BOV Premier League - Tarxien Rainbows FC 0-2 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 8th March 2019
Birkirkara FC registered their second consecutive victory in the BOV Premier League to boost their chances of securing a spot for European football next season when they defeated Tarxien Rainbows FC with a 2-0 score.
It was another well-deserved victory for the Stripes who dictated matters for long stretches and scored two goals in the second half to win another precious three points. Just like last week, the Stripes scored at the beginning and at the end of the second half to remain on track to secure a spot for European football next season.
Nikola Vukanac scored his first goal since his return when he headed an inch-perfect free-kick by BOV Player of the Match Johann Bezzina while Luke Montebello confirmed his brilliant form by scoring in the third consecutive match with a late strike.
Coach Mark Buttigieg made two changes from last weekend's match as Matthew Guillaumier and Thiago Brito replaced the suspended Maurizo Vella and Michael Mifsud, as the latter started the match on the substitutes' bench.
Danilo Chapoval and Mislav Andelkovic were back in the team sheet after missing the last match and they started on the substitutes' bench. On the other hand, goalkeeper Andrew Hogg is still ruled-out injured.
The First Half
Birkirkara created the first scoring opportunity of the match after four minutes. Thiago Brito made a fine run on the left wing and his cross was not cleared well by Tarxien defender, as the ball reached Luke Montebello who had his shot pushed away by goalkeeper Maverick Buhagiar.
The Stripes were enjoying most of the possession as Tarxien were more looking to control their opponents by defending deep rather than attacking and in fact, the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Kristijan Naumovski was never called into action in the opening thirty minutes.
On the thirty-second minute, an ambitious long-distance free-kick by Marcelo Henrique failed to hit the target. Moments later, Terence Agius found Johann Bezzina who tried his luck with a diagonal shot from outside the box, but his shot was saved by goalkeeper Buhagiar.
Playmaker Johann Bezzina was proving to be Birkirkara's most influential player, as he went close to put his side ahead on the thirty-eighth minute. The technical midfielder showed great technique to dash inside the box but his shot from a diagonal position hit the side netting.
Birkirkara threatened again for the opening goal on the fourty-second minute when Nikola Vukanac connected to a well-taken corner kick by Bezzina, but his effort was easily saved by goalkeeper Buhagiar as the first half ended in a goalless draw.
The Second Half
The Stripes made their intentions clear for the start of the second half. They went out on the attack and went close after just two minutes when Marcelo Henrique served Johann Bezzina who controlled the ball well, but his shot from just outside the box ended just over the bar.
Birkirkara's powerful start in the second half paid off in their next action on the fifteith minute. Johann Bezzina's inch-perfect free-kick found Nikola Vukanac who hit a powerful header from inside the box that gave goalkeeper Buhagiar no chance. This was Vukanac's first goal since his return with the Stripes.
Coach Mark Buttigieg utilised the first substitution on the fifty-eighth minute when Mislav Andelkovic replaced Matthew Guillaumier. Goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski, who once again started this match as the team's captain, went to hand the captain's armband to Andelkovic in an admirable gesture.
Tarxien Rainbows went close to make the score level on their first attempt on target on the sixty-seventh minute. Siraj Edin Arab delivered an inch-perfect cross towards the unmarked Jacson De Paixao who had his fine header from inside the box denied by an excellent save of goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
The Birkirkara goalkeeper was once again the protagonist to keep his side in the lead when on the seventy-eight minute, he produced a last-second intervention inside the box to deny substitute Michele Paolucci, amid protests for a penalty that Referee Philip Farrugia showed no interest.
The Rainbows received a setback on the seventy-ninth when they ended playing with one player less. Jacson De Paixo received two yellow cards in space of two minutes to leave his side playing with one player less for the remaining of the match.
Youngster Paul Mbong was rewarded for his brilliant form with the Under-19's Team when he was handed the debut with the Senior Team nine minutes from time, as in the third and last substitution, he replaced Terence Agius. Mbong was included as a centre-forward with Mifsud, while Montebello was deployed behind the strikers.
With one goal up and numerical advantage on the field, the Stripes made the best out of the situation by sealing the issue with the second goal two minutes from time. It was Bezzina who once again found Luke Montebello who controlled the ball and hit a low shot past goalkeeper Buhagiar. This was the third goal in the last three matches for the Birkirkara forward.
Johann Bezzina, who set both goals for the Stripes, was named the BOV Player of the Match.
TARXIEN: Maverick Buhagiar, Juan Gruz Gill, Daniel Zerafa, Gabriel Aquilina (87' Matthew Spiteri), Darren Falzon, Siraj Eddin Arab (75' Michele Paolucci), Destin Mambouana, Anderson De Barros, Ricardo Silva Faria, Alexander Nilsson, Jacson De Paixao.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Matthew Guillaumier (57' Mislav Andelkovic), Luke Montebello, Johann Bezzina, Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Nikola Vukanac, Cain Attard, Terence Agius (81' Paul Mbong), Marcelo Henrique, Thiago Brito (71' Michael Mifsud).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Assistant Referees: Dusan Petrovic, Ivan Galea.
Fourth Official: Stefan Pace.
Yellow Cards: 49' Ricardo Silva Faria, 55' Destin Nambouana, 77' Jacson De Paixao, 86' Juan Cruz Gill (Tarxien Rainbows).
Scorers: 50' Nikola Vukanac, 88' Luke Montebello (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Johann Bezzina (Birkirkara).
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