Stripes heave sigh of relief

by Ayrton Galea - 30th November 2014

Birkirkara FC heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday afternoon, when thanks to a very satisfactory display in the second-half, they recovered from being a goal down to beat Zebbug Rangers with a 3-1 result.

It was yet another match that saw the Stripes struggling and lacking inspiration in the first forty-five minutes, after conceding an early goal, but Ledesma restored parity from a penalty-kick three minutes from half time. However, in the second half the Stripes gave an excellent display to score twice to return back to winning ways and consolidate their third place in the BOV Premier League.

Head Coach Paul Zammit made three changes from his first-eleven selection as he sought to inject new life in his team. Edward Herrera replaced Ryan Camenzuli, Ryan Scicluna who was back from suspension replaced Leighton Grech while Eliandro Gonzaga was preferred over Shola Shodiya.

The 4-3-3 formation featured Haber defending the posts, Muscat and Vukanac formed the central-backs with Herrera and Bissi patrolling the side-backs. The midfield trio featured Fenech, Sciberras and Scicluna while the forward line was made up of the Brazilian trio of Gonzaga, Morais and Ledesma with the latter deployed to roam behind Gonzaga and Morais.

Ini Akpan was ruled-out injured with a finger problem, while Alejandro Mendoza is still recovering from an ankle injury.

The First Half

Birkirkara had the first scoring opportunity on the eighth minute. Bissi shifted the ball from side to side, found Gonzaga who served Ledesma, but the latter's shot from inside the box was saved by Fabricio Rapchan.

Zebbug, fielding a 4-1-4-1 formation with the aim to keep things tight at the back, enjoyed a satisfactory start as they tested Haber twice in the first fifteen minutes. First a Carlo Monti's direct free-kick was parried by Haber on the thirteenth minute ,and two minutes later the Birkirkara goalkeeper did well to turn a long-distance effort by Matthew Bartolo into a corner kick.

Things got a turn to the worse for the Stripes on the twenty-second minute, when they fell behind. Carlo Monti's cross was short-cleared by Justin Haber and an unmarked Mauricio Britto found no problem in slotting home.

The Stripes did well to react quickly. Paul Fenech served Ellinton Morais inside the box and the Brazilian's effort was neutralised with a fine save by Rapchan.

Just before the half-hour mark, Rafael Ledesma hit an excellent free-kick which scratched past the post. Two minutes later Mattheus Bissi saw his powerful drive from a long-distance free-kick ending over.

Birkirkara continued to press forward. On the thirty-third minute Ledesma had a fine corner kick met with Morais' header, which was blocked by Rapchan and turned into a corner kick.

Ledesma was involved in action once again on the thirty-ninth minute when after running past the half of the pitch, the Brazilian play-maker saw his cross finding Morais whose header was blocked of another great save of the Zebbug goalkeeper. For Zebbug, a minute later, Monti had a low shot parried by Haber after being served by Mamic.

Birkirkara, desperate for the equaliser, were rewarded for their efforts as they levelled matters three minutes from half-time. Gonzaga drifted inside the box and was tripped by a Zebbug defender, with the referee ordering a penalty-kick. Ledesma made no mistake and levelled the score.

Ledesma's equaliser was a sigh of relief as the Stripes headed to their dressing rooms with a 1-1 score after the end of the first half.

The Second Half

Five minutes into the second half, Paul Fenech did well to drift inside the box to deliver a dangerous cross which saw a Zebbug defender clearing into safety after Gonzaga failed to reach. From the resulting corner kick, Bissi had his effort blocked by a defender and Morais' scissor kick was saved by the Zebbug goalkeeper who was in excellent form.

On the fifty-fourth minute Morais' cross found Ledesma, whose first-time effort hit the foot of the post.

Birkirkara had another scoring opportunity on the fifty-eighth minute. Bissi saw his cross short-cleared, and from inside the box, Gareth Sciberras saw his shot ending wide off the far post.

Zebbug had the first scoring opportunity of the second half just past the hour mark when Mucchiardi had a shot from inside the box ending wide.

Birkirkara had a great opportunity to surge ahead when twenty minutes into the second half they were awarded another penalty kick. Ledesma served Morais and was floored inside the box, with referee Trustin Farrugia Cann ordering the penalty kick. However, Ledesma's strike was blocked by Rapchan and ended into a corner kick.

The Stripes turned the score in their favour on the sixty-sixth minute. Ledesma delivered a brilliant corner-kick which saw the Club's top scorer, Ellinton Morais heading home.

Zebbug might have been feeling unlucky to see their first-half efforts fading away but they were certainly not down and out as it was Haber who denied them the equaliser with a fine save on the seventeenth minute on Mauricio Britto's effort.

In Birkirkara's first substitution on the seventy-seventh minute, Ellinton Morais was replaced by Edmond Agius. Seconds later, Rafael Ledesma was replaced with Shola Shodiya.

Kurt Zammit was Birkirkara's third substitute when he replaced Eliandro Gonzaga five minutes from time.

Two minutes from time Birkirkara made them three. It was substitute Edmond Agius who combined well with Shodiya who served Agius whose shot from inside the box beat Rapchan.

Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann's full-time whistle found the Stripes sighing with relief as they returned to winning ways.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Edward Herrera, Matheus Bissi, Nikola Vukanac, Zach Muscat, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna, Paul Fenech, Rafael Ledesma (77' Shola Shodiya), Eliandro Gonzaga, Ellinton Morais (77' Edmond Agius).

ZEBBUG: Fabricio Rapchan, Yessous Camilleri, Lee Galea, Jacob Borg, Matthew Gauci, Thomas Paris, Mattias Mucchiardi, Carlo Monti, Matthew Bartolo, Mauricio Britto (82' John Nwoba), Bojan Mamic.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Jurgen Spiteri.

Additional Assistant Referees: Marco Borg, Alan Mario Sant.

Fourth Official: William Debbatista.

Yellow Cards: 42' Nikola Vukanac, 89' Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara).

Scorers: 42' Rafael Ledesma, 66' Ellinton Morais, 88' Edmond Agius (Birkirkara), 22' Mauricio Britto (Zebbug Rangers).

BOV Player of the Match: Fabricio Rapchan (Zebbug Rangers).

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