Under-15's Team beat Pieta to move on top
by Ayrton Galea - 24th April 2015
Birkirkara FC moved as sole leaders of the APS Bank Under-15's League Section A, when thanks to a great come-back with goals by Kyle Mifsud, Ayrton Attard and Zak Grech, they earned a convincing 3-1 win over Pieta Hotspurs.
After sharing the spoils in a balanced goal-less draw last Saturday against Hibernians in the top of the table clash, the Stripes, with a game in hand, knew that only a victory would give them back the top spot of the league.
In an excellent evening of football, despite falling a goal behind, the Stripes made an outstanding reaction, and scored three times in the second half to seal the victory. They are now two points over Hibernians with six matches to go.
The First Half
The Stripes got a cold shower after just three minutes as Pieta Hotspurs surged ahead. The Stripes lost possession when they were about to hit on the counter, and the Pieta forward unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, and surprised goalkeeper Clyde Aquilina.
Birkirkara were momentarily stunned, but following a low-key start, they began to settle down. They were enjoying large swatches of possession but their task of penetrating the defence was anything but plain-sailing as the Hotspurs looked very compact at the back.
The Stripes created an excellent opportunity on the fifteenth minute. Ayrton Attard raced forward in a counter-attack, but the Hotspurs goalkeeper rushed in time to deflect the ball into a corner-kick, followed by protests from Birkirkara for a penalty. From the resulting corner-kick, Attard headed high.
Birkirkara continued to dictate matters and on the sixteenth minute, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli advanced forward before his powerful shot was parried by the goalkeeper. Six minutes later, Ryan Tonna had a fine volley saved by the goalkeeper.
The Stripes were unlucky not to equalise in their next attack. Kyle Mifsud, one of the most dangerous players in the first twenty-five minutes was unlucky to see his cross-shot hitting the crossbar. Four minutes later, the Stripes were denied by the upright, from a tremendous shot.
Pieta held strong, and after the first thirty-five minutes, they were found leading by a narrow lead thanks to the early opener.
The Second Half
The Stripes came out with all guns blazing, and they equalised three minutes into the second half. A header from the midfield enabled Kyle Mifsud to race forward past the Hotspurs defence, and he hit hard past the goalkeeper, to level matters.
Birkirkara continued to dominate their opponents. On the forty-fifth minute, Miguel Amato served Ayrton Attard, who advanced forward before having his powerful shot turned into a corner kick by the goalkeeper.
From the resulting corner-kick, the Stripes surged ahead. It was an excellent corner by Carlo Zammit Lonardelli that saw Zak Grech deflecting the ball towards Ayrton Attard who headed home into an empty net, much to the joy of the Birkirkara clan.
Birkirkara continued to dictate matters end enjoying most of the possession, while the runs of Attard and Mifsud continued to prove a headache for the Hotspurs defence.
Goalkeeper Clye Aquilina made a routine save on the seventieth minute, from a free-kick from the middle of the field. The Stripes replied with an adventurous volley by Miguel Amato, which ended wide.
Two minutes from time, the Stripes created an excellent build-up, concluded with Carlo Zammit Lonardelli's shot which was turned into a corner kick.
The Stripes sealed the victory two minutes on added time, with the third goal. Substitute Michele Vella performed a solo-action before serving Zak Grech, who on the run hit a powerful strike that ended in the left bottom corner to make sure of the precious three points.
BIRKIRKARA: Clyde Aquilina, Miguel Amato, Ayrton Attard, Braden Calleja, Romario Camilleri, Nicholas Farrugia, Zak Grech, Ethan Lethridge, Kyle Mifsud, Ryan Tonna (65' Michele Vella), Carlo Zammit Lonardelli (70' Aidan Micallef).
Scorers: 39' Kyle Mifsud, 46' Ayrton Attard, 70+2' Zak Grech.
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