FA Trophy - Birkirkara FC 1-0 Nadur Youngsters FC
by Ayrton Galea - 1st December 2019
A last-minute goal by Federico Falcone was enough for Birkirkara FC to beat the resilient Gozitan side Nadur Youngsters FC and set up a clash against Mosta FC in the fourth round of this competition.
The Stripes had anything than a walk in the park as Nadur Youngsters, led by the former Birkirkara Coach Mark Buttigieg, proved to be a tough nut to crack and it was only a last-gasp goal that undone their satisfactory performance.
Birkirkara will now take on Mosta FC in all Premier League clash in the fourth round after the latter easily defeated Rabat Ajax FC with a 7-0 score. The match is scheduled to be played between Friday, 24 and Sunday, 26 January 2020.
Coach Andre Paus kept faith in his first-eleven selection of the last league match against Tarxien Rainbows FC with Falcone and Tarabai leading the attack.
Cain Attard, Johann Bezzina, and Raina Fenech remained all missing for the Stripes together with Jorge Pereira who is recovering from a long-term injury.
The First Half
The Stripes tried to impose their match right from the start but Nadur were sharp in their defending from the first whistle. Their first attempt on goal arrived after nine minutes, but Maurizio Vella's shot from distance ended wide.
Birkirkara remained the better side despite struggling to penetrate but they could have done better on the twenty-second minute. Tarabai served Guillaumier inside the box and the latter fired over from a good position.
Encouraged by their resilient performance, the Gozitan side grew in confidence. They registered their first scoring attempt close to the half-hour but a shot from outside the box by Marcelo Barbosa ended over.
The Stripes' best scoring chance arrived ten minutes from half time. Guillaumier delivered an excellent in-swinging cross on the second post but Falcone's powerful header from inside the box finished over.
Just before the half time whistle, Briffa was left unmarked on the second post but his shot was denied by Sultana and the loose ball was cleared into safety following a prompt action by the alert Nadur defenders.
The Second Half
The story of the match remained the same in the second half as the Stripes remained frustrated and unable to penetrate to Nadur's strong backline. Birkirkara looked short of ideas in the final third.
Caio Rocha, one of Birkirkara's most influential players this season, attempted a solo-action as he dribbled past two markers and hit a fine shot from outside the box, but goalkeeper Steven Sultana parried his effort.
Coach Andre Paus roped in Michael Mifsud for Tarabai and the veteran forward almost left an immediate impact as after served by Falcone, he hit a fierce shot that was denied by Sultana.
From the resulting corner kick, a short clearance just outside the box fell to the path of Vella who hit a thunderous strike that was denied by the foot of the post and saved by the goalkeeper.
Seven minutes from time, Nadur almost shocked Birkirkara by their most dangerous action in the match when Barbosa headed into the box but fired over from a good position.
The Stripes hit a last-gasp winning goal as Ntow's cross saw Falcone get behind his marker and keep his calm to slot home from close range and book his side's place in the next round.
BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Enrico Pepe, Matthew Guillaumier, Edison Luis Dos Santos (66' Michael Mifsud), Maurizio Vella, Kurt Zammit, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Caio Rocha (90' Yannick Yankam), Oscar Matias Carniello, Isaac Ntow.
NADUR YOUNGSTERS: Steven Sultana, Gennaro Hili, Luke Tabone, Ian Xuereb, Predrag Dordevic, Marcelo Junior Barbosa, Shaun Attard, Stefan Cassar, Elkin Serrano Valero, Hugo Santa Rosa Cruz, Emerson Marcelina.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Ivan Galea.
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow Cards: 45+1' Edison Luis Dos Santos, 87' Isaac Ntow (Birkirkara), 45+2' Elkin Serrano Valero, 81' Emerson Marcelina (Nadur Youngsters)
Scorers: 90' Federico Falcone (Birkirkara).
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