BOV Premier League - Senglea Athletic FC 1-0 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 29th August 2019
Birkirkara FC suffered their second consecutive defeat in the BOV Premier League when they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Senglea Athletic FC in a match that the Stripes had a player sent off after just nine minutes.
In a match characterised by the early dismissal of defender Jeferson Ferreira, Birkirkara's dissapointing start took another twist to the worse as they fell for the second consecutive defeat.
Coach John Buttigieg made one change from the last match as Terence Agius replaced Yannick Yankam. Matthew Guillaumier was ruled-out injured while Under-19's Team player Paul Mbong was named in the line-up.
The First Half
Birkirkara suffered a major blow after just ten minutes when they ended playing with one player less. Jeferson Ferreira fouled Wilfried Zamble as he was through on goal and referee Ismhael Barbara sent off the Brazilian defender in what seemed to be a harsh decision.
Suffering an early blow surely have been unexpected for the Stripes and they struggled to settle following the dismissal that forced John Buttigieg to make some tactical adjustments with Briffa deployed to the defence.
Senglea started to gain confidence and they had their first shot on goal after seventeen minutes when Sean Cipriott tried his luck with a shot from outside the box, but his effort ended over.
The Stripes replied four minutes later with a solo-action of Miguel Alba who did well to avoid his marker, but his fine curling shot finished just wide.
The Stripes had a penalty-shout turned down on the twenty-eighth minute when Cain Attard was brought down inside the box with a late challenge but Referee Ismahel Barbara waved play amid Birkirkara's protests.
From the following break-away, Senglea almost surged ahead with a fine curling strike by Taisei Marukawa, but his curling shot from inside the box finished wide by inches.
Alba tried his luck with a direct free-kick on the thirty-third minute, but his curling strike was weak and goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia easily saved his attempt.
The Birkirkara Argentinian midfielder did better in the next set-piece as he supplied a dangerous low cross-shot that was deflected by Montebello but was saved by the alert Farrugia.
Senglea were unlucky not to take the lead on the thirty-ninth minute as Sean Cini's powerful strike smashed against the woodwork and from the rebound, Zamble's goal was disallowed for an offside position.
Marukawa was being a constant threat for the Stripes' defence and the rapid-winger had another curling shot missing the target by a whisker.
The Second Half
Marukawa went close again at the start of the second half as after served by Zamble, his curling shot ended wide by inches.
The Stripes went close on the fifty-seventh minute. Caio Rocha produced a terrific solo-action as he dribbled past three players and hit a powerful shot ended just over the bar with goalkeeper Farrugia beaten.
The Birkirkara Coach roped in Johann Bezzina for Miguel Alba on the sixty-fourth minute and three minutes later Federico Falcone replaced Luke Montebello.
Falcone almost put the Stripes in front with his first attempt on goal as the towering forward connected well to a cross by Attard, but his header was turned into a corner kick by goalkeeper Farrugia.
Substitute Johann Bezzina earned a free-kick in an ideal position outside the box. From the resulting free-kick, Vella saw his curling drive ending just over the bar.
Against the run of the play, Senglea scored the winning goal fifteen minutes from time. Zamble surged forward and hit a powerful shot that hit past the upright and behind Hogg.
The Stripes put everything forward but struggled to make a decent reaction and failed to have any shots on goal as they fell to the second consecutive defeat.
Senglea's Taisei Marukawa was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
SENGLEA ATHLETIC: Matthew Farrugia, Sigitas Olberkis, Elvis Sakyi (61' Leighton Grech), Manolito Micallef, Taisei Marukawa (76' Andre Spiteri), Jan Tanti, Sean Cipriott, Wilfried Zamble, Mirko Todorovic, David Xuereb, Marcelo Dias (61' Jose Wilkson Teixeira).
BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Jeferson Ferreira, Enrico Pepe, Maurizio Vella, Luke Montebello (68' Federico Falcone), Roderick Briffa, Cain Attard, Terence Agius (53' Yannick Yankam), Caio Rocha, Miguel Alba (64' Johann Bezzina), Isaac Ntow.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara.
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, James Muscat.
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow Cards: 36' Marcelo Dias, 55' Elvis Sakyi, 73' Manolito Micallef (Senglea Athletic), 90+4' Maurizio Vella, 90+5' Isaac Ntow (Birkirkara).
Red Cards: 9' Jeferson Ferreira (Birkirkara).
Scorers: 75' Wilfried Zamble (Senglea Athletic).
BOV Player of the Match: Taisei Marukawa (Senglea Athletic).
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