Birkirkara winners of friendly tournament

by Ayrton Galea - 10th August 2015

Birkirkara FC emerged as winners in Friday's friendly tournament held at the Gozo Stadium, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Zejtun Corinthians and a narrow 2-1 victory over the Gozitan Champions, Xewkija Tigers.

In a friendly tournament consisting of three matches of fourty-five minutes each, Birkirkara won both their matches to win this friendly tournament. On the other hand, in the first game, Xewkija Tigers defeated Zejtun Corinthians with a 3-2 score.

Birkirkara FC's Head Coach, Giovanni Tedesco opted to leave out a number of key players for this friendly tournament, with other players being unavailable. This list included Ini Akpan, Edward Herrera, Zach Muscat, Mauricio Mazzetti, Daniel Zerafa, Ryan Scicluna, Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat, Ellinton Morais and Fabrizio Miccoli .

Club's latest signing, Cain Attard made his first appearance and the youngster had a positive performance. Gareth Sciberras made his return following a long-term injury and he was included as a substitute in the second match. The Stripes also had a number of trialists with some leaving a very good impression.

Birkirkara 2-0 Zejtun Corinthians

Birkirkara registered a perfect start by taking the lead after just a minute. Plut raced forward down the left wing before serving Camenzuli inside the box. His strike was blocked by the goalkeeper but from the rebound, Murga slotted home from close-range.

Ryan Camenzuli went close to doubling Birkirkara's lead with a direct free-kick from the right on the twelfth minute but his curling effort was turned into a corner with an excellent save by the goalkeeper.

The Stripes had another fine scoring opportunity on the twentieth minute. Kurt Zammit showed great dribbling skills to get past his markers as he moved forward before serving Murga, whose flick scratched past the post.

Birkirkara were denied by an excellent save from the goalkeeper on the twenty-fourth minute. Emerson Marcelina had a brilliant in-swinging free-kick on the first post turned into a corner kick by the goalkeeper.

The Stripes made them two on the twenty-sixth minute. Kurt Zammit had a powerful strike denied by the up-right and from the loose ball, Edin Murga cut to the middle before placing the ball past the Zejtun goalkeeper.

Birkirkara went close to adding the third goal on the thirty-second minute. A trialist delivered an excellent cross on the second post that saw Vukanac's header scratching past the post. Moments later, Agius fired wide from outside the box.

The abilities of the Zejtun goalkeeper were essential once again on the fortieth minute when Plut served Zerafa, who saw his fierce strike denied by a brilliant save, turning the ball into a corner kick.

The Stripes almost grabbed the third goal on the forty-second minute when Camenzuli's cross found Plut but his header was blocked by the substitute goalkeeper. From the resulting corner kick, Murga was wide by inches.

The full-time whistle found the Stripes emerging as winners with a 2-0 score.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Nikola Vukanac, Emerson Marcelina, Joseph Zerafa, trialist, Edmond Agius, Kurt Zammit, Ryan Camenzuli, Terence Vella, Edin Murga, Vito Plut.

Scorers: 1', 26' Edin Murga

Birkirkara 2-1 Xewkija Tigers

The Stripes went close for an opener after six minutes. Terence Vella had a curling free-kick on the first post scratching the upright, with goalkeeper Steve Sultana beaten.

Birkirkara surged ahead on the twelfth minute. Following a clearance from the back, Vito Plut showed great abilities to control the ball before lobbing the ball in the path of Terence Vella. Vella dribbled past the on-rushing goalkeeper Sultana and slotted into an empty net.

The Stripes created another fine scoring opportunity on the twentieth minute, when Edin Murga dribbled on the right wing, before serving Edmond Agius who had his first-time shot saved by goalkeeper Sultana.

The Gozitian supporters had something to cheer for, when Xewkija equalized on the twenty-fourth minute. Off a corner kick from the left, the Xewkija player headed past goalkeeper Philip Schranz.

Mr. Giovanni Tedesco included several trialists, Cain Attard, and Gareth Sciberras. The trialists were included as a left-back, midfielder, right-wing and a central-striker.

When the match seemed to be heading to a draw, the Stripes registered the winning goal, one minutes from time. Terence Vella delivered a corner kick that created havoc inside the box, with goalkeeper Steve Sultana only able to block his effort and one of the trialists slotted home from close-range.

BIRKIRKARA: Philip Schranz, Nikola Vukanac, Emerson Marcelina, Joseph Zerafa, trialist, Edmond Agius, Kurt Zammit, Ryan Camenzuli, Terence Vella, Edin Murga, Vito Plut.

Scorers: 12' Terence Vella, 45' Trialist.

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