FA Trophy - Nadur Youngsters FC 0-4 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 3rd December 2018
Birkirkara FC secured their place in the fourth round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable victory on Sunday afternoon, when they defeated Nadur Youngsters FC with a 4-0 score. The Stripes will be facing Hamrun Spartans FC in the next round.
The Stripes sealed their qualification in the opening thirty minutes when they scored twice thanks to a goal by Danilo Chapoval and Marcelo Henrique. A goal each by Petar Orlandic and Paul Fenech in the second half added gloss to the victory.
It was a deserved victory for the Stripes who as the score indicates, they dominated throughout the entire ninety minutes. The Stripes could have even registered a bigger victory as they were denied twice by the post, once in each half on shots by Michael Mifsud and Matthew Guillaumier.
Coach Paul Zammit took no risks for this match as he fielded his best-formation that included six foreigners right from the start, with another one on the bench. He made two changes from the last match as Kurt Zammit and Paul Fenech replaced Myles Beerman and Paul Fenech.
On the other hand, Coach Michael Vella named five foreigners in his starting-eleven selection for Nadur Youngsters that included two former Premier League players Daniel Mateo Bustos and Yuri De Jesus Messias, who both played for Naxxar Lions FC last season.
The First Half
The Stripes went close after just five minutes as Paul Zammit's side made their intentions clear to notice right from the start. Mifsud received a quick throw-in and sent a fine cross inside the box to Petar Orlandic, but the towering forward's header ended over the bar.
Nadur Youngsters had harsh protests for a penalty on the fourteenth minute. A quick break-away caught the Birkirkara defence on the wrong foot and Yuri De Jesus Messias was floored inside the bo following contact with Cain Attard, but Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann waved play-on.
Birkirkara continued to be the better side on the field and they went close again with two attempts in two minutes. Marcelo Henrique's shot from outside the box was turned into a corner kick by goalkeeper Franklin Vella, while from the resulting corner, Cain Attard's shot ended wide.
Nadur Youngsters almost profited from a unfortunate mistake by Dos Santos as the Birkirkara Brazilian defender lost his balance just outside the box, but a shot from Marcelo Junior Barbosa was easily saved by the alert Birkirkara goalkeeper, Kristijan Naumovski.
The Stripes' effort paid off on the twenty-seventh minute as they surged ahead. Marcelo Henrique delivered an inch-perfect cross inside the box and Danilo Chapoval rose well to hit a fine header past goalkeeper Vella.
Birkirkara doubled their lead three minutes later. Brazilian winger Marcelo was involved in action again, as the technical forward showed great technical skills to dash inside the box and avoid his marker, before he hit a powerful low shot past Vella.
The Stripes were unlucky not to add their third goal five minutes before half-time, but Michael Mifsud's close-range effort hit the foot of the post, after it was blocked by goalkeeper Vella.
The Second Half
The Stripes continued where they left in the first half as they added their third on the fourty-ninth minute. Guillaumier delivered an accurate cross inside the box and Petar Orlandic hit a fine header from close-range past goalkeeper Vella.
Nadur had a fine attempt on pulling one back on the fifty-third minute. A corner kick on the second post found Yuri De Jesus Messias who tried an eye-catching acrobatic effort, but his attempt hit the side-netting.
However, it was the Stripes who added the fourth goal just past the hour mark. Midfielder Paul Fenech controlled the ball he struck a wonderful shot from few metres past the half-way line that surprised goalkeeper Vella.
Coach Paul Zammit affected his first two substitutions. Carlos Chavarria replaced Michael Mifsud on the sixty-fourth minute, while Marcelo Henrique, who once again enjoyed a fine performance, was replaced by Myles Beerman.
Chavarria was quickly involved into action, as the Stripes were unlucky not to make them five. The Nicaragua international forward did well to supply Matthew Guillaumier with a fine pass and the latter's first-time strike hit the foot of the post, before it was deflected into a corner kick.
Birkirkara were unlucky not to make them five on the seventy-seventh minute. Substitute Chavarria served Matthew Guillumier who hit a fine first-time effort that hit the foot of the post, before it was deflected into a corner kick.
The referee's full-time whistle found the numerous supporters that travelled to Gozo cheering for the most comfortable victory this season. The Stripes will be involved in the fourth-round match between the 26 and 27 January 2019.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Matthew Guillaumier, Mislav Andelkovic, Paul Fenech, Petar Orlandic, Kurt Zammit (78' Terence Agius), Eduardo Dos Santos, Michael Mifsud (64' Carlos Chavarria), Cain Attard, Marcelo Henrique (69' Myles Beerman).
NADUR YOUNGSTERS: Franklin Vella, Lucas Baretto Da Silva, Tiago Souza Da Silveira, Carlo Abela (89' Michael Paul Camilleri), Daniel Farrugia, Luke Tabone, Marcelo Junior Barbosa, Daniel Mateo Bustos, Shaun Attard (77' Ian Xuereb), Josef Buttigieg (71' Jordi Parnis), Yuri De Jesus Messias.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Theodore Zammit.
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic.
Yellow Cards: 21' Tiago Souza Da Silveira, 51' Petar Orlandic.
Scorers: 27' Danilo Chapoval, 30' Marcelo Henrique, 49' Petar Orlandic, 61' Paul Fenech.
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