FA Trophy | Match Report - Birkirkara Vs. Għajnsielem

by Clayton Schembri - 3rd March 2021

Birkirkara FC secured their place in the last-eight of the FA Trophy with a comfortable 4-1 win over Gozitan First Division leaders Għajnsielem at the Gozo Stadium yesterday evening.

Coach Andre Paus made three changes from the last match. Kurt Zammit, Claudio Bonanni and Oscar Carniello replaced Federico Falcone, Reginald Alidor and Isaac Ntow.

Birkirkara found no difficulty to dominate their opponents and they scored three goals in the first half and then easily administered their advantage in the second half.

Birkirkara went close to open the score after nine minutes minutes, when Kevin Farrugia fouled Caio Prado inside the area but from the spot Caio saw his shot saved by Għajnsielem goalkeeper Andre Parnis.

The Stripes surged ahead on the 27 minutes. When Caio Prado delivered a cross from a corner and found Kurt Zammit who headed home from close-range.

Birkirkara continued to be superior and they doubled the lead on 36 minutes with a fine header by Enrico Pepe after a corner kick from Paul Mbong.

Paul Mbong made it three four minutes later with a fine powerful low shot.

Għajnsielem managed to pull one back on 53 minutes, when Alberto Xuereb`s cross found Igor Nedeljkovi who concluded with a fine header from close-range.

The Stripes went close again midway through the second half, when Luke Montebello's shot just missed the target.

Għajnsielem replied on 77 minutes, when Jhon Arboleda Valencia entered the area but concluded badly.

However, the Stripes regained their three-goal lead three minutes later after a shot from Luke Montebello was partially saved by Parnis and from the rebound Caio Prado hit low past goalkeeper Parnis.

BIRKIRKARA: Sandro Guarnone, Enrico Pepe, Yannick Yankam, Luke Montebello, Paul Mbong, Kurt Zammit (84′ Isaac Ntow), Francesco Verde (46′ Reginald Mbu Alidor), Cain Attard, Claudio Bonanni, Caio Prado, Oscar Carniello.

Għajnsielem: Adrian Parnis, Keith Borg (86′ Kenneth Mercieca), Alberto Xuereb, Asante Agyeman, Kevin Farrugia, Jhon Arboleda Valencia, Joseph George Vella (83′ Dejan Bogdanovic), Kurt Grima (54′ Johnny Camilleri), Rodney Buttigieg (85′ Michael Bezzina), Sebastien Martinez Turizo, Igor Nedeljkovic.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: James Muscat, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Emanuel Grech

Photo by Anthony Cassar

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