Stripes move fourth with a comfortable victory

by Ayrton Galea - 12th March 2017

Birkirkara FC registered a comfortable victory on Sunday afternoon, when with a very satisfactory performance they defeated Hamrun Spartans with a 3-0 score, and climb to the fourth place in the BOV Premier League.

The Stripes were all over their opponents from the start as they produced one of the best recent performances. This was a very useful victory for the Stripes, who besides climbing to the fourth position, now they have registered their second consecutive victory.

Birkirkara surged ahead ten minutes from half-time thanks to Gonzalo Malan as he gave the team something to show for their superiority. Bubalovic doubled the lead on the hour mark and substitute Dimitrov added further gloss on the comfortable victory.

The relatively new 3-1-4-2 formation opted by Coach Nikola Jaros, seems to suit the Stripes, as they had another brilliant tactical performance. They have now completed their second clean-sheet while up-front the combination of Malan and Alba is leaving the desired results. On the other hand, the inclusion of Agius seems to strengthen the midfield.

Coach Nikola Jaros made two changes from the last match. Mislav Andelkovic replaced Srdjan Dimitrov, while Predrag Jovic who was suspended for this match, was replaced by Christian Bubalovic.

The First Half

Birkirkara enjoyed a fine start, and they went close after three minutes. Malan showed great technique, as he back-heeled the ball towards Agius, and the latter's cross was headed wide by Sciberras from inside the box.

Bubalovic rose high but headed wide a second-post corner kick by Alba on the ninth minute while moments later, Alba supplied an excellent cross towards Malan, who did well to shield the ball inside the box, but his powerful shot was blocked by the defender.

The Stripes went close again on the twenty-second minute. Alba struck an excellent curling free-kick that forced goalkeeper Cassar to dive full stretch and deflect the ball into a corner kick.

Gonzalo Malan put the ball at the back of the net on the twenty-sixth minute, following a cross by Miguel Alba. However, he admitted with the referee that he had scored with his hand. Following this confession, the referee disallowed the goal and booked Malan.

However, Malan wasn't denied nine minutes later, as the Stripes broke the dead-lock. Andelkovic served Herrera who delivered a perfect low cross towards Malan and drilled a low shot home past Cassar, to give the Stripes a very-deserved lead.

The combination of Alba and Malan up-front was evident again. Two minutes from half-time, Alba delivered a fine cross towards Malan who sprinted inside the box but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Cassar. Moments later, Herrera had his shot blocked from inside the box.

The Second Half

Birkirkara could have increased the lead two minutes inside the second half. Alba sprinted from the half-way line all the way inside the box but took too long to conclude as his effort was blocked by the defender. Four minutes later, a long-distance shot by Agius ended wide.

In the first scoring opportunity for Hamrun, ten minutes inside the second half, a direct free-kick by Brandon Diego Paiber was saved by goalkeeper Henry Bonello. Two minutes later, Malan did well to avoid his marker but his shot ended over.

The Stripes were rewarded for their superiority with the second goal on the hour mark. Miguel Alba delivered an excellent first-post corner kick thaw saw Christian Bubalovic hitting a bullet-header home.

Jhon Obregon, the latest signing in the January Transfer Market, made his debut with our Club when he was included as a substitute, off Gonzalo Malan on the sixty-eighth minute. Malan was deservingly applauded by the Birkirkara supporters for a very satisfactory performance.

Birkirkara went close to increase the lead fifteen minutes from time. Alba did well to shield the ball before serving Agius, who hit a powerful strike which was deflected into a corner kick. Five minutes later, Andelkovic had a fine shot deflected into a corner kick.

Birkirkara were unlucky not to make them three seven minutes from time. Substitute Ryan Scicluna delivered a perfect low-cross towards another substitute Obregon who hit a powerful shot from inside the box, but his effort smashed against the crossbar.

The Stripes wrapped up the victory with the third goal two minutes from time. In a fine combination between two substitutes, Scicluna made a fine solo-action before serving Dimitrov with an inch-perfect pass inside the box, and the technical midfielder calmly placed his effort in the net.

Technical midfielder Miguel Alba was voted the BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Henry Bonello, Edward Herrera (77' Ryan Scicluna), Christian Bubalovic, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Edmond Agius (84' Srdjan Dimitrov), Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Miguel Alba, Cain Attard, Gonzalo Malan (68' Jhon Obregon).

HAMRUN: David Cassar, Christian Emeka Anigbogu, Manolito Micallef, Karl Micallef, Siraj Edin Arab (77' Daniel Debono), Luke Grech, Igor Misan, Brandon Diego Paiber, Saturday Nanapere, Massimiliano Giusti (64' Leandro Wallace Motta Dos Santos), Luke Sciberras (64' Mathieu Manset).

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Assistant Referees: Sammy Attard, Dusan Petrovic.

Fourth Official: Eman Grech.

Yellow Cards: 26' Henry Bonello, 26' Gonzalo Malan, 53' Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara).

Scorers: 35' Gonzalo Malan, 60' Christian Bubalovic, 88' Srdjan Dimitrov (Birkirkara).

BOV Player of the Match: Miguel Alba (Birkirkara).

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