Match Report: Birkirkara FC 1-1 (3-2 Pen) Sliema Wanderers FC

by Ayrton Galea - 28th April 2018

Birkirkara FC will return to play European football in the UEFA Europa League in Season 2018-2019, following a thrilling penalty shoot-out that enabled the Stripes to advance to the final of the BOOST FA Trophy as they eliminated Sliema Wanderers FC.

The Stripes will be aiming to win their sixth FA Trophy in history after securing their place in the final following today's victory that also meant that they have secured a place in European Competitions. They will face the winner of the match between Champions Valletta FC and Balzan FC.

The First Half

Birkirkara went close on the seventeenth minute to open the score. Ognjen Rolovic's cross found Waldemar Acosta who did well to lay-off the ball to Grech but the latter's shot went wide. Rolovic then served Herrera but from an ideal position, the rapid-winger hit high.

Sliema Wanderers produced two good chances in space of two minutes. Jefferson De Assis beat the offside trap but his low shot was blocked by goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski and the towering Birkirkara goalkeeper then produced a brilliant save to block Edmond Agius' low shot.

The Second Half

The Stripes registered the perfect start in the second half, as they broke the dead-lock after three minutes. Edward Herrera sped past his marker before supplying an inch-perfect cross towards the on-running Ognjen Rolovic who hit a fine first-time effort past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

Sliema Wanderers made the score level past the hour mark. Frank Temile stole possession of Lucas Maia and the Nigerian forward dashed forward before he calmly lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Krstijan Naumovski who could do nothing this time.

The Extra Time

Substitute Srdjan Dimitrov was unlucky not to regain Birkirkara's lead just before the end of the first half of the extra-time period. He struck a wonderful curling free-kick, but his effort hit the woodwork and bounced on the goal-line before the Sliema defenders cleared into safety.

Penalty Shoot-Out

The Stripes won the penalty shoot-out with a 3-2 score. Goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski saved two penalty kicks while Mislav Andelkovic hit the winning penalty for the Stripes. Waldemar Acosta and Srdjan Dimitrov both scored their penalty kicks but Herrera and Scicluna missed.

Sequence: M. Scerri (S) misses 0-0; E. Herrera (B) misses 0-0; E. Agius (S) misses 0-0; S. Dimitrov (B) scores 0-1; M. Muchardi (S) misses 0-1; W. Acosta (B) scores 0-2; F. Temile (S) scores 1-2; R. Scicluna (B) misses 1-2; M. Sansone (S) scored 2-2; M. Andjelkovic (B) scores 2-3.

BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Edward Herrera, Lucas Maia, Fernando Barbosa, Mislav Andelkovic, Jake Grech (101' Neil Micallef), Kurt Zammit, Ognjen Rolovic (72' Srdjan Dimitrov), Waldemar Acosta, Ryan Scicluna, Cain Attard.

SLIEMA WANDERERS: Glenn Zammit, Mark Scerri, Stefano Biancardi, Frank Temile, Ricardo Calisto, Goran Adamovic, Edmond Agius, Ashong Nii Nortey, Jefferson De Assis (106' Luke Shaw), John Mintoff (39' Michele Sansone), Mattias Muchardi.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, William Debattista.
Additional Assistant Referees: Fyodor Zammit, Darryl Agius.
Fourth Official: Mario Apap

Yellow Cards: 44' Fernando Barbosa, 107' Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara) 85' Ashong Nii Nortey, 110' Ricardo Calisto (Sliema Wanderers).

Scorers: 48' Ognjen Rolovic (Birkirkara), 61' Frank Temile (Sliema Wanderers).

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