Birkirkara FC win BOV Super Cup

by Ayrton Gales - 9th August 2014

Birkirkara FC raised the curtain of the new season in style when they won the BOV Super Cup for the seventh time in their history by beating Valletta FC with a 2-1 score, thanks to goals by Eliandro Gonzaga and Edward Herrera.

Emotions were running high yesterday evening as the match renewed the rivalry between these two local heavyweights, with the Stripes having the last laugh by winning the cup and to make it sweeter, the first final win over Valletta.

It was a combative match with Birkirkara having a clear edge over their opponents in the first half, where they lost a number of open chances after taking the lead. In the second half, the Citizens opened better and equalised but Herrera's strike twenty minutes from time turned out to be winning goal for Birkirkara as they kept strong till the final whistle which declared them as winners.

Birkirkara featured two of this summer's signing in their 3-5-2 formation, as Eliandro Gonzaga and Rafael Ledesma began up front, with Ledesma also roaming as the second striker behind the Brazilian striker. Goalkeeper Justin Haber made it on time to start between the posts while Muscat, Vukanac and Mendoza formed the three-line defence. Zerafa and Herrera patrolled the wing-backs with the midfield trio featuring a slight surprise as Bissi was advanced as defending-midfield along with Scicluna and Agius.

The First Half

Elford Lateef-Alliyu had the first shot in the match after just four minutes but his shot from outside the box ended wide. Just three minutes later, off a cross by Abdelkarim Nafti, Adrian Zahra was unmarked and all alone but he headed wide.

Birkirkara threatened first on the eighth minute when from a lay-off pass by Gonzaga, Rafael Ledesma had a fine shot deflected into a corner kick. From the resulting corner, Mendoza had a powerful header scratching past the upright.

The Stripes were showing the best ideas and they drew first blood on the fifteenth minute. Scicluna served Ledesma who intelligently continued the ball in the direction of Eliandro Gonzaga whose shot from outside the box caught goalkeeper Cini by surprise and put Birkirkara in the lead.

Gonzaga could double the score just five minutes later when he picked a short back pass and raced forward. His close-range strike was blocked by Cini with Gonzaga being the last one to touch the ball which ended in a goal-kick.

Valletta, a goal down, began to press forward and applying pressure on Birkirkara's rearguard. Close to the hour-mark, Shaun Bajada had a dangerous free-kick hitting the Birkirkara wall.

The Citizens continued to apply more pressure on the Birkirkara defence, which held strong. The attack-minded Valletta, were being caught on the back foot at the defence, as the acceleration of Gonzaga was being a torment for the Valletta defenders

Birkirkara threatened again ten minutes from half time when Gonzaga served Bissi who had a dangerous effort from the edge of the box ending over the bar.

Five minutes from time, Birkirkara lost another golden opportunity when Joseph Zerafa sent a perfect low cross but Ledesma in front of an open net hit wide. AmMinute later, Cini made an excellent save on Gonzaga's header to keep City in the match.

The first half found Birkirkara heading to their dressing room one goal up but feeling somehow guilty knowing that the score should have been bigger.

The Second Half

Valletta came out strong and threatened after just one minute. Ryan Fenech raced forward before hitting a powerful strike that ended over Haber's bar. Fenech threatened again six minutes later but his strike ended over.

The Citizen's strong start in the second forty-five minutes awarded them the equalising goal on the fifty-seventh minute minute. Abdelkarim Nafti delivered an excellent set-piece following a free-kick from the left which saw Jonathan Caruana heading home from inside the box.

By levelling matters, the Citizens were boosted and continued to press forward. On the sixty-first minute Fenech was in action once again when had a fierce strike ending over. Shaun Bajada had a powerful drive from inside the box ending inches over two minutes later as the Citizens were now playing better football.

Having seen his team struggle, Mr. Paul Zammit effected two substitutions. Twenty minutes from time, Zerafa received a knock and had to be replaced by Ryan Camenzuli while two minutes later, latest signing, Ellinton Morais replaced Eliandro Gonzaga.

Birkirkara showed great character to regain the lead on the sixty-ninth minute. Freshly introduced on the pitch Ryan Camenzuli, picked a brilliant pass from Ledesma, and delivered an excellent low cross from which Herrera struck home.

With twenty minutes to go, and nothing to lose, the Citizens put everything up front. Bajada had a desperate powerful drive turned into a corner by a fine save by Haber, fifteen minutes from time.

There was another minor scare for the Stripes when substitute Kooh Sohna's curling drive landed wide of the far post after taking a deflection. From the ensuing corner, taken by Nafti, an unmarked Elford-Alliyu headed over.

Valletta could have ended playing with one player less in the final minutes. Substitute Ellinton Morais out paced Luke Dimech with the latter stopping the Brazilian forward by elbowing him in the face, but Referee Apap just cautioned the Valletta defender.

In Birkirkara's third and last substitution, Leighton Grech replaced Rafael Ledesma.

Valletta put everything forward, with goalkeeper Yenz Cini also joining his team-mates up front but their efforts were not enough as Birkirkara held on to the end, to win the first cup of the season.

Birkirkara Captain on the day, Joseph Zerafa lifted Super Cup, to the joy of the Birkirkara clan.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Zach Muscat, Edmond Agius, Edward Herrera, Joseph Zerafa (65' Ryan Camenzuli), Matheus Bissi, Ryan Scicluna, Rafael Ledesma (88' Leighton Grech), Eliandro Gonzaga (67' Ellinton Morais).

VALLETTA: Yenz Cini, Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, Ryan Camilleri, Ryan Fenech (87' Ian Zammit), Hugo Faria, Lateef Elford-Alliyu, Shaun Bajada, Adrian Zahra (59' Raphael Alain Kooh Sohna), Abdelkarim Nafti (81' Luke Montebello), Luke Dimech.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Peter Abela.

Additional Assistant Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Fyodor Zammit.

Fourth Official: Luke Portelli.

Yellow Cards: Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara), Hugo Faria, Luke Dimech (Valletta)

Scorers: 15' Eliandro Gonzaga, 69' Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), 57' Jonathan Caruana (Valletta).

comments powered by Disqus