BOV Premier League - Birkirkara FC 2-1 Qormi FC

by Ayrton Galea - 8th December 2018

Birkirkara FC registered another vital victory in their bid to improve their position in the BOV Premier League, when they defeated Qormi FC with a 2-1 score in a hard-fought match.

It was anything than a walk in the park for the Stripes and it was only a penalty-save by the top-rated goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski that ensured Birkirkara's victory in this match, as Qormi failed to convert a penalty ten minutes from time.

The Stripes took an early lead through Petar Orlandic after just ten minutes, but Qormi equalised on the half-hour mark by Tensior Gusman. The Stripes scored the winning goal through Jake Grech who the latter was also voted the BOV Player of the Match.

Coach Paul Zammit initially made one change from the last match as Paul Fenech replaced Mislav Andelkovic, but the Birkirkara Coach was forced to make his second change as Michael Mifsud sustained a minor injury before the match and was replaced by Carlos Chavarria.

The First Half

The Stripes took ten minutes to surge ahead. It was an erratic clearance by the Qormi goalkeeper, Jamie Azzopardi which was intercepted by forward Petar Orlandic and the Birkirkara towering forward hit home with a wonderful lob from outside the box.

Qormi went close to make the score level on the fifteenth minute, but Danny Kabeya's shot from a good position inside the box was blocked by a fine save of the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Kristijan Naumovski.

Qormi made the score level on the hour-mark. Freud Nadere Gnindokponou cross from the right got a deflection and ended in the path of Tensior Gusman who hit a low shot past Naumovski from close-range.

Birkirkara's quick reaction consisted of two chances. Danilo Chapoval's header off a corner kick by Grech ended over, while few moments later, Grech did well to dribble past his opponent inside the box, but his shot ended over.

The Stripes had harsh protests for a penalty following a hands-ball inside the box, but the referee waves play-on. Moments later, just before the end of the first half, Jake Grech's first-time attempt from inside the box was denied by an excellent save of goalkeeper Azzopardi.

The Second Half

The Stripes were unlucky not to regain the lead three minutes inside the second half. Jake Grech delivered an accurate free-kick on the second post and Danilo Chapoval hit a brilliant header, but his effort was cleared off the goal-line by the Qormi defender.

With only a win satisfies the Stripes, they were now putting more number forwards. They were dictating matters, but they struggled to have shots on goal. In fact, they only threatened Azzopardi with a set-piece, but Marcelo's direct free-kick was easily saved by the Qormi goalkeeper.

However, the Stripes regained their lead in their next scoring opportunity on the sixty-fourth minute. Orlandic's shot was deflected and into the path of Jake Grech who hit a fine low strike past Azzopardi.

Qormi were provided a golden opportunity to make the score level ten minutes from time, after the referee adjudicated Danilo Chapoval to floor the opponent inside the box. However, from the spot, goalkeeper Naumovski produced a brilliant save to deny Qormi from getting the score level.

Just before the full-time whistle, Under-19's Team Neil Micallef, who was included late in the match, almost put the match to bed with a brilliant shot from outside the box, but his effort ended wide by a whisker as the Stripes held on for an important victory.

Scorer of the second goal, Jake Grech, was voted the BOV Player of the Match:

BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Matthew Guillaumier, Paul Fenech, Petar Orlandic (87' Myles Berrman), Jake Grech (90+1' Neil Micallef), Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Carlos Chavarria (75' Edward Herrera), Cain Attard, Marcelo Henrique.

QORMI: Jamie Azzopardi, Freud Nadere Gnindokponou (75' Michael Camilleri), Davide Mansi, Yannick Yankam, Seo In Kim, Alan Abela, Michael Borg, Danny Kabeya, Aleksandro Ferreira (77' Mario Andres Arrieta), Iven Zammit, Tensior Gusman (60' Luke Busutill).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: Alan Spiteri, Darko Stankovic.
Fourth Official: Daniel Casha.

Yellow Cards: 20' Kurt Zammit, 42' Matthew Guillaumier (Birkirkara), 43' Aleksandro Ferreira, 56' Iven Zammit (Qormi).

Scorers: 10' Petar Orlandic, 64' Jake Grech (Birkirkara), 30' Tensior Gusman (Qormi).

BOV Player of the Match: Jake Grech (Birkirkara).

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