Dissaponting Stripes lose to Pieta

by Ayrton Galea - 22nd November 2014

Birkirkara continued to disappoint, and show their weaknesses which they have been enduring this season, when their Premier League campaign took another twist to the worse as they suffered a surprising 4'3 defeat by two late goals which handed the three points to Pieta Hotspurs.

It was yet another poor and disappointing display, which saw the Stripes suffering four goals to a newly'promoted side. The Stripes conceded an early goal but they did well to end the first half in the lead thanks to a brace by Morais, and the first half was dominated by Birkirkara. However, the second half saw a poor and erratic display which allowed Pieta to register a 4'3 victory.

Mr. Paul Zammit fielded a 4'3'3 formation and made three changes from the last defeat against Floriana FC. Gareth Sciberras completed his return from injury and he was deployed in the midfield department. Ledesma returned from a one'match suspension, and Nikola Vukanac also recovered on time. Agius started on the bench while Mendoza and Scicluna were not part of the squad due to an injury and suspension respectively.

The four'line defence featured Bissi and Vukanac as central backs, supported by side'backs Camenzuli and Muscat. Fenech and Sciberras composed the midfield department with Rafael Ledesma placing behind the three strikers Shodiya, Morais and Grech.

The First Half

Birkirkara should have surged ahead after just four minutes. A first'post corner kick was short cleared and a cross by Leighton Grech was failed to be parried by Montfort with Morais hitting over from close'range. A minute later, Vukanac fired over a Ledesma's second'post free'kick.

Hainge failed to convert two goal'scoring chances, the Stripes paid the sourest of prices, as the Hotspurs surged ahead in their next attack on the eighth minute. A cross from the left was short cleared and the Hotspurs player advanced down the right before his cross was headed home by Luke Micallef.

The Stripes showed attitude as they made a quick and strong reaction. On the ninth minute, Shodiya fired a fine strike which ended over, and three minutes later, Grech served Morais who had his strike deflected into a corner kick in front of Montfort.

From the resulting corner kick taken by Ledesma, Vukanac saw his strike deflected by a defender and cleared off the goal'line. Just two minutes later, the Stripes went close once again when Morais served Ledesma, who saw his close'range effort blocked by a defender in front of the Hotspurs goalkeeper.

It was being a one'way match, with Birkirkara attacking from all ends and for their efforts, they were awarded on the twenty'second minute when they made they levelled the score. Shodiya received a cross and won a corner kick from the left. Stepping up for the corner kick was Ledesma who delivered a brilliant second'post corner kick, and Ellinton Morais rose high to head home past goalkeeper Montfort.

With score parity restored, the Stripes calmed down but their tempo did not, as they kept pushing forward with the runs of the foreign forwards of Shodiya, Morias and Ledesma troubling the Hotspurs' rear'guard. Close to the half hour mark, Ledesma had a well'taken free'kick deflected into a corner kick.

The Stripes turned the match around six minutes from half'time, and it was once again the Brazilian forward duo of Ledesma and Morais who produced the second goal for the Stripes. Shodiya served Ledesma on the left wing with the Brazilian player delivering a second'post cross that saw Morais scoring his second goal of the day with a well'placed header past Montfort.

Pieta went close to equalising just three minutes from half'time, when substitute Claudio Frances, who had replaced Rafael Xavier just right after Birkirkara's goal, drifted into the box but Camemzuli did an excellent tackle to deny Frances.

The referee's half'time whistle found the Stripes heading to their dressing room leading by a narrow 2-1 score thanks to Morais' brace following an early goal shower.

The Second Half

Pieta almost repeated the dramatic start of the first half when they went close to levelling matters just after two minutes. Substitute Frances had a fierce shot blocked by Haber with the ball falling to the Hotspurs player but Haber recovered well to neutralise.

Seven minutes into the second half, Pieta drew level with a powerful strike by youngster Terence Agius.

However the Stripes' once again showed great character and they regained the lead five minutes later. Paul Fenech was fouled inside the box and the referee ordered the penalty. Ledesma hit past Montfort from the spot but the referee ordered the retake. However, Ledesma kept calm and in his second attempt, he placed the ball at the back of the net to regain Birkirkara's lead.

Having been chasing and losing the lead during the match, Mr. Paul Zammit took no risk and made the first substitution on the hour mark. Edmond Agius replaced Shola Shodiya in order to strengthen the midfield department.

Twenty minutes into the second half, the Stripes went close to increasing the gap. Ledesma's corner kick was short cleared and Zach Muscat had a fierce strike ending over. Four minutes later, Vukanac headed wide a Paul Fenech's cross.

Pieta almost made Birkirkara pay for a defensive blunder on the seventieth minute, but Zach Muscat made an excellent tackle to deny Jurgen Pisani with the ball ending into a corner kick.

As the final twelve minutes approached, Pieta were awarded a controversial penalty, after Justin Haber fouled Nikola Tasic inside the box and the referee ordered the penalty. From the eleven metre spot, Jurgen Pisani converted.

The Stripes were stunned but the worst was yet come, as four minutes from time, the Hotspurs registered the winning goal. In a fast counterattack which caught the Birkirkara's rearguard on the wrong foot, substitute Claudio Frances scored a gem of a goal to give his team three precious points and condemn the Stripes for the second consecutive defeat.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Matheus Bissi, Nikola Vukanac, Zach Muscat, Leighton Grech (81' Edward Herrera, Ryan Camenzuli, Gareth Sciberras (85' Vyacheslav Shevchenko, Paul Fenech, Rafael Ledesma, Shola Shodiya (61' Edmond Agius), Ellinton Morais.

PIETA: Miguel Montfort, Cain Attard, Leonardo Dos Santos, Christian Grech, Terence Agius (81' Gabriel Da Silva), Nikola Tasic, Rafael Rodrigues, Kyle Cesare (90+1' Dylan Agius), Luke Micallef, Rafael Xavier (40' Claudio Frances), Jurgen Pisani.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, Duncan Sultana.

Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi.

Yellow Cards: Matheus Bissi (Birkirkara), Nikola Tasic, Cain Attard, Terence Agius, Gabriel Da Silva (Pieta).

Scorers: 22', 39' Ellinton Morais, 57' Rafael Ledesma (Birkirkara), 8' Luke Micallef, 52' Terence Agius, 78' Jurgen Pisani, 86' Claudio Frances (Pieta Hotspurs).

BOV Player of the Match: Ellinton Morais (Birkirkara).

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