Uninspired Stripes lose to Rainbows
by Ayrton Galea - 3rd October 2014
Birkirkara FC fell to their second defeat in this league when on Thursday evening the Brazilian forward trio of Tarxien Rainbows made all the difference, to emerge as winners with a score of 3-1.
It was a match were Birkirkara held the initiative for long stretches but they could not find the way through, as once again, they struggled to penetrate in the final third. On the other hand, Tarxien Rainbows saw their game-plan working perfectly by packing their defence and midfield while hitting on the counter.
It was two goals in the space of ten minutes that put the Stripes in an up-hill struggle, despite Ellinton Morais being quick to reduce the gap. The Stripes pushed hard in the second half but their reaction was not enough, and in the stoppage time, Tarxien sealed the issue with the third goal.
Mr. Paul Zammit followed the old English adage of never change a winning team, as he kept the same starting-eleven of the previous match. BOV Player of the last match, Rafael Ledesma once again took the role of play-maker, behind strikers Ellinton Morais and Eliandro Gonzaga.
The First Half
The match produced two scoring opportunities in the opening stages, one on each side. A direct corner kick by Rafael Ledesma almost surprised goalkeeper Jonathan Debono but the latter managed to deflect the ball to safety. From the resulting corner kick, a swift counter-attack saw the combination between Cleber Barbosa Silva and Alvaro Rodrgiuez with the latter's conclusion being saved by Haber.
Rafael Ledesma sent an excellent through ball on the fifteenth minute in the path of Ellinton Morais but goalkeeper Debono rushed out to eliminate the danger. Three minutes later, a direct free-kick by Ledesma failed to hit the target.
On the twentieth minute, Scicluna played-in Morais who headed the ball in the direction of Nikola Vukanac, who saw his header ending over. Hardly a minute later, a fierce shot by Gonzaga ended wide.
On the other side of the pitch, a direct free-kick by Wesley Lima Silva on the twenty-third minute failed to hit the target. However, Tarxien were quick to make amendments for the previous scoring opportunity as they surged ahead. It was yet again the speed of the Brazilian Tarxien trio that created the danger for the Stripes, before Cleber Barbosa's low strike beat Justin Haber.
Being a goal down after enjoying most of the possession, Birkirkara made a quick reaction. Matheus Bissi hit a typical long-range free-kick but his effort was parried by the Rainbows goalkeeper, Jonathan Debono.
However, in their next attack, Tarxien made them two, on the thirty-third minute. Barbosa Silva beat the offside trap to advance all alone, before serving Alvaro Rodriguez who had a routine task of slotting home in an empty net.
The gap was reduced just two minutes later. Zach Muscat made all the work by penetrating down the left flank before his excellent cross saw Ellinton Morais hitting a first-time strike to put Birkirkara back in the match.
Boosted by the goal, the Stripes continued to show the best ideas in the remaining minutes of the first half but Tarxien held strong to head to the dressing room leading narrowly with a 2-1 score.
The Second Half
The Stripes went out with all guns blazing in the second half and they should have equalized after just two minutes. It was yet another thunderous free-kick by Matheus Bissi who was denied by a superb save by Jonathan Debono. From the rebound, Eliandro Gonzaga failed to hit the target from just few metres away, as Birkirkara wasted a great opportunity to equalise.
Possession alone was not enough for the Stripes as the Rainbows created a solid wall at the back, leaving the Stripes searching for inspiration. Edmond Agius tried a shot from outside the area but his shot blasted over.
Struggling to penetrt, Mr. Paul Zammit utilised his first substitution. On the hour mark, Leighton Grech replaced Edward Herrera as the Birkirkara Coach sought for more speed on the flank.
Twenty minutes into the second half, Paul Fenech served Ellinton Morais who turned past his marker but his central shot was parried by Debono.
Short of ideas, and their supporters frustrated with their team's poor display, Mr. Paul Zammit made another change. Kurt Zammit replaced Eliandro Gonzaga.
As time ticked away, Birkirkara continued to search desperately for the equalising goal but their reaction was too weak to trouble the resilient Rainbows defence. It was only Rafael Ledesma who managed to unzip the defence eleven minutes from time but his shot was saved by Debono.
In Birkirkara's third and last change, Antoine Borg replaced Ellinton Morais.
Tarxien could have sealed the issues in the dying stages, when man-of-the-match Clebinho surged clear on the right and sprinted into the box but his shot was saved. However, there was to be no forgiveness for Birkirkara, as just moments later Alvaro struck the killer-blow with a lob that left keeper Haber stranded.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Matheus Bissi, Nikola Vukanac, Edward Herrera (60' Leighton Grech), Edmond Agius, Paul Fenech, Ryan Scicluna, Rafael Ledesma, Ellinton Morais (89' Antoine Borg), Eliandro Gonzaga (75' Kurt Zammit).
TARXIEN: Jonathan Debono, Owen Bugeja, Alvaro Andre Rodriguez Silva (90+2' Manuel Xerri), Cleber Barbosa Viana (90+4' Kane Farrugia), Triston Caruana, Firas Aboulezz, Wesley Lima Silva, Ryan Sammut, Alex Cini, Matthew Tabone (69' Jorge Santos Silva), Alessandro Lopes Pereira.
Referee: Mario Apap.
Assistant Referess: Roberto Vella, Peter Abela.
Fourth Official: Andre Arciola.
Yellow Cards: 30' Ryan Sammut, 37' Firaz Aboulezz, 42' Owen Bugeja (Tarxien Rainbows).
Scorers: 35' Ellinton Morais (Birkirkara), 25' Cleber Barbosa, 33' Alvaro Rodriguez, 90+3' Alvaro Rodriguez (Tarxien Rainbows).
BOV Player of the Match: Cleber Barbosa Viana (Tarxien Rainbows).
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