Match Report: Birkirkara FC 2-0 Naxxar Lions FC

by Ayrton Galea - 3rd February 2018

Birkirkara FC extended their winning streak in the BOV Premier League to seven consecutive victories, when two goals in the second half by Terence Agius and Waldemar Acosta enabled them to beat Naxxar Lions FC with a 2-0 score.

The Stripes maintained their impressive form and chalked-up their seventh consecutive victory without conceding a goal to climb to the third place of the BOV Premier League. They joined Gzira United FC with thirty-four points, three above Hibernians FC who have a game in hand.

It was another well-deserved result for the Stripes who enjoyed an edge over their opponents for long stretches. Terence Agius and Waldemar Acosta, both new signings in the January Transfer Market, scored their first goal with our Club.

Coach Paul Zammit was forced to make two changes from the last match as Edward Herrera was suspended while Ryan Scicluna was ruled-out injured. Cain Attard replaced Herrera while Terence Agius was given the nod for his first start with our Club to replace Scicluna.

The First Half

The Stripes went out on the attack, as their made their intentions clear to notice right from the start. They went close after six minutes when Dimitrov's shot from inside the box was blocked by goalkeeper Christoph Nicht, and the rebound by Carlos Alberto was deflected into a corner kick.

Cain Attard almost surprised the Naxxar goalkeeper with a cross-shot on the twelfth minute, but Nicht turned the ball into a corner kick. Two minutes later, Nicht produced another good save to deny Andelkovic's fierce shot from outside the box.

The Naxxar goalkeeper was once again the protagonist to keep the score unchanged on the twenty-seventh minute, when he produced a brilliant save to deny a brilliant shot by Dimitrov. Forward Waldemar Acosta failed to capitalise from the rebound.

Acosta rose high to connect with a fine header off a cross by Terence Agius, but his effort ended just over the bar. The Uruguayan forward then was denied by Nicht as the Naxxar stopped blocked his close-range shot from a tight angle.

The Second Half

The Stripes were quick to make their efforts count in the second-half, as they surged ahead after just two minutes. Agius and Dimitrov played a delightful one-two combination, with Dimitrov serving Agius who struck a well-placed wonderful shot past goalkeeper Nicht.

Birkirkara continued to dictate matters. On the fifty-second minute, Dimitrov controlled the ball inside the box and was quick to hit a fine curling shot that forced goalkeeper Nicht to dive full stretch and block his attempt.

However, the Stripes weren't denied three minutes later. Carlos Alberto served Fernando Barbosa who found unmarked Waldemar Acosta and the Uruguayan forward headed home from close-range. This was the first goal for Acosta in his second match with our Club.

Goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski was alert to save a fine shot by Daren Falzon on the sixty-second minute, and ten minutes later the Birkirkara goalkeeper did well as he easily saved a direct free-kick by Daniel Mateo Bustos.

Forward Acosta was unlucky not to score his second personal goal on the seventy-fifth minute when his header was cleared off the goal-line, following a corner. Moments later, Dimitrov was unlucky not crown his brilliant performance with a goal but his shot was blocked by Nicht.

Late in the match, Birkirkara FC Youth Academy Product Nicholas Farrugia made his debut with the Senior Team when he was included as a substitute off Jake Grech.

Birkirkara FC's rapid-forward Srdjan Dimitrov was voted the BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Fernando Barbosa, Mislav Andelkovic, Jake Grech (90' Nicholas Farrugia), Kurt Zammit, Nikola Vukanac, Carlos Alberto, Waldemar Acosta (83' Gianluca Zammit), Srdjan Dimitrov (86' Ayrton Attard), Cain Attard, Terence Agius.

NAXXAR LIONS: Christoph Nicht, Rafael Caetano, Mailson Junior, Jean Diego Moser (68' Mark Fenech), Manolita Micallef, Daren Falzon (68' Joel Ellul) , Duane Bonnici, Daniel Mateo Bustos, Angus Buhagiar (83' Ryan Gilmour Cassar), Elhadji Ndoye, Yuri Messias.

Referee: Eman Grech
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace.

Yellow Cards: 23' Terence Agius (Birkirkara), 77' Angus Buhagiar (Naxxar Lions)

Scorers: 47' Terence Agius, 55' Waldemar Acosta (Birkirkara).

BOV Player of the Match: Srdjan Dimitrov (Birkirkara).

comments powered by Disqus