BOV Premier League - Birkirkara FC 1-1 Senglea Athletic FC

by Ayrton Galea - 19th January 2020

Birkirkara FC failed to keep their momentum as yesterday evening they were in a 1-1 draw against Senglea Athletic FC in a match that saw Federico Falcone has penalty deep into stoppage time saved by the goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

The Stripes were forced to settle for a point as their progress was punctured by dropping two precious points. They remain one point above Hamrun Spartans but failed to move above Balzan after the latter were defeated by Floriana.

Coach Andre Paus made two changes from the last match as Johann Bezzina and Ryan Fenech replaced Oscar Matias Carniello and Caio Rocha. Carniello was missing after spending the entire week sick.

The Birkirkara Coach fielded just three foreigners in his starting XI namely Pepe, Ntow, and Falcone while Jeferson Ferreira and Cio Rocha started on the substitutes' bench.

The First Half

In a match that started in strong winds, Birkirkara had more possession but they struggled to penetrate in the third part of the pitch while Marcelo Dias for Senglea Athletic had a cross-shot ending wide after thirteen minutes.

With the wind blowing in their favour, Senglea Athletic did little to make use of this factor as they sat back and waited and it was only for Sean Cipriott who tried a long-distance shot that ended wide.

The Stripes went close with their first scoring chance on the twenty-seventh minute. Cain Attard delivered a cross inside the box in the path of Falcone who saw his header ending just over the bar.

Birkirkara surged ahead just past the half-hour mark. Federico Falcone rose high to connect to Ntow's cross and his fine header hit past goalkeeper Farrugia. For Falcone, this was his fifth goal in the last six matches.

However, Senglea made the score level one minute from half-time. Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg fouled Wilfried Zamble inside the box and Referee Emanuel Grech ordered the penalty. From the spot, Jose Wilkson Teixeira converted.

Coach Andre Paus was forced to make an early first substitution as Ryan Fenech, who suffered a bank injury mid-way through the first-half, was replaced by Michael Mifsud.  

The Second Half

The Stripes were unlucky not to regain their lead three minutes inside the second half when substitute Michael Mifsud, served by Falcone, rounded goalkeeper Farrugia, but his shot was cleared off the goal-line by Debono.

Just past the hour mark, Birkirkara went close again. Ntow played a short corner to Guillaumier who hit a powerful curling drive from outside the box but his well-taken effort ended just over the bar.

Senglea replied three minutes later. Dias sprinted forward to collect a long-ball and tried a confident attempt to lob over the hesitant Hogg but his effort hit the side-netting.

Birkirkara took the lead just past the hour mark by the team's top scorer Federico Falcone but his opening goal was cancelled by Jose Wilkson Teixeira's penalty before half-time as the first half ended all square.

Senglea were down to ten men ten minutes from time when Marcelo Dias was shown his second yellow card following a foul on Isaac Ntow. 

The Stripes were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time when defender Sigitas Olberkis handled the ball inside but from the spot, Falcone's effort was denied by Farrugia as the latter wins a point for Senglea Athletic.

BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Enrico Pepe, Matthew Guillaumier, Johann Bezzina (71' Caio Rocha), Kurt Zammit, Yannick Yankam, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Ryan Fenech (44' Michael Mifsud), Isaac Ntow.

SENGLEA ATHLETIC: Matthew Farrugia, Olberkis Sigitas, Dejan Debono, Elvis Sakyi, Leighton Grech (60' Jan Tanti), Manolito Micallef (69' Connor Zammit), Jose Wilkson Teixeira, Sean Cipriott, Wilfried Zamble, Anderson Do Nascimento Carneiro, Marcelo Dias.

Referee: Emanuel Grech.
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Christopher Francalanza.
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow Cards: 25' Ryan Fenech, 44' Andrew Hogg, 79' Enrico Pepe, 90+5' Cain Attard (Birkirkara), 20' Marcelo Dias, 32' Jose Wilkson Teixeira, 35' Sean Cipriott, 90+3' Olberkis Sigitas, 90+5' Jan Tanti (Senglea Athletic).

Red Cards: 80' Marcelo Dias (Senglea Athletic).

Scorers: 31' Federico Falcone (Birkirkara), 44' Jose Wilkson Teixeira (Senglea Athletic).

BOV Player of the Match: Wilfried Zamble (Senglea Athletic).

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