Match Report: Birkirkara FC 2-0 St. Andrew's FC
by Ayrton Galea - 2nd March 2019
Birkirkara FC returned to winning ways in the BOV Premier League when a goal each by Luke Montebello and Michael Mifsud in the second half enabled them to defeat St. Andrew's FC with a 2-0 score.
The Stripes deserved to win maximum points from this match as after taking the lead early in the second, they didn't look back and went on to seal the issue with the second goal late in the match to return to winning ways.
The build-up for this match was anything than plain-sailing for Coach Mark Buttigieg, as the Stripes couldn't bank on the services of Danilo Chapoval, Jorge Pereira and Mislav Andelkovic who were all ruled out with an injury, while Matthew Guillaumier was suspended.
However, on the plus side, Michael Mifsud recovered from an injury that kept him out for the last two matches and returned in the first-eleven together with Cain Attard, Maurizio Vella, and Marcelo Henrique.
The First Half
Birkirkara went close to open the score in their first scoring opportunity on the eleventh minute. A low cross by Marcelo Henrique unzipped the defence and Luke Montebello beat the offside trap, but in front of debutant goalkeeper Elmaddin Mammadov, he shot wide.
St. Andrew's replied on the seventeenth minute. Martin Davis anticipated goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski, but his shot from a diagonal angle was cleared off the goal-line by the alert Nikola Vukanac.
Lacking ideas and flare in the third side of the pitch, the Stripes struggled to penetrate. They had more of the possession, but they were unable to convert their possession into scoring chances as they had only one shot on goal in the opening thirty minutes.
Birkirkara went close to break the deadlock four minutes from half-time. A free-kick by Marcelo Henrique was blocked by the wall, and from the rebound, Maurizio Vella's close-range shot was blocked by goalkeeper Mammadov.
The Second Half
Birkirkara wasted a golden opportunity three minutes inside the second half. A deflection by St. Andrew's defender off a vertical cross by Eduardo Dos Santos put Michael Mifsud in an ideal position but the veteran forward tried to lob the ball from outside the box and his effort ended wide.
However, the Stripes surged ahead just two minutes later. Luke Montebello received a fine pass inside the box by Johann Bezzina and from a diagonal position, the towering forward controlled the ball and hit a fine shot past goalkeeper Mammadov. This was his second goal in the last two matches.
Boosted by the first goal, the Stripes took command of the match. Kurt Zammit and Luke Montebello, two products of the Birkirkara FC Youth Academy, combined well but Montebello's shot from outside the box scratched past the post.
Montebello remained the most dangerous player for the Stripes, as he went close again on the seventieth minute. Vella unzipped the defence with a fine through-ball and Montebello anticipated the on-rushing Mammadov, but his shot from a tight angle ended wide.
St. Andrew's replied one minute later in their first scoring chance of the second half. Martin Davis made a fine solo run before serving substitute Aidan Jake Friggieri, but his shot was saved by Naumovski.
The Stripes sealed the victory with the second goal three minutes from time. Substitute Thiago Brito delivered an excellent cross towards Michael Mifsud who dribbled past his marker inside the box and hit a low shot past Mammadov.
Birkirkara FC forward and scorer of the first goal, Luke Montebello was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Maurizio Vella (75' Thiago Brito), Luke Montebello (84' Ahmed Alsherooqi), Johann Bezzina, Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Nikola Vukanac, Michael Mifsud, Cain Attard, Terence Agius, Marcelo Henrique (77' Clayton Failla).
ST. ANDREW'S: Elmaddin Mammadov, Alexander Satariano (67' Aidan Jake Friggieri), Ricardo Martin, Travis Blagrove, Kemar David Reid, Joseph Farrugia, Kurt Magro, Adrian Borg, Martin Davis, Degran Jackson, Matthew Woo Ling (84' Luke Sciberras).
Referee: Darryl Agius.
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Duncan Spences.
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow Cards: 59' Maurizio Vella (Birkirkara), 64' Alexander Satariano, 86' Elmaddin Mammadov, 90' Degran Jackson, 90+3' Joseph Farrugia (St. Andrew's).
Scorers: 50' Luke Montebello, 87' Michael Mifsud (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Luke Montebello (Birkirkara).
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