BOV Premier League - Gzira United FC 0-2 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 8th March 2020
Birkirkara FC registered an important victory and climbed to fifth place in the BOV Premier League when they defeated Gzira United FC with a 2-0 score.
The Stripes extended their brilliant form and stepped up their pursuit of securing a place in European competitions next season when they won the direct clash to register their fourth consecutive victory in the league.
Birkirkara now climbs to fifth, one point over Gzira and just two points under Sirens. This victory meant that the Stripes have won against all teams in the first six places, expect for Sirens who face them in the last matchday.
It was a deserved victory for the Stripes for all their efforts and a goal in each half by BOV Player of the match Cao Rocha and substitute Diego Capel gave the Stripes the three precious points.
Coach Andre Paus was forced to make two changes from the last league match as he couldn't rely on the services of Enrico Pepe and Matthew Guillaumier who were both suspended after accumulating four yellow cards.
The Birkirkara Coach adjusted his starting-eleven selection by including captain Roderick Briffa and Kurt Zammit from the start while keeping faith in his tried-and-tested 4-3-3 formation.
The First Half
Birkirkara went close to take the lead with their first shot of the match after less than two minutes. Falcone served Yankam inside the box and the Birkirkara midfielder hit a fine low shot that was saved by goalkeeper Justin Haber.
Gzira suffered a setback as they were forced to make their first substitution after just fourteen minutes. Marco Criaco was unable to continue playing after suffering an injury and he was replaced by Karl Pulo.
The Stripes threatened again in the nineteenth minute. In a fast counter-attack, Rocha raced forward before serving Falcone who lay-off the ball to Yankam but the latter hit over from outside the box.
Birkirkara surged ahead on the twenty-fifth minute. Roderick Briffa served Caio Rocha outside the box and the Brazilian forward controlled the ball before he struck a wonderful curling drive that gave Haber no chance.
Gzira struggled to settle and their first reaction had to wait till the half-hour mark. A direct free-kick by Hamed Kone was pushed into a corner by goalkeeper Hogg. Six minutes later, the same player hit high from a tight angle.
Birkirkara went close to double the lead four minutes from half time. Claudio Bonanni hit a well-taken free-kick that forced Haber to dive full stretch to push his effort into a corner.
The Second Half
A dangerous free-kick by Kone three minutes inside the second half hit the side-netting. On the other side of the pitch, Falcone hit wide with a shot from inside the box three minutes later.
Birkirkara should have made better on the hour mark. Briffa collected an erratic pass by the Maroons defence and was quick to serve Mbong but the latter's shot was weak to trouble Haber.
Twenty minutes inside the second half, Zammit introduced Amadou Samb who replaced Nikolai Muscat to increase the strength in his forward line. Rodolfo Soares suffered an injury and was replaced by Clifford Gatt Baldacchino.
The Maroons put more numbers forward that forced the Stripes to sit back and defend. They went close to the equalising goal by a shot by Kone that was saved by Hogg, while a header by Domaraud ended wide.
The Stripes sealed the issue six minutes from time. Substitute Diego Capel, who had just replaced Rocha, pounced the ball forward off a long-throw by Attard and hit a low shot past Haber who could only deflect the ball into the net.
Caio Rocha was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
GZIRA UNITED: Justin Haber, Gianmarco Conti, Nikolai Muscat (65' Amadou Samb), Zachary Scerri, Rodolfo Soares (65' Clifford Gatt Baldacchino), Juan Carlos Corbalan, Dexter Xuereb, Homed Kone, Marco Criaco (14' Karl Pulo), Wilfried Domaraud, Martin Davis.
BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Paul Mbong (73' Ryan Fenech), Kurt Zammit, Yannick Yankam, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone (88' Michael Mifsud), Cain Attard, Claudio Bonanni, Caio Rocha (84' Diego Capel), Oscar Matias Carniello, Isaac Ntow.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Roberto Vella.
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow Cards: 66' Wilfried Domoraud (Gzira United).
Scorers: 25' Caio Rocha, 86' Diego Capel (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Caio Rocha (Birkirkara).
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