BOV Premier League - Sliema Wanderers FC 2-1 Birkirkara FC

by Ayrton Galea - 8th December 2019

Birkirkara FC received another setback and remained anchored in the lower part of the BOV Premier League table after suffering a defeat to Sliema Wanderers FC with a 2-1 score.

The Stripes should only blame themselves for this defeat after they were all over their opponents in the first half. However, they could only manage to hold the lead for sixty-seconds in the first half before Juri Ciscotti hit a scream to punish them for a poor performance in the second half.

Coach Andre Paus made two changes from the last match as Jeferson Ferreira and Yannick Yankam earned a place in the starting line-up following an absence of more than three months as they replaced Roderick Briffa and Tarabai.

The Birkirkara Coach was once again without the services of Cain Attard, Johann Bezzina and Ryan Fenech while Briffa was only fit to be on the substitutes' bench following an ankle injury. 

The First Half

Birkirkara had a strong start and they seemed to take the lead after seven minutes. Falcone slid the ball past goalkeeper Galea, but Rocha pushed the ball in the net and the goal was ruled out for an offside position. 

The Stripes had another glorious chance to taken an early lead in the eighth minute. Ntow did fine footwork before serving Falcone but the latter's shot from an ideal position from inside the box ended wide.

Caio Rocha did an excellent run down the right-wing on the eighteenth minute before his low cross found Isaac Ntow but the latter failed to hit the ball properly in-front of an open goal.

Birkirkara remained the better team and went close again on the twenty-seventh minute when Ntow served Maurizio Vella outside the box and the playmaker's first-time shot ended wide by inches.

Sliema created their first scoring chance on the thirty-fourth minute when Claudio Zappa did a fine run on the right side but his powerful shot ended over the bar.

On the other side of the pitch, Rocha found Falcone inside the box and the towering forward controlled the ball and tried a confident attempt to place the ball at the back of the net, but his effort ended wide.

The Stripes remained wasteful in front of goal. Rocha was once again the provider as he set Yankam all alone inside the box but the latter incredibly hit wide from a glorious position. 

Birkirkara took a deserved lead in the fortieth minute. Guillaumier showed a great vision to put Rocha through inside the box and the rapid-winger lobbed the ball over Galea. 

However, the lead lasted less than two minutes. Ntow lost possession in his own half and from the following action, Claudio Zappa's cross found Jean Paul Farrugia inside the box and hit home to restore parity.

The Second Half

The Stripes went close to regain the lead ten minutes inside the second half when Ntow supplied an excellent cross in the box and Falcone who hit a powerful header, but his attempt was denied by a good save of Galea.

Falcone was denied again by the Wanderers goalkeeper five minutes when after receiving a good pass inside the box, the Birkirkara forward's powerful shot was blocked by Galea. 

As time went by, Birkirkara's performance dipped. They lacked precision and inspiration with most of the passes were being careless and unable to find the flow that enabled them to penetrate in the third part for most of the first half.

The Stripes were left with nothing but to chase the match fifteen minutes from time. Juri Ciscotti received possession around 30 metres out and hit a powerful drive that flew inside the net past the surprised Hogg. 

Stunned by this goal, Birkirkara failed to make any sort of reaction as they fall to their fifth defeat in twelve matches.

SLIEMA WANDERERS: Jake Galea, John Mintoff, Diaz Johan Carvajal, Claudio Zappa (84' Antonio Stelitano), Juri Ciscotti, Gareth Barone, Juan Cruz Gill, Peter Xuereb, Claudio Pani, Goran Adamovic (32' Alexander Satariano), Jean Paul Farrugia.

BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Jeferson Ferreira (81' Michael Mifsud), Enrico Pepe, Matthew Guillaumier, Maurizio Vella, Kurt Zammit, Yannick Yankam, Federico Falcone, Caio Rocha, Oscar Matias Carniello, Isaac Ntow.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara.
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, James Muscat.
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow Cards: 37' Juan Gill Cruz. 

Scorers: 42' Jean Paul Farrugia, 75' Juri Ciscotti (Sliema Wanderers), 40' Caio Rocha (Birkirkara).

BOV Player of the Match: Juri Ciscotti (Sliema Wanderers).

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