Match Report: Birkirkara FC 3-0 Qrendi FC

by Ayrton Galea - 17th February 2018

Birkirkara FC secured their place in the Semi-Final of the BOOST FA Trophy, when they defeated Qrendi FC with a comfortable 3-0 score, thanks to a goal each by Cain Attard, Nikola Vukanac and Edward Herrera.

The Stripes were superior right from the start, but they had to wait till four minutes from half-time to break dead-lock thanks to Cain Attard. There was no way back for the Stripes in the second half, as they added another two goals to seal their place in the last-four of the FA Trophy.

Coach Paul Zammit named a strong formation despite making no less than four changes from the last match. Goalkeeper David Cassar, Edward Herrera, Ryan Scicluna and Waldemar Acosta replaced Kristijan Naumovski, Kurt Zammit, Terence Agius and Jake Grech.

The First Half

The Stripes started the match with all guns blazing as they were all over their opponents right from the start. Cain Attard dashed forward on the left side before supplying a cross towards Rolovic, who had his fine header tipped into a corner kick by goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi.

Birkirkara remained on the attack in the opening minutes as Carlo Alberto did a fine solo-action, but his shot was saved by Azzopardi. Two minutes later, Vukanac connected to Dimitrov's corner, but his header was easily saved by Azzopardi.

For all their superiority, the Stripes began to struggle to penetrate in the third end as Qrendi grew in confidence. The Stripes were still enjoying large-swatches of possession, but they lacked the combination up-front.

The Stripes stepped-up their tempo as the last fifteen minutes of the first half approached. Carlos Alberto connected well with a cross by Attard, but his header was saved by goalkeeper Azzopardi. Azzopardi then did another fine save to neutralise a fine shot by Vukanac.

Goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi was the protagonist to keep the score level on the thirty-seventh minute. The Qrendi goalkeeper pulled a fine save to block a shot from inside the box by Waldemar Acosta and from the rebound the goalkeeper saved Carlos Alberto's header.

The Stripes put their superiority into account when they broke the dead-lock four minutes from half-time. Dimitrov's corner kick found Vukanac who headed the ball into path of Cain Attard and the latter slotted home from close-range.

The Second Half

Qrendi had a rare scoring chance four minutes inside the second half. Defender Cain Attard failed to clear the ball, but the Birkirkara defender made amendments for his mistake by producing a well-timed blocked to block a shot by Julio Martins.

The Stripes made an instant reaction. Waldemar Acosta made fine movement with the ball before serving Dimitrov who did well to dash inside the box but failed to hit the target from an ideal position, as his shot ended wide.

Birkirkara doubled the lead on the fifty-sixth minute. Dimitrov delivered an inch-perfect corner kick that saw Captain Nikola Vukanac rising high to hit a powerful header past goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi.

In the driving-seat with a two-goal lead, the Stripes almost added their third twenty minutes from time. Acosta served substitute Jake Grech who struck a fierce shot, but his effort was denied by a brilliant save of goalkeeper Azzopardi, who turned the ball into a corner.

Vukanac had his header saved by Azzopardi, following a corner by Grech while goalkeeper David Cassar made a routine save on a direct free-kick by Dhonatan Santos Da Hora on the eighty-third minute.

Birkirkara sealed the issue with the third goal three minutes from time. A corner kick was short cleared, with the ball reaching Cain Attard, who served Edward Herrera and the latter struck a wonderful finish past goalkeeper Azzopardi from outside the box.

BIRKIRKARA: David Cassar, Edward Herrera, Fernando Barbosa, Mislav Andelkovic, Ognjen Rolovic (76' Gianluca Zammit), Nikola Vukanac, Carlos Alberto (86' Zack Cassar), Waldemar Acosta, Srdjan Dimitrov (59' Jake Grech), Ryan Scicluna, Cain Attard.

QRENDI: Julian Azzopardi, Mark Farrugia, Bjorn Bondin (76' Kenneth Abela), Petar Mrvic, Dhonatan Santos Da Hora, Zachary Bowman (57' Aaron Agius), Emerson Amaira (63' Dylan Zarb), Mark Barbara, Shunsuke Nakamura, Julio Cesar Sousa Martins Da Silva, Davide Martins.

Referee: Emanuel Grech
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Dusan Petrovic
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cross.

Yellow Cards: 21' Petar Mrvic, 52' Zachary Bowman, 86' Aaron Agius.

Scorers: 41' Cain Attard, 56' Nikola Vukanac, 87' Edward Herrera.

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