levelled the score in the additional time of the first half. A fast break-away for the Maroons saw Gianmarco Conti dashing forward before finding Moises Avila Perez inside the box but his shot ended over the bar.
The Second Half
The Stripes started the second half strongly as they doubled the lead five minutes inside the second half. Cain Attard, pushing forward from the right, sent a cross inside the box which was deflected by Andelkovic in the path of Dimitrov who kept his composure and hit a fine strike past Azzopardi.
Just three minutes later, two became three. Ryan Scicluna picked-up possession off an erratic clearance and struck a wonderful lob from the centre-circle that surprised goalkeeper Azzopardi to put Birkirkara's minds at rest.
Birkirkara looked to have opened the second half on fire as they made them four just a minute later, on the fifty-fourth minute. Dimitrov sent an inviting through-ball to Plut on the left and the Slovenian forward dashed inside the box before dragging the ball to Sciberras who drilled past Azzopardi.
Gzira were down and out and with the Stripes looking to have no intention of slowing their rhythm, they made them five on the seventy-second minute. Goalkeeper Azzopardi produced a fine save to deny a close-range effort by Temile but from the resulting corner, the Nigerian forward headed home a cross by substitute Shaun Bajada.
BOV Player of the Match Srdjan Dimitrov made them six three minutes later. Bajada was involved in action against as he pushed forward from the left side before serving the Serbian technical midfielder who struck a brilliant curling into the top corner past Azzopardi.
Maroons' Moises Avila Perez pulled one back as he drilled a low shot past Kopric but the Stripes scored the final goal of the match six minutes from time. It was another substitute who shined, Matthew Guillaumier, who after collected a cross by Andelkovic, the youngster beat goalkeeper Azzopardi with a fantastic in-swinging cross-shot.
More woes followed for Gzira as they finished the game with ten players as referee Glen Tonna adjudicated goalkeeper Azzopardi that have fisted Plut's effort from outside the box and he was given a straight red card.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Christian Bubalovic, Gareth Sciberras (62' Matthew Guillaumier), Mislav Andelkovic, Srdjan Dimitrov, Vito Plut, Nikola Vukanac, Frank Temile, Joseph Zerafa (55' Shaun Pierre Bajada), Cain Attard (69' Rowen Muscat), Ryan Scicluna.
GZIRA UNITED: Jamie Azzopardi, Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma (76' John Nwoba), Gianmarco Conti, Antonio de Queiroz Machedo Neto, Juan Carlos Corbolan, Jonathan Bondin (63' Clifford Gatt Baldacchino), Moises Availa Perez, Jacob Borg, Zachary Scerri, Souleymane Diamoutene, Yanis Tonna (63' Dyson Falzon).
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Assistant Referees: Mitchel Spiteri, Peter Abela.
Fourth Official: Etienne Mangion.
Yellow Cards: 41' Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara).
Scorers:8' Vito Plut, 50' Srdjan Dimitrov. 53' Ryan Scicluna, 54' Gareth Sciberras, 72' Frank Temile, 75' Srdjan Dimitrov, 84' Matthew Guillaumier (Birkirkara), 77' Moises Avila Perez (Gzira).
BOV Player of the Match: Srdjan Dimitrov (Birkirkara).
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