Stripes hit back to stay on track

by Ayrton Galea - 25th February 2014

Birkirkara FC kept their title aspirations on track, when on Sunday afternoon they came from behind to see off the challenge by a resilient Balzan side with a 3-1 score, to start their Championship Pool commitments with a win.

Wounded by the shock elimination from the U*BET FA Trophy by Qormi for the second year running, in the second defeat in the last three matches, many begin to doubt Birkirkara's real strength. However, the Maltese Champions rose to the occasion by registering a hard fought victory.

Birkirkara were having an off-form first half, and Jose Louis Armario Negrin added to their woes when he put Balzan ahead. Mr. Paul Zammit delivered must have given an inspirational half-time talk, as the Stripes were a transformed side in the second forty-five minutes.

Shola Shodiya had a magical moment just five minutes after the break as he riffled a sensational strike from distance to equalise. Just three minutes later Paul Fenech completed the comeback with another excellent strike, before substitute Ryan Camenzuli sealed the issue deep into stoppage time.

The win was priceless for the Birkirkara clan, who not only roared back from the FA Trophy exit and began the Championship Pool with a win, but increased their lead to three points as Valletta failed to keep the pace and were held in a 1-1 draw by Sliema Wanderers.

The Birkirkara Head Coach opted for a 3-5-2 formation. He made just one change from the last outing against Qormi, as Frank Temile, who was left out from the eighteen-man squad, was replaced by Zach Muscat.

Muscat was drifted inside the three-man defence along with the foreign-duo Alejandro Mendoza and Nikola Vukanac while Joseph Zerafa and Edward Herrera patrolled the wings. Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech and Ryan Scicluna composed the midfield department. The forward line featured the tried and trusted combination of Jhonnattann Benites and Shola Shodiya.

The First Half

The match started at a typical frantic pace, but Birkirkara were quick to assume possession with a defensive-minded Balzan deploying ten-men behind the ball.

Birkirkara enjoyed large swaths of possession inside the opening minutes but they failed to threaten goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo. The Stripes' only attempt was a strike by Shola Shodiya that was blocked by Ramon Dos Santos.

Balzan threatened once again on the thirteenth minute . Lydon Micallef had a fierce shot sailing totally over the bar after being served by Pedro Calcado.

The Balzan defender, Dos Santos, who was prominent in denying Shodiya in the opening stages, was in action on the other end. His header from a deflected free-kick by Pedro Calcado was denied by an excellent save of an alert Justin Haber, who turned the ball into a corner kick.

Birkirkara continued to dominate possession but they failed to make it through to the end. Balzan, who congested the midfield department, were frustrating the Stripes, who were erratic most of the time, in their final touch.

As time continued to pass, lack of ideas and confidence continued to be clearly seen from the Birkirkara side, and to add to their woes, Balzan managed to surge ahead. On the thirty-third minute, a blunder in the midfield department gifted Balzan the lead against the run of play. Fabio Vignaroli won possession, after Ryan Scicluna lost control, and served Jose Louis Armario Negin on the run. With the Birkirkara clan having their offside claim falling on deaf ears, Negrin drifted forward before calmly placing past Haber.

The Stripes were stunned by Balzan goal, but they were quick to make a desperate reaction. Jhonnattann Benites drifted down the left wing before dribbling his marker and sending a teasing cross which was tipped away by goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.

Birkirkara continued to be erratic and they hardly tested Bartolo. The midfield department crowded by Balzan players, the Stripes based their attacks down the flanks but, their efforts were unrewarded.

The referee's half-time whistle found Birkirkara chasing the game as Negrin's goal was making all the difference. The frustrated Birkirkara supporters urged their players to step-up their performance as the teams headed into the dressing room.

The Second Half

Mr. Paul Zammit, included Ronaille Calheira to replace Edward Herrera, with the former Tarxien Rainbows striker joining Benites and Shodiya in the attacking department.

On the other hand, the Balzan Head Coach, Mr. Jesmond Zerafa also made his first change. Kurt Magro replaced an injured Justin Grioli, who could not continue playing, after suffering a knock late in the first half.

The half-time talk by Mr. Zammit and the minor tactical change revamped Birkirkara's side. They quickly left the desired mark by equalising just five minutes inside the second half. Shola Shodiya found space to advance and riffled a thunderbolt from around twenty-five metres which surprised and hit hard past goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo to put Birkirkara back on level terms.

Balzan, who probably did expected such a strong start from the Stripes, dropped deeper and ceded the initiative. The revamped Stripes were quick to turn the match and went ahead just three minutes later. Paul Fenech lobbed the ball in direction of Jhonnattann Benites inside the box, with the Brazilian forward exchanging possession with Fenech, who struck an excellent first-time shot which ended in the right top corner, to put Birkirkara ahead for the first time.

With scorer of the second goal, Paul Fenech, not in the best condition, Mr. Paul Zammit threw Daniel Zerafa into the fray, to replace him.

Twenty minutes inside the second half, Shodiya should have put Birkirkara two up, when he intercepted a pass at the back and surged forward. Shodiya rounded goalkeeper Bartolo, but to the amazement and disappointment of the Birkirkara clan, he somehow shot wide from an ideal position.

The Stripes survived another scare as Negrin picked Zarate's inviting pass, but Justin Haber made an excellent save to deny Balzan equalising.

With Birkirkara having to keep their lead at all cost, Ryan Camenzuli replaced forward Jhonnattann Benites ten minutes from the end.

After Ryan Darmanin for Balzan had a shot ending over, it was Camenzuli who sealed the issue for the Stripes, deep into stoppage them when he won possession, advanced and placed calmly put the ball past Manuel Bartolo.

With the Birkirkara supporters chanting ‘Campioni, Campioni', referee Sandro Spiteri blew the final whistle that found the Stripes winning their first out of the ten matches in the Championship Pool phase.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera (45' Ronaille Calheira), Paul Fenech (60' Daniel Zerafa), Ryan Scicluna, Gareth Sciberras, Jhonnattann Benites (80' Ryan Camenzuli), Shola Shodiya.

BALZAN: Manuel Bartolo, Justin Grioli (46′ Kurt Magro), Steve Bezzina, Andrew Scicluna, Lucas Ramon dos Santos, Fabio Vignaroli, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Dylan Grima (75′ Mark Spiteri), Lydon Micallef (65′ Ryan Darmanin), Jose Luis Armario Negrin.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Peter Abela.

Additional Assistant Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Andre Arciola.

Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow Cards: 15' Gareth Sciberras, 65' Zach Muscat, 90' Ronaille Calheira (Birkirkara), 38' Edison Bilboa Zarate, 45' Pedro Dos Santos Calcado, 45+' Jose Luis Armario Negrin, 64' Dylan Grima (Balzan).

Scorers: 50' Shola Shodiya, 53' Paul Fenech, 90+4' Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara), 33' Jose Luis Armario Negrin (Balzan).

BOV Player of the Match: Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara).

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