Match Report: Birkirkara FC 2-0 St. Andrew's FC
by Ayrton Galea - 24th November 2017
Birkirkara FC returned to winning ways in the BOV Premier League as two goals in the second half by Martin Klein and Luke Montebello earned them three precious points thanks to a 2-0 victory over St. Andrew's FC.
The Stripes registered three precious points on Friday evening, as in a match that they were superior for long stretches of the match, they scored two goals in the second half to return to winning ways and move temporally in the eighth position.
Martin Klein put the Stripes ahead just past the hour mark, heading home off a corner kick by Carlos Alberto and ten minutes from time, BOV Player of the Match Luke Montebello ensured the victory with a fine first-time strike.
Coach Paul Zammit was forced to re-shuffle his back-four line as injured Cain Attard joined the suspended duo of Kurt Zammit and Lucas Maia on the unavailability list. The Birkirkara Coach gave the nod to Edward Herrera, Landry Mulemo and Martin Klein for a place in the starting-eleven.
Luke Montebello replaced injured Bruno Andrade in the offensive department, while Alexander Nilsson was named among the substitutes. Under-19's Team player Nick Borg was awarded with the Senior Team for the first time.
The First Half
Birkirkara created the first scoring opportunity on the ninth minute. A curling corner-kick found Fabiano Oliveira on the second post who was first on the ball, but his header ended wide by inches.
Moments later, the Stripes went close again. A powerful low direct free-kick by Carlos Alberto ended wide by inches, as the sliding Oliveira failed to hit. On the other side of the pitch, Martin David did fine foot-work on the right wing before his low shot was blocked by Schranz.
Birkirkara threatened again on the nineteenth minute, when Martin Klein's header was saved by Calleja Cremona. Two minutes later, Jake Grech tried his luck with a powerful shot, but his shot from outside the box was saved by Calleja Cremona.
The Stripes produced their best scoring chance on the thirty-second minute. Carlos Alberto made a dazzling run down the right flank before his low shot found Oliveira. The Brazilian stirker could have concluded better as his central strike was saved by Cremona. Moments later, Montebello's shot ended wide by a whisker.
Just before the half-time whistle, Fabiano Oliveira showed excellent technical skills to dribble past his marker, and his cross found Jake Grech who controlled the ball well but fired over from inside the box.
The Second Half
Two minutes inside the second half, Aidan Friggieri struck a well-placed shot but goalkeeper Schranz made a fine save. Just a minute later, Grech served a brilliant through-ball to Carlos Alberto, but the latter's shot from a tight-angle was blocked by Cremona.
Birkirkara continued to dictate matters and went close ten minutes inside the second half. Carlos Alberto, one of Birkirkara's best players, played a delightful one-two pass with Fabiano Oliveira and the latter's powerful shot was saved by Calleja Cremona.
The Stripes went close on the sixty-first minute. Montebello sent an inch-perfect through-ball towards the un-marked Carlos Alberto, who had his powerful strike turned into a corner kick by the Saints' goalkeeper.
From the resulting corner kick, Birkirkara deservingly surged ahead. A well-taken corner kick by Carlos Alberto on the first-half saw Martin Klein hitting a powerful header, past goalkeeper Calleja Cremona.
Birkirkara doubled their lead ten minutes from time. Carlos Alberto made a wonderful run down the right flank before he delivered an inch-perfect cross towards uke Montebello who hit home with a fine first-time finish.
The Birkirkara forward Luke Montebello was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Philip Schranz, Edward Herrera, Martin Klein, Landry Mulemo, Nikola Vukanac, Ryan Scicluna, Mislav Andelkovic (70' Llywelyn Cremona), Jake Grech, Carlos Alberto, Luke Montebello (80' Ryan Camenzuli), Fabiano Oliveira (67' Alexander Nilsson).
ST. ANDREW'S: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Adrian Borg, Aidan Frrigieri (68' Marcus Grima), Tano Azian, Kye Butler (60' Degran Jackson), Ricardo Martin, Joseph Farrugia, Jacob Walker, Martin Davis, Travis Blagrove.
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, William Debattista.
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius.
Yellow Cards: 14' Tano Azian, 41' Nikola Vukanac, 43' Martin Ricardo, 59' Landry Mulemo, 69' Degran Jackson.
Scorers: 61' Martin Klein, 80' Luke Montebello (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Luke Montebello (Birkirkara).
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