Perfect start for the Stripes

by Ayrton Galea - 21st August 2015

Birkirkara FC launched their BOV Premier League campaign in style as in a one-sided match thanks to a commanding performance, they registered the first victory with a very comfortable 4-0 score against Naxxar Lions FC.

In a match that the Stripes dominated from start to finish, they delivered a bold statement of their force for this season when they trounced Naxxar Lions to pick-up the first three points of the season and register a perfect start.

The Stripes were too strong for Naxxar as they controlled the match throughout the whole match. They built a two-goal lead in the first twelve minutes to control easily their opponents before hitting them with the third goal three minutes before half-time and sealing the issue with the fourth goal in the second half.

Birkirkara FC'S Head Coach Mr. Giovanni Tedesco first-eleven selection came to the surprise to many as he made four changes from the BOV Super Cup final. Ini Akpan replaced Justin Haber, Cain Attard and Frank Temile both were handed their first start as they replaced Zach Muscat and Joseph Zerafa while Gareth Sciberras made his return by replacing the injured Rowen Muscat.

League debutants Fabrizio Miccolo and Vito Plut rounded their satisfactory display with a goal each while Sciberras also put his name on the scoring-sheet with a goal in his first appearance after a long injury.

In the offensive 4-3-1-2 formation, Akpan defended the posts, Mauricio Mazzetti and Nikola Vukanac formed the central-backs while Ryan Camenzuli and Cain Attard patrolled the side-backs. Gareth Sciberras and Emerson Marcelina started as the defensive shield in the midfield trio with Fenech given the nod to push forward. The attacking department featured Miccoli deployed the two strikers Plut and Temile.

Besides Rowen Muscat, Shola Shodiya was also missing as he is the final process of recovering following a long-term injury. Goalkeeper Philip Schranz, Zach Muscat, Ellinton Morais and Edin Murga were not called-up.

The First Half

The Stripes created their first scoring opportunity on the eighth minute. Camenzuli, pushing forward on the left flank, delivered a cross that saw Gareth Sciberras' header punched into safety by goalkeeper Azzopardi.

Birkirkara surged ahead in their next attack two minutes later. Vito Plut did all the work on the left side before his low cross found Fabrizio Miccoli who had only a task of routine to slot the ball into the net from a close-range.

The lead was quickly doubled just two minutes later. Opportunist Vito Plut converted from a blunder by goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi as the striker had an easy job to put the ball past the Naxxar goalkeeper.

The match remained a one-way traffic and Miccoli was close to add his second goal on the twenty-third minute as his smart lob from the edge of the box was denied by a fine save of Julian Azzopardi after served by Vito Plut.

Birkirkara went close on increasing the score on the thirty-third minute. Marcelina raced forward before served Frank Temile who drifted inside the box but fired wide from an ideal position. Four minutes later, Miccoli served Fenech outside the box who had his shot ending over by a whisker.

The third goal has been in the air in the previous two chances and the Stripes made it count in the third time as they added another to their tally. Cain Attard's cross saw Miccoli having his first-timer blocked and from the rebound Gareth Sciberras fired past Azzopardi.

The end of the first half saw the Stripes heading to their dressing room in a comfortable three-goal lead following commanding fourty-five minutes.

The Second Half

Having built a comfortable three-goal lead in the first half, the Stripes continued where they left off in the first fourty-five minutes as they continued to dictate the match and forcing Naxxar to defend in numbers.

On the hour mark, Mr. Giovanni Tedesco made the first substitution as Gareth Sciberras was replaced by Edmond Agius with Sciberras receiving a deserved standing ovation on his way out. On the other hand, Spanish winger Juan Quero made his league debut three minutes later when he replaced Frank Temile.

Twenty minutes into the second half, the Stripes went close to adding the fourth goal. Plut served Miccoli who had his close-range shot smashing against the up-right while from the rebound, Edmond Agius had his effort blocked by a defender. Five minutes later, Marcelina hit high from outside the box.

The Stripes added their fourth goal on the seventy-second minute as they remained in total command. Miccoli sent Agius on the run before his cross travelled across the goal post and Paul Fenech smashed home from close-range.

The goal was Fenech's last action as just minute later he was replaced by Kurt Zammit in Birkirkara's third and last substitution.

Fabrizio Miccoli went close to adding to Birkirkara's tally ten minutes from time when he had an eye-catching diagonal free-kick punched into safety by the Naxxar goalkeeper. Naxxar, in the first scoring opportunity, had Daren Falzon having a shot from distance saved by Akpan.

In the final moments of the match, Miccoli had a powerful shot blocked by Azzopardi while Akpan saved a direct free-kick as the Stripes held easily for a comfortable 4-0 victory.

BIRKIRKARA: Ini Akpan, Cain Attard, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Ryan Camenzuli, Gareth Sciberras (60' Edmond Agius), Emerson Marcelina, Paul Fenech (73' Kurt Zammit, Frank Temile (63' Juan Quero), Vito Plut, Fabrizio Miccoli.

Scorer of the second goal, Vito Plut was named the BOV Player of the Match.

NAXXAR: Julian Azzopardi, Andrew Scicluna, Luca Lodetti, Richard Cardozo (76' Matthew Bonnici), Daren Falzon, Zady Gnenegbe, Jurgen Debono (50' Armando Dos Santos), Ishmael Grech, David Fenech, Angus Buhagiar (81' Matthew Del Negro), Emiliano Lattes.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Sammy Attard.
Additional Assistant Referees: Marco Borg, Esther Azzopardi.
Fourth Official: Paul Apap.

Yellow Cards: 30' Luca Lodetti, 76' Angus Buhagiar, 85' Armando Dos Santos, 86' Daren Falzon.

Scorers: 10' Fabrizio Miccoli, 12' Vito Plut, 42' Gareth Sciberras, 72' Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).

BOV Player of the Match: Vito Plut (Birkirkara).

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