Stripes beat Sliema in a six-goal thriller

by Ayrton Galea - 8th March 2015

Birkirkara FC kept the pace with leaders Hibernians and assured themselves of staying in the second place for another week, when in an entertaining match that offered five goals in the opening twenty-two minutes, they defeated Sliema Wanderers FC 4-2.

In a roller-coast match, the teams scored four goals after just sixteen minutes, but Ryan Camenzuli scored the third, before substitute Nassir Maachi sealed the issue with the fourth goal. Birkirkara registered their third consecutive win and extended their unbeaten league run to thirteen league matches.

Birkirkara played another excellent match, as the January signings certainly increased the team's level. The Stripes enjoyed the lion's share of possession and they created the better chance where they could have sealed the issue earlier, especially since Sliema had Marko Potezica sent off eighteen minutes from time.

Coach Paul Zammit was forced to make one substitution from their last convincing outing against Mosta FC, as Shola Shodiya was ruled-out injured and was replaced by Eliandro Gonzaga. Ellinton Morais is still recovering from a long-term injury while Ryan Scicluna is struggling with a nagging groin injury.

Gonzaga teamed-up with Ledesma in the two-man forward line as in a 4-4-2 formation. Haber defended the posts with Vukanac and Mazzetti forming the central-backs, while Zerafa and Zach Muscat started as side-backs. Fenech and Rowen Muscat composed the midfield while Camenzuli and Herrera patrolled the wings.

The First Half

Birkirkara had a dream start as they surged ahead on the third minute. Ledesma played a quick free-kick to Zach Muscat and his cross found the on-running Ryan Camenzuli hitting home from close-range to put Birkirkara in the lead.

However, their lead lasted just four minutes as Sliema levelled matters in their first scoring opportunity. Matheus Ribeiro Dos Santos served Mark Scerri who sent a teasing cross on the second post and team captain Alex Muscat fired home from inside the box.

The Stripes regained the lead on the fourteenth minute. Ledesma was fouled just outside the box and the referee ordered the free-kick. Ledesma took charge of the set-piece and his curling shot on the first post surprised goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

The balanced opening persisted as there was more drama in store. Just three minutes later, Sliema Wanderers levelled matters. Andrea Pisanu's excellent curling free-kick went past the wall, hit the woodwork and the ball rolled into the net.

The Stripes showed great resilience as in their next attack, on the twenty-second minute, they regained the lead. A cross by Zerafa was headed by Herrera in the path of Ledesma, with the Brazilian playmaker crossing to the unmarked Camenzuli who headed home past Zammit.

The Stripes threatened for the fourth goal just before the half-hour mark. Fenech served Zerafa who raced forward, and dribbled past his marker but his in-swinging shot was saved by the Sliema goalkeeper.

Birkirkara went close once again just moments later. A short cleared corner kick saw Fenech's volley blocked by Zammit and from the rebound, Camenzuli's fierce strike scratched past the far post. Fenech was in action a minute later when his shot from inside the box ended over.

On the other side of the pitch, Sliema threatened to make the score level ten minutes from half-time. Calcado sent a cross behind the defence but Matheus Ribeiro Dos Santos failed to hit the target from inside the box. Six minutes later, Fenech raced forward but his shot ended over the bar.

Just before half-time, Pedro Dos Santos Calcado's direct free-kick ended over. The five-goal thriller first-half saw the Stripes leading with the odd goal.

The Second Half

Both teams opted for a cautious opening in the first minutes of the second half. A shot by Andrea Pisanu failed the target four minutes after the restart, while for Birkirkara, Herrera sent a teasing low cross and Camenzuli sent wide from a diagonal position.

Coach Paul Zammit utilised the first substitution twenty minutes into the first-half, when Eliandro Gonzaga was replaced by Matheus Bissi .

Calcado showed excellent vision on the seventieth minute when he unzipped the Birkirkara defence with a great diagonal pass in the path of substitute Trevor Cilia, who chested the ball but fired over from inside the box.

Sliema's match took another twist to the worse on the seventy-third minute when Marko Potezica hauled down Ledesma, after the latter got behind the Sliema defence.

In Birkirkara's second substitution on the seventy-sixth minute, Ryan Camenzuli, one of Birkirkara's best players on the day, received a standing ovation as he made place for Kurt Zammit.

Zammit's inclusion immediately left its mark, as his speed was tormenting the Sliema defence, who were facing difficulty to contain him down the left channel. Eighth minutes from time, Zammit dribbled past his marker, and sprinted inside the box, but his shot was turned into a corner kick by Glenn Zammit.

In the third and last substitution for the Stripes, Rafael Ledesma was replaced by Nassir Maachi. Maachi was included on the left wing while Zammit was advanced as the only striker for the Stripes.

The Sliema goalkeeper, Glenn Zammit joined his team-mates in attack when they won a free-kick just past the middle of the field two minutes of added time. However, from the following action, Birkirkara sealed the issue.

Herrera was quick to transfer the ball forward in the path of Fenech down the right side. The Birkirkara midfielder delivered an accurate cross in direction of Nassir Maachi who had a routine task of heading home into an empty net.

The match ended in commotion as Sliema striker Pedro Dos Santos Calcado elbowed Kurt Zammit with the Birkirkara forward staying down on the ground after the referee Trustin Farrugia Cann blew the final whistle which found the Stripes keeping the pace thanks to another excellent display.

Ryan Camenzuli, scorer of two goals was chosen as the BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Mauricio Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera, Rowen Muscat, Paul Fenech, Ryan Camenzuli (76' Ryan Camenzuli), Rafael Ledesma (89' Nassir Maachi), Eliandro Gonzaga (65' Matheus Bissi).

SLIEMA WANDERERS: Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, Mateus Ribeiro dos Santos, John Mintoff (78' Junior Obagbemiro), Mark Scerri, Michael Mifsud (85' Aiden Friggieri), Andrea Pisanu, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Marko Potezica, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Beppe Muscat (33' Trevor Cilia).

Referee: Tristan Farrugia Cann.

Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Luke Portelli.

Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri.

Yellow Cards: 11' Joseph Zerafa, 45' Paul Fenech, 89' Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), Mark Scerri (Sliema Wanderers).

Red Cards: 73' Marko Potezica.

Scorers: 3' Ryan Camenzuli, 12' Rafael Ledesma, 22' Ryan Camenzuli, 90+2' Nassir Maachi (Birkirkara), 8' Alex Muscat, 15' Andrea Pisanu (Sliema Wanderers).

BOV Player of the Match: Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).

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