Late goals put Birkirkara back on track
by Ayrton Galea - 26th November 2016
Birkirkara FC returned to winning ways in the BOV Premier League when they scored three late goals in the last seven minutes to register a fine 3-1 victory over Tarxien Rainbows FC.
The Stripes overcame a difficult task this evening they edged the Rainbows with late drama, as they had to wait to seven minutes from time to break the dead-lock thanks to a penalty well converted by Vito Plut. Dimitrov made them two and an own goal increased the lead before Triston Caruana scored a consolation goal for the Rainbows.
Following three games with a win, the Stripes heaved a sigh of relief as they consolidated their fourth joined place with Floriana on twenty-seven points mark, five under Hibernians who beat Sliema Wanderers with a 3-1 score.
Coach Drazen Besek made one change from the last match as Ryan Scicluna replaced Shaun Bajada. The Croatian Coach fielded the same 4-3-1-2 formation with Scicluna joining Mislav Andelkovic and Gareth Sciberras in the midfield. Dimitrov took his usual role, behind the forward duo of Temile and Plut. There were no changes at the back.
The First Half
Birkirkara went close after seven minutes. Ryan Scicluna had his shot from an ideal position deflected into a corner kick, off a fine cross by Dimitrov. From the resulting corner, taken by Dimitrov, Temile had his shot from yards out failing to find the target.
Tarxien replied on the twelfth minute when Alex Da Paixao Alves did a fine run on the right flank and served a cross on the second post which saw Daniel De Leon Garcia's shot from ideal position blocked by the defender. Moments later, a volley by Triston Caruana was saved by goalkeeper Kopric.
The Rainbows had strong protests to send off midfielder Ryan Scicluna on the thirty-fourth minute. Scicluna, who was already cautioned, committed another foul by pulling the shirt of the opponent. However, the referee kept his cards in his pocket.
However, Coach Besek took no risks at such an early stage as just a minute later, Shaun Bajada replaced Scicluna. There were no tactical changes as the Stripes kept their 4-3-1-2 shape with Bajada included as a midfielder on the left side.
De Leon Garcia, one of the most effective players for the Rainbows, stole the ball off Cain Attard on the thirty-seventh minute but his cross-shot ended over. Two minutes later, a volley by Claudio Frances was easily saved by Kopric.
The Stripes were unlucky not to break the dead-lock two minutes from half-time. Joseph Zerafa pushed forward from the left side before serving Vito Plut with an inch-perfect through-ball but the Slovenian forward saw his shot denied by the foot of the post.
The Second Half
The Stripes looked to be piling more pressure at the start of the second-half as only a victory would satisfy their needs. Four minutes inside the second half, a dangerous direct free-kick by Dimitrov ended over the bar while ten minutes later, a shot by Gareth Sciberras from good position ended wide.
Birkirkara kept pushing forward and Dimitrov went close once again on the hour-mark, when with a solo-action, he concluded it with a powerful shot scratching past the post.
Coach Drazen Besek introduced Matteo Desira Buttigieg off Gareth Sciberras just past the hour-mark. Desira Buttigieg was included as a centre-forward in a 4-2-1-3 formation as Plut and Temile were now patrolling the wings.
The Stripes went close on the seventy-second minute when a free-kick by Dimitrov, the ball landed at the feet of Christian Bubalovic who struck a fine low strike which scratched past the far post as they continued to pile-up the pressure.
The inclusion of Desira Buttigieg once again proved to be the key for the Stripes to break the dead-lock seven minutes from time. The mobile forward did quick movement to run for the ball but was floored inside the box by Matthew Tabone and the referee ordered the penalty. From the spot, Plut made no mistake by putting the ball into one side and the goalkeeper into another.
One became two three minutes later as the Stripes were efficient to double their lead. Srdjan Dimitrov struck a fine free-kick which hit the wall and the ball took a deflection into the net. For Dimitrov, this was the sixth goal and he is the joined team scorer with Plut.
Birkirkara put the victory beyond any doubts on the ninetieth minute mark. A fast counter-attack saw Dimitrov serving Temile on the run who switched the play with an excellent through-ball to Plut who saw his effort deflected by Matthew Tabone into his own net.
In the second minute of added time, Tarxien pulled one back thanks to Triston Caruana who hit home with a long-range strike after served by De Leon Garcia.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Christian Bubalovic, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras (61' Matteo Desira Buttigieg), Mislav Andelkovic (90' Rowen Muscat), Ryan Scicluna (35' Shaun Bajada), Srdjan Dimitrov, Frank Temile, Vito Plut.
TARXIEN RAINBOWS: Andrea Cassar, Julian Galea, Triston Caruana, Daniel Ponce de Leon Garcia, Alex Nilsson, Sergio Fernandez Prendes, Daniel Zerafa, Alex da Paixao Alves, Matthew Tabone, Sacha Borg, Claudio Daniel Frances (70′ Andrew Agius).
Referee: Etienne Mangion.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono.
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow Cards: 22' Ryan Scicluna, 78' Joseph Zerafa, 87' Srdjan Dimitrov (Birkirkara), Julian Galea, Matthew Tabone, Triston Caruana, Daniel Zerafa (Tarxien Rainbows).
Scorers: 83' Vito Plut, 86' Srdjan Dimitrov, 90' Own Goal (Birkirkara) 90+2' Triston Caruana (Tarxien).
BOV Player of the Match: Trison Caruana (Tarxien Rainbows).
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