Match Report: Birkirkara FC 0-2 St. Andrew's FC
by Ayrton Galea - 7th October 2018
Birkirkara FC suffered their second consecutive defeat in the BOV Premier League yesterday evening when they were defeated by St. Andrew's FC with a 2-0 score.
It was another disappointing evening for the Stripes as they failed to recover from last weekend's defeat against Gzira United FC. For the Stripes, this was their third defeat in last four matches while it was the first match that they failed to find the net.
The Stripes were erratic and poor in the first-half and they hardly created any scoring opportunities. They only threatened when Michael Mifsud put the ball at the back of the net six minutes from half-time, but the referee adjudicated that he has handled the ball and ordered a free-kick.
There were positive signs at the start of the second half as the Stripes went close twice, but against the run of the play, St. Andrew's surged ahead. Birkirkara put everything forward and went close several times, but it was the Saints who put the game to bed with another goal.
Coach Paul Zammit was forced to make one change as Carlos Chavarria was ruled-out injury and he was replaced by Matthew Guillaumier. Marcelo Henrique was also missing for the Stripes as he is recovering from an injury suffered in the match against Floriana FC.
The First Half
Birkirkara struggled to settle in the opening minutes, but they began to enjoy more possession as time went by. Their first scoring opportunity arrived after nineteen minutes when Jake Grech hit a fine direct free-kick, but goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona saved his attempt.
The Stripes created another scoring opportunity mid-way through the first-half. Kurt Zammit made a fine overlap on the left side, before serving Matthew Guillaumier but the latter's effort was weak, and the Saints goalkeeper easily saved his effort.
St. Andrew's had their first on goal on the thirty-fifth minute. Veteran player Joseph Farrugia intercepted the clearance of Danilo Chapoval and hit a fine strike from outside the box, but his effort was saved by the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Kristijan Naumovski.
The Stripes had the ball at the back of the net two minutes later, when Michael Mifsud controlled the ball and blasted home from close-range. However, the referee cancelled the goal as he adjudicated that the Birkirkara forward handled the ball before hitting his attempt.
In the last action of the first half, on the thirty-ninth minute, St. Andrew's went close. Rapid-winger David Reid Kemar did fine foot-work to dribble past his marker and dash inside the box, but his effort from a tight-angle was blocked by Naumovski before cleared into safety.
The Second Half
The Stripes went out aggressive in the second half and they were quick to pile-up the pressure on the Saints defence. They went close to break the dead-lock just three minutes inside the second half, but goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona produced a wonderful save on a direct free-kick by Grech.
From the resulting corner kick taken by Grech, the Stripes were unlucky not to surge ahead as Danilo Chapoval's header beat Cremona but was denied by the crossbar, before the Saints defenders cleared into safety.
However, against the run of the play, it was St. Andrew's who broke the dead-lock on the fifty-sixth minute. Martin Davis stole possession off Eduardo Dos Santos and dashed forward before hitting a low strike past Naumovski.
The Stripes put more men forward following this goal. They went close to level the score through Thiago Brito, but his effort was blocked by Cremona. Jake Grech went also close with a first-time effort that was denied by the Saints goalkeeper.
Late in the match, Birkirkara were unlucky not to make the score level. Substitute Uchenna Umeh sent a fine low cross towards Danilo Chapoval who in-front of goal saw his effort hitting the crossbar and into a goal-kick.
St. Andrew's had the last say in the match, when in a swift counter-attack, a cross from the left was blocked by Chapoval, but from the rebound Martin Davis' powerful shot beat Naumovski for the second time in the match to give the Saints three important points.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Matthew Guillaumier (59' Milan Basrak), Mislav Andelkovic, Paul Fenech, Jake Grech (85' Gianluca Zammit), Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Michael Mifsud, Cain Attard, Thiago Brito (78' Uchenna Umeh).
ST. ANDREW'S Matthew Calleja Cremona, Alexander Satariano (82' Karl Pulo), Kevyn Mcfarlene (68' Kurt Magro), Ricardo Martin, Travis Blagrove, Kevaughn Atkinson, David Kemar Reid, Joseph Farriga, Amoy Brown (78' Luke Sciberras), Martin Davids.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara.
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Mitchell Scerri.
Fourth Official: Alex Johnson.
Yellow Cards: 45' Danilo Chapoval (Birkirkara) 5' Kevaughn Atkinson, 67' Martin Davis, 68' Kevyn Mcfarlene, 88' Ricardo Martin (St. Andrew's).
Scorers: 56', 90+3' Martin Davis (St. Andrew's).
BOV Player of the Match: Martin Davis (St. Andrew's).
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