Birkirkara dissapoint again
by Ayrton Galea - 18th September 2011
For the second consecutive week Birkirkara disappointed and failed to grab maximum points as this time they were held in a 2-2 draw by Mqabba.
Once again we assisted to a disappointing performance by Birkirkara who were searching to bounce back from last Saturday's disappointing performance.
After the last two games, Birkirkara's weaknesses are now clearer. One can notice that the defence is far from being in its top form where in the last two matches we conceded no less than 5 goals, with the last two against an inferior team.
One should mention that not everything in this match was negative, but like every match there were some positive factors. Jorge Mora bounced back with a solid and fine display especially in the first half where he made several fine saves which denied Mqabba from taking the lead and after to grab the equalising goal. Moises Avila Perez found the net after an absence of one week and Leighton Grech was once again one of the best players on the pitch. Another positive factor was that Rodrigo Pereira scored his first goal with our Club.
First Half
In this first half Birkirkara were having a slight edge over Mqabba and after Moises Avila Perez put 'The Stripes' in the lead, Birkirkara settled and continued to be the best team in the field and it would be a little, or no surprise if Birkirkara scored their second goal. To be fair with our opponents, Mqabba tried their maximum effort and they had some opportunities where they could have found the equalising goal
0' - Birkirkara opened well and a cross from Trevor Cilia on the second post was met by Leighton Grech who hit wide.
1' - Moises fouls.
2' - Mqabba almost took the lead thanks to Bojan Mamic, as the latter's powerful shot from inside the box was turned into a corner kick by Mora. From the following corner, Mqabba headed wide.
3' - Andrew Decesare fouls.
3' - Angus Buhagiar fouls.
4' - Mqabba fouls.
4' - Birkirkara had another attempt this time from a fine cross from the right, Moises failed to hit well, the ball ended in Trevor Cilia's feet whose cross shot ended wide.
6' - Andrew Decesare fouls.
7' - Mqabba fouls. From the following freekick, Trevor's cross was neutralised by the goalkeeper.
8' - Mqabba tried their luck with a long distance shot which ended wide.
9' - Mqabba fouls. From the following freekick, Rodrigo's well taken effort ended wide by centimetres.
10' - Mqabba tries another long distance shot but this time it was totally off target and ended in a goal kick for Birkirkara.
13' - Mqabba almost took the lead when an Mqabba player rounded Andrew Decesare and alone against Mora, the latter denied Mqabba with a fine save.
16' - Birkirkara take the lead! A perfect cross by Andrew Decesare towards Moises Avila Perez whose low shot hit the post and ended in the net.
16' - Mqabba once again tried their luck with a long distance shot which ended wide.
17' - Moises tried to cross in the box from the left, the cross was deflected and from the deflection, Leighton headed wide.
20' - Birkirkara almost made them two. Birkirkara wins a corner, the goalkeeper's short clearance, was met by another cross from the right towards Leighton who served Moises and the latter's powerful shot ended over the bar.
22' - Mqabba flagged for offside.
28' - Andrew Decesare fouls.
31' - Andrew Scicluna for Mqabba fouls.
36' - Mqabba fouls.
36' - Mqabba almost equalised with a long distance shot thanks Marko Potezika but his powerful shot was blocked by Mora.
38' - Paul Fenech fouls.
38' - Mqabba's shot ended wide.
40' - Birkirkara flagged for an offside position
44' - Mqabba win a corner.
45' - One minute of extra time is shown.
45 +1' - Referee Mario Apap blows the half time whistle.
Second Half
If in the first half Birkirkara were having a slight edge, in the second half it was Mqabba who were the best team in the field and after all it was a deserved point for the newly promoted team.
45' - Mqabba fouls.
50' - Mqabba grab the equalising goal when John Paul Muscat serves Bojan Mamic who in a one against one found no problem to beat Mora with a low shot to make the score 1-1.
52' - Ryan Scicluna is flagged for an offside.
54' - Birkirkara wins a corner.
57' - Mqabba utilise the first substitution as Marlon Briffa replaces John Paul Muscat.
58' - Birkirkara fouls.
59' - Mqabba are flagged for an offside position.
59' - Birkirkara fouls
60' - Mqabba almost scores their second goal when Claudio Calleja's effort was cleared off the goal line by Andrew Decesare.
61' - Mqabba are flagged for an offside position.
63' - Birkirkara have an attempt on goal.
64' - Mqabba commit a foul.
66' - Referee waves play-on after Gareth seems to have been fouled. Gareth is stretchered out of the field due to an injury.
69' - Gareth enters the field and continues the match.
70' - Birkirkara utilise their first substitution when Alan Tabone replaced Ryan Scicluna.
72' - Personal action by Leighton Grech who advanced inside the box and tried a cross shot but it was not met by anybody and the action ended in a goal kick for Mqabba.
73' - Birkirkara regain the lead when Mqabba commit a foul. From the resulting freekick, Alan Tabone served Moises Avila Perez who headed the ball in the direction of Rodrigo Pereira who headed the ball in the net from a close range.
74' - Second substitution for Mqabba. James Paris replaced David Azzopardi.
75' - Mqabba score the equalising goal after just two minutes when a lack of communication between Rodrigo Pereira and Joseph Zerafa, Bojan Mamic advanced alone in the box and beat Mora for the second time.
76' - Birkirkara make the second substitution as Leighton Grech is replaced by Terence Vella.
77' - Birkirkara commit a foul and Angus Buhagiar is shown the yellow card.
80' - Mqabba win a corner.
81 - Birkirkara have an attempt on goal thanks to Terence Vella.
81' - Mqabba commit a foul.
83' - Mqabba commit a foul.
87' - Marlon Briffa of Mqabba is flagged for an offside position.
88' - Mqabba makes the third and final substitution. Bojan Mamic is replaced by Ryan Sammut.
88' - Ryan Sammut of Mqabba is shown the yellow card after a foul on Joseph Zerafa.
90' - Four minutes of extra time are shown.
90 + 2' - Mqabba win a corner.
90 + 3' - Mqabba commit a foul.
90 + 4' - The full time whistle is blown.
With this draw, Birkirkara picked the only point from the last two matches and they are now with seven points from four matches. Next week they will be involved in a difficult task against Sliema Wanderers and latter are still unbeaten from four matches.
Line Ups:
Birkirkara: Jorge Mora, Angus Buhagiar, Rodrigo Pereira, Joseph Zerafa, Andrew Decesare, Trevor Cilia, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna (71' Alan Tabone), Paul Fenech, Leighton Grech (76' Terence Vella), Moises Avila Perez
Mqabba: Kris Calleja, Pierre Grima, Marko Potezika, Andrew Scicluna, Branislav Timotic, David Azzopardi (74' James Paris), Claudio Calleja (58' Marlon Briffa), John Paul Muscat (, Mauro Bonnici, Clayton Micallef, Bojan Mamic (89' Ryan Sammut)
Yellow Cards: Angus Buhagiar (Birkirkara), Marlon Briffa, Ryan Sammut (Mqabba)
Red Cards: None
Scorers: Moises Avila Perez 16', Rodrigo Pereira 74' (Birkirkara), Bojan Mamic 54', 76' (Mqabba)
comments powered by Disqus
