FA Trophy - Balzan FC 2-3 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 12th May 2019
Birkirkara FC were eliminated from the semi-final of the FA Trophy on Saturday afternoon when they were defeated by Balzan FC with a 3-2 score. This result means that the Stripes fail to secure a spot in European football next season.
Balzan took an early lead but a fine comeback late in the first half turned the score in the Stripes' favour. However, Balzan scored in the early and late stages of the second half to regain the lead and secure their place as the first finalists of the FA Trophy.
Coach John Buttigieg made two changes from the last match as goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski was preferred of Andrew Hogg between the posts while in the other change, Mislav Andelkovic replaced Thiago Brito.
The First Half
Balzan surged ahead in the first opportunity of the match after eight minutes. An in-swinging corner by Ricardo Correa saw Nenad Sljivic avoiding his marker to hit a fine header past goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
Boosted by an early goal, Balzan went close to double their lead on the fourteenth minute. Uros Ljubomirac exchanged possession with Alfred Effiong before having his shot deflected into a corner.
Balzan continued to dictate the early stages. Ricardo Correa dashed forward and hit a powerful shot that was turned into a corner kick by a fine save of Naumovski.
The Stripes began to step-up their tempo and they were rewarded for their efforts with the equalising on the thirty-second minute. Michael Mifsud received the ball and was quick to turn towards goal before unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box that gave goalkeeper Sean Mintoff no chance.
Birkirkara turned the score in their favour eight minutes later. Johann Bezzina showed a great vision to unzip the defence with an inch-perfect pass towards Jorge Pereira whose low cross-shot that was heading towards past the goal-line found Mifsud to continue the ball into the net.
The Second Half
Coach Jacques Scerri affected his first substitution for Balzan just five minutes inside the second half by introducing forward Andrija Majdevac instead of midfielder Steven Pisani.
Balzan made the score level on the fifty-fourth minute. A free-kick by Carlos Fiori Mendes on the second post found Uros Ljubomirac all alone and deposited the ball past Naumovski.
Balzan went close to regain the lead on the sixty-seventh minute. A short clearance following a corner kick found Ricardo Correa who struck a powerful shot that ended just over the bar.
Goalkeeper Naumovski was the protagonist to keep the score level twenty minutes from time when he produced an excellent save on a powerful shot by Correa.
Coach John Buttigieg included a fresh pair of legs in his forward line by introducing forward Luke Montebello who replaced Jorge Pereira. Four minutes later, Thiago Brito replaced Johann Bezzina.
Balzan regained the lead nine minutes from time. Andelkovic lost possession to Ljubomirac in midfield and the Balzan technical player was quick to send Effiong through before lobbing the ball over Naumovski.
The Stripes put everything forward but to no avail as their efforts were not enough to equalise and force the extra-time period as Balzan held strong to be the first finalists of the FA Trophy.
BALZAN: Sean Mintoff, Aleksandar Kosoric, Nenad Sljivic, Steven Pisani (50' Andrija Majdevac), Steven Bezzina, Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong, Uros Ljubomirac, Ivan Bozovic, Carlos Fiori Mendes, Ricardo Correa.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Mislav Andelkovic, Maurizio Vella, Johann Bezzina (75' Thiago Brito), Clayton Failla, Eduardo Dos Santos, Nikola Vukanac (83' Matthew Guillaumier), Michael Mifsud, Cain Attard, Terence Agius, Jorge Pereira (71' Luke Montebello).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
First Assistant Referee: Edward Spiteri.
Second Assistant Referee: Theodore Zammit.
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius.
Yellow Cards:75' Ivan Bozovic, 81' Alfred Effiong. 88' Ricardo Correa (Balzan) 24' Jorge Pereira, 53' Terence Agius, 88' Kristijan Naumovski (Birkirkara).
Scorers: 8' Nenad Sljivic, 54' Uros Ljubomirac, 81' Alfred Effiong (Balzan), 32', 40' Michael Mifsud (Birkirkara)
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