Match Report: Birkirkara FC 1-2 Gzira United FC
by Ayrton Galea - 1st October 2018
A controversial penalty condemned Birkirkara FC to their second defeat in the BOV Premier League, as in the match-of-the-week, Gzira United FC came from behind to win with a 2-1 score.
In match of two halves, the Stripes dictated matters in the first half and they deservingly got a narrow lead thanks to experienced striker Michael Mifsud. However, Gzira United improved drastically in the second half and managed to turn the score in their favour.
Nicaragua International Forward Carlos Chavarria made his debut as Coach Paul Zammit made three changes from the last match. While Chavarria was given the nod for his first appearance with our Club, Jake Grech and Michael Mifsud regained a first-eleven place.
The First Half
The Stripes started on the attack and they went close on the fifth minute. Chavarria surged forward and served Jake Grech on the left, but his low cross inside the box was blocked by Soares. Hardly a minute later, Gzira United replied with a direct free-kick by Briffa, which was saved by Naumovski.
The Stripes missed a glorious scoring opportunity on the seventeenth minute. A cross by Michael Mifsud found Jake Grech who hit a first-time effort that found Chavarria, but the latter hit high from an ideal position.
The Stripes were dictating matters and they deservingly surged ahead on the twenty-seventh minute. Chavarria headed the ball towards the on-running Mifsud and the lethal forward dashed forward and hit a low strike past Haber.
Birkirkara went close to double their lead on the thirty-second minute. Mifsud served Chavarria who hit a powerful strike from outside the box that ended just over the bar. Moments later, Naumovski did well to deflect a cross-shot into a corner kick.
Gzira had their best scoring chance two minutes from half time. A free kick from the left ended up in the path of Andrew Cohen inside the box, but his powerful shot was well saved by the alert Naumovski.
From the resulting counter-attack, the Stripes almost double their lead. A drop-kick was by Naumovski found the on-running Chavarria who was quick to serve Mifsud and the latter anticipated Haber, but his tight-angle shot was deflected by a defender and into the hands of Haber.
The Second Half
Gzira United went out the second half on the attack and after seven minutes, Cohen won a free-kick in an ideal position. However, Briffa's powerful effort ended over.
For their explosive start in the second half, Gzira United were rewarded with the equalising goal on the fifty-eighth minute. Juan Carlos Carbolan produced a wonderful solo-action as he dribbled past his marker and dashed inside the box before his cross was headed home by Garba.
The Stripes were unable to find their feet in the second half, as the Maroons remained in control. On the sixty-ninth minute, Roderick Briffa served Garba who hit a thunderous strike from outside the box, but his effort ended wide.
Gzira United turned the score in their favour on the seventy-ninth minute. Referee Fyodor Zammit adjudicated that there has been contact between Paul Fenech and substitute Nikolai Muscat inside the box and in a controversial decision, he pointed to the spot. From the resulting penalty, Samb converted.
There was more drama in store as the Maroons had Samb sent off two minutes from time after receiving his second yellow card on the day for a simulation foul, following going down to the minimal contact inside the box by Eduardo Dos Santos.
However, Birkirkara's desperate late efforts fall blank as the Maroons held strong to their victory to extend their unbeaten run and maintain their sole leadership in the BOV Premier League.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Mislav Andelkovic, Paul Fenech, Jake Grech, Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Michael Mifsud, Cain Attard (83' Matthew Guillaumier), Carlos Chavarria (59' Uchenna Umeh), Thiago Brito (75' Edward Herrera).
GZIRA UNITED: Justin Haber, Prince Mambuana (46' Edison Zarate), Zachary Scerri, Rodolfo Soares, Andrew Cohen, Juan Carlos Carbolan, Roderick Briffa (73' Nikolai Muscat), Sacha Borg, Fernando Barbosa, Amadou Samb, Haruna Garba.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Roberto Vella.
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow Cards: 6' Eduardo Dos Santos, 88' Kristijan Naumovski (Birkirkara), 45+2' Amadou Samb (Gzira United)
Red Cards: 88' Amadou Samb (Gzira United)
Scorers: 27' Michael Mifsud (Birkirkara), 58' Haruna Garba, 88' Amadou Samb (Gzira United).
BOV Player of the Match: Haruna Garba (Gzira United FC)
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