Match Report: Birkirkara FC 3-1 Tarxien Rainbows FC
by Ayrton Galea - 17th March 2018
Birkirkara FC returned to winning ways in the BOV Premier League when they came from behind to defeat Tarxien Rainbows FC with a 3-1 score on Friday evening.
The Stripes fell behind after just fifteen minutes but a goal each by Waldemar Acosta and Jake Grech turned the score in their favour till the end of the first half. Team's top scorer Grech another goal in the second half to make sure that his team bounce back to winning ways.
Coach Paul Zammit made three changes from last week's disappointing defeat. Lucas Maia earned a recall in the first-eleven selection as he replaced Nikola Vukanac, while Jake Grech and Waldemar Acosta replaced the injured Srdjan Dimitrov and Ognjen Rolovic.
The First Half
Tarxien Rainbows stunned the Stripes with the opening goal on the fifteenth minute. Barbosa's erratic pass was intercepted by rapid-winger Tounkara who dashed forward, and his low shot was continued into an empty net by Ricardo Silva Faria.
Birkirkara made the score level on the thirty-fifth minute. Cain Attard's cross on the second post found Waldemar Acosta who rose high to hit a brilliant well-placed header past goalkeeper Andrea Cassar.
The Stripes turned the score in their favour three minutes from half-time. Acosta played a key-role again, this time by unzipping the defence with an inch-perfect pass towards Jake Grech who in-front of Cassar slotted the ball home.
The Second Half
Tarxien Rainbows had a golden opportunity to make the score level when they were awarded a penalty, after Cain Attard floored Wellington De Oliveira Viera inside the box. However, from the eleven-metre spot, Faria's shot was blocked by Naumovski, and the latter also saved the rebound.
The Stripes doubled their lead on the seventy-second minute. Mislav Andelkovic made a dazzling run that saw surging forward almost all the post, before serving Jake Grech who hit a thunderous drive past goalkeeper Cassar.
Birkirkara were unlucky not to increase their lead on the seventy-sixth minute. Cain Attard made a powerful run down the right flank before his cross found Carlos Alberto, but the latter's header was cleared off the goal-line by the defender.
Two minutes from time, Under-19's Team player Nick Borg made his BOV Premier League debut when he replaced Carlos Alberto.
Midfielder Mislav Andelkovic was named the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Edward Herrera (83' Ognjen Rolovic), Lucas Maia, Fernando Barbosa, Mislav Andelkovic, Jake Grech (80' Terence Agius), Kurt Zammit, Carlos Alberto (88' Nick Borg), Waldemar Acosta, Ryan Scicluna, Cain Attard.
TARXIEN RAINBOWS: Andrea Cassar, Stefan Radovanovic, Ebiabowei Baker, Gabriel Aquilina, Luke Grech, Andre Scicluna, Samba Tounkara, Wellington De Oliveira Viera (90+4' Godwin Mckay), Eduard Marian Calin, Ricardo Silva Faria, Sean Cipriott (68' Boubacar Faye Traore).
Referee: Malcom Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono.
Additional Assistant Referees: Stefan Pace, Alex Johnson.
Fourth Official: Mitchell Scerri.
Yellow Cards: 59' Jake Grech, 71' Lucas Maia, 82' Kristijan Naumovski, 84' Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara), 64' Sean Cipriott (Tarxien Rainbows).
Scorers: 15' Ricardo Silvia Faria (Tarxien Rainbows), 35' Waldemar Acosta, 42', 72' Jake Grech (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Mislav Andelkovic (Birkirkara).
comments powered by Disqus
