Stripes register second consecutive victory
by Ayrton Galea - 28th October 2017
Birkirkara FC registered their second consecutive victory in the BOV Premier League, when they defeated Tarxien Rainbows FC with a 3-1 score, thanks to a goal each by Carlos Alberto, Fabiano Oliveira and Nikola Vukanac.
It was another well-deserved victory for the Stripes, who dictated matters for long stretches and built a two-goal cushion by Carlos Alberto and Oliveira. Tarxien got back in contention mid-way through the second-half but Vukanac's late goal sealed another three precious points for the Stripes.
Coach Paul Zammit made just one change from last week's victory as Fabiano Oliveira was rewarded with his first start as he replaced Jake Grech. David Cassar retained his place between the posts following last week's clean-sheet.
The First Half
Birkirkara created the first scoring opportunity after seven minutes. Carlos Alberto's long-ball found Luke Montebello who had his shot blocked by goalkeeper Christian Cassar.
The Stripes went close on the tenth minute. An inch-perfect free-kick by Mislav Andelkovic saw Fabiano Oliveira hitting a powerful header, but goalkeeper Cassar made a brilliant save to deny the Birkirkara forward.
Fabiano Oliveira, the Birkirkara towering forward, continued to be one of the most players involved into action. Attard served an accurate through-ball towards Guillaumier who sent a second-post cross but Oliveira's header from inside the box ended wide.
The Stripes continued to dictate matters and they were unlucky not to surge ahead on the thirty-second minute. An excellent through-ball by Guillaumier unzipped the defence as Luke Montebello beat the offside trap and rounded goalkeeper Cassar, but his effort was cleared off the goal-line by Ebiabowei Baker.
With the match heading into a goal-less half-time score, Birkirkara made their superiority counts as they broke the dead-lock two minutes from half-time. Carlos Alberto hit a wonderful direct free-kick from a diagonal position that surprised goalkeeper Cassar. This was his first goal with our Club.
The Second Half
The Stripes registered the perfect start in the second half as they doubled their lead in just sixty seconds. Montebello sent a low cross towards Oliveira who showed great skill to floor his marker before hitting a well-placed shot past goalkeeper Cassar to score his first goal with our Club.
Montebello went close twice in quick succession to add Birkirkara's third goal just before the hour mark. First, he had his fierce shot from inside the box deflected into a corner while from the resulting action, his spectacular over-head kick was denied with a brilliant save of Cassar.
The Stripes remained in total control and went close again on the sixty-second minute. Scicluna sent a brilliant through-pass towards Carlos Alberto, but his diagonal shot scratched past the post.
However, against the run of the play, it was Tarxien who got back in contention on the sixty-third minute. Matteo Desira Buttigieg, who substituted in just a few moments earlier, profited from slack defender before he hit home into an empty net.
Against the run of the play, Tarxien narrowed the gap on the sixty-third minute. Matteo Desira Buttigieg, who was just substituted in moments earlier, made the best of slack defending and lack of communication with the goalkeeper as he hit home into an empty net.
Tarxien now gained confidence and they pile-up the pressure on the Stripes. However, in a fast counter-attack for the Stripes, Lucas Maia shot wide while on the other side of the pitch, Sean Cipriott's shot from outside the box was saved by David Cassar.
However, Birkirkara made sure of the victory ten minutes from time when they scored the third goal to regain a comfortable two-goal lead. Substitute Jake Grech delivered an inch-perfect free-kick on the first post and Nikola Vukanac hit a well-placed header past goalkeeper Chirstian Cassar.
Birkirkara regained a two-goal lead and wrapped-up their victory with the third goal on the eightieth minute. An inch-perfect free-kick by substitute Jake Grech saw Nikola Vukanac rising high to hit a powerful header past goalkeeper Cassar.
Referee Sandro Spiteri's full-time whistle found the Stripes registering their second consecutive victory to build some momentum before they face Balzan in next week's big match.
Birkirkara's towering forward Fabiano Oliveira was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: David Cassar, Nikola Vukanac, Lucas Maia, Mislav Andelkovic, Fabiano Oliveira, Carlos Alberto (83' Llywelyn Cremona), Cain Attard, Kurt Zammit, Matthew Guillaumier, Ryan Scicluna (73' Jake Grech), Luke Montebello (67' Edward Herrera).
TARXIEN RAINBOWS: Christian Cassar, Ebiabowei Baker, Godwin Mckay, Matthew Spiteri (70' Mamadou Traore), Ayrton Azzopardi (85' Arsenne Rye Cilia Mumford), James Brincat, Andrew Agius, Luke Grech (60' Matteo Desira Buttigieg), Ryan Darmanin, Ricardo Silva Faria, Sean Cipriott.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Assistant Referee: Alan Camilleri, Peter Abela.
Fourth Official: Mario Apap.
Yellow Cards: 44' Nikola Vukanac, 64' Ryan Scicluna, 76' Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), 52' Sean Cipriott, 66' Matteo Desira Buttigieg (Tarxien Rainbows).
Scorers: 43' Carlos Alberto, 46' Fabiano Oliveira, 80' Nikola Vukanac (Birkirkara), 63' Matteo Desira Buttigieg (Tarxien Rainbows).
BOV Player of the Match: Fabiano Oliveira (Birkirkara)
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