Under-17's Team trounce Melita
by Ayrton Galea - 31st January 2015
Birkirkara FC Under-17's Team registered an emphatic victory when they eased past the feeble challenge of Melita FC to win the match with a result of 6-2.
In a match that that saw scoring opportunities converted into goals, the Stripes were tasked with what looked like a difficult fixture. A heavily depleted Birkirkara side, with no less than 6 players missing due to suspension, injury or unavailability, turned the match into a scoring exhibition. They built a two-goal lead by the end of the first half, and added another four in the second forty minutes.
Aa hat-trick each by Jordan Sciberras and Matthew Calleja handed the team the biggest victory in the league, to return to winning ways following two consecutive draws and two consecutive defeats.
The First Half
With the wind blowing strong, both teams were unable to produce their best in the opening stages, but the Stripes were quick to surge ahead in their first scoring opportunity after just eight minutes. Shaun Xuereb unzipped the defence with a dazzling run on the right side and sent the ball inside the box, with Jordan Sciberras hitting home from close-range.
Birkirkara remained in control and on the fifteenth minute, Neil Micallef delivered a threatening free-kick, but Jordan Sciberras was unlucky not to hit in front of goalkeeper Isaac Mousu. Ten minutes later, Neil Micallef made some fine foot-work before crossing into the box but none of the Birkirkara players connected.
Melita, recovering from an early stun, had their first scoring opportunity on the twenty-seventh minute when they had a free-kick ending over. A minute later they threatened again when off a short-cleared corner, they had a powerful shot from inside the box, that was denied by the excellent reflexes of Birkirkara's gaoler Emanuel Galea.
The Stripes made them two on the half-hour. Following a fast break-away, Matthew Calleja had his shot blocked by goalkeeper Isaac Mousu, but Jordan Sciberras sprinted forward to fire home from the rebound, to score his second goal.
With momentum on their side thanks to a two-goal lead, the Stripes went close on two successive occasions when they almost increased the lead. First, it was Neil MIcallef that saw his shot saved by Mousu, and just moments later, Jacob Magri had his shot tipped into a corner by the Melita goalkeeper.
The end of the first-half found the Stripes heading to their dressing room with a two-goal lead.
The Second Half
The Stripes had a perfect start to the second-half when they made them three, just three minutes in. A precise free-kick by Neil Micallef on the second post saw Jordan Sciberras reaching the ball before the goalkeeper, and he slotted home to complete his hat-trick.
Three goals down, Melita were left with no options but throwing everything forward. On the forty-fifth minute Luke Mofsid drifted into the box, but his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Galea and then cleared into safety. Four minutes later, Galea blocked a free-kick, and from the rebound Melita fired over.
For all their desperate efforts, Melita pulled one back on the fifty-third minute thanks to their forward Luke Mifsud, who after penetrating the box, had his low shot go past goalkeeper Emanuel Galea.
The goal put some pressure on the Stripes, as Melita almost got back in the match with a second goal on the fifty-seventh minute. From a corner kick from the right, Luca Padovani had a powerful header scratching past the crossbar.
The Stripes were quick to regain superiority. On the hour mark, in a fast break-away, Shaun Xuereb unzipped the defence with a through ball to Jordan Sciberras, who sent the ball in the path of Matthew Calleja, who hit home past the Melita goalkeeper.
Birkirkara made them five on the seventieth minute when Matthew Calleja received a ball inside the box, and he went past his marker, and his well-placed shot hit home, to score his second goal of the game.
Five became six eight minutes from time when Calleja completed his hat-trick. He raced forward to pick-up a through-ball, and dribbled past the onrushing goalkeeper, only for him to place the ball in an empty net.
Melita scored a consolation goal on the seventy-third minute when Max Borg was adjudicated to floor a Melita forward inside the box, and the referee ordered the penalty kick. From the eleven metre spot, Luke Mifsud narrowed the margin.
The referee's full-time whistle found the Stripes celebrating their biggest win in the league, with an outstanding performance, to get back to winning ways after four matches.
BIRKIRKARA: Emanuel Galea, Sean Bonello, Max Borg, Nigel Borg, Nigel Bugeja, Matthew Calleja, Roberto Curmi, Jacob Magri, Neil Micallef, Jordan Sciberras (67' Justin Cardona), Shaun Xuereb.
MELITA: Isaac Mousu, Carl Gatt Baldaccinho, Luke Zammit, Luke Mifsud, Mark Russo, Andrew Sant, Dylan Cassar, Luca Padovani, Ivelin Rusev, Sean Schranz, Miguel Galea.
Yellow Cards: 26' Shaun Xuereb, 80' Justin Cardona (Birkirkara), 20' Miguel Galea (Melita)
Scorers: 8', 30', 43' Jordan Scibrras, 60', 70' 72' Matthew Calleja (Birkirkara), 53', 73' Luke Mifsud.
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