Birkirkara, Hibernians share spoils
by Ayrton Galea - 26th October 2015
Birkirkara FC and Hibernians FC shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, in the BOV Premier League match of the week. Birkirkara had a penalty shout turned down once in each half, and they took a point and extended their unbeaten run, while keeping the third place in the league standings.
In a match of two halves, Hibernians dictated matters in the first half especially after taking the lead. After managing to draw level just before half-time, the Stripes took the game in their hands and dominated most of the second half, but they were unable to turn the match around even if they had two penalty-shouts turned down by Referee Marco Borg.
Inspired by the fine performance of Ryan Camenzuli after being introduced in the last match and sealing the issue with the third goal against Sliema Wanders, coach Giovanni Tedesco handed the youngster a place in the starting-eleven. This was not the only change by the Birkirkara's Coach and Marcelina Emerson and Nikola Vukanac, the latter back returning from an injury started, at the expense of Cain Attard and Vito Plut.
The Birkirkara Coach also adjusted his team tactically as he opted for a 3-1-4-2 formation. Haber defended the posts while Zach Muscat, Vukanac and Mazzetti formed the three-line defence with Marcelina acting as the defensive shield in front of the defence. Paul Fenech and Rowen Muscat formed the midfield, supported by wing-backs Ryan Camenzuli and Joseph Zerafa, while Ellinton Morais and Fabrizio Miccoli compased the attacking department.
The First Half
The Stripes went out aggressive and they dictated the opening stages of the match. In less than sixty seconds, Morais and Miccoli combined well with the latter's volley scratching past the post, while Fenech went wide with a shot from distance.
Birkirkara had harsh protests for a penalty on the sixth minute, when Andrei Agius seemed to have handled the ball inside the box, but the referee only ordered a corner kick, a decision that frustrated the Birkirkara clan.
Hibernians did not hold back and they regrouped following suffering possession in the opening stages. Gilmar Ribeiro had his central shot parried by an alert goalkeeper Justin Haber.
The match continued to offer entertainment in the opening minutes as the Stripes went close to opening the goal. Fabrizio Miccoli delivered an accurate free-kick that saw Mauricio Mazzetti anticipating goalkeeper Jurgen Borg, but the defender's header ended just over the bar.
Hibernians struck the opener on the nineteenth minute. Santos Silva and Ribeiro combined brilliantly with the latter sending a ball behind the Birkirkara defence, and Vukanac mishit his clearance, to leave Santos Silva alone, who sent a wonderful shot past goalkeeper Haber.
Hibernians were now in the driving seat, as boosted by the opening goal they were playing better football. The speed of their attacking trio composed of Cohen, Ribeiro and Santos Silva was creating difficult situations for the Stripes.
However, the Stripes regained confidence and for their efforts they were rewarded just before the half-time whistle. A cross from the left saw Morais having his shot blocked by the goalkeeper but from the rebound Camenzuli fired home.
The end of the first half found the Stripes on a high after equalising in an ideal time.
The Second Half
Hibernians suffered another draw-back just one minute into the second half, when Failla suffered an injury and was unable to continue playing. He was replaced by youngster Joseph Mbong.
Birkirkara went close on the fifty-first minute when Miccoli delivered a second-post corner kick that saw Zach Muscat rising high to hit a header that ended just over the bar.
Birkirkara should have surged ahead on the hour mark. A corner kick by Miccoli travelled across the goal with Morais failing the target from just a few yards out.
The Stripes had the second shout for a penalty kick when Morais drifted inside the box on the sixty-third minute and he was floored by Rui Da Gracia Gomes, but referee Marco Borg once again opted not to give the penalty.
Coach Giovanni Tedesco made two substitutions as the last fifteen minutes approached. On the seventy-third minute, Ellinton Morais was replaced by Vito Plut while two minutes later Fabrizio Miccoli was replaced by Juan Quero Barraso.
The introduction of Barraso improved Birkirkara's attacking potential. The Hibernians rear-guard were having a horrid time trying to tame the Spaniard, and repeatedly resorted to fouls and conceding a number of free-kicks in key areas.
Birkirkara could have surged ahead on the seventy-seventh minute when a cross from Rowen Muscat surprised goalkeeper Jurgen Borg and Mauricio Mazzetti had his effort cleared off the goal-line.
In stoppage time, Hibernians had a great chance to snatch the winner. Winger Jurgen Degabriele, who had replaced Cohen, delivered a pass that reached Lima inside the box but the latter's low strike came off the sliding Zerafa, to the relief of Birkirkara who settled for a 1-1 draw.
Scorer of the first goal, Ryan Camenzuli, was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Emerson Marcelina, Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Camenzuli, Paul Fenech (83'Edmond Agius), Rowen Muscat, Fabrizio Miccoli (75' Juan Quero), Ellinton Morais (73'Vito Plut).
HIBERNIANS: Jurgen Borg, Rui da Gracia Gomes, Jonathan Pearson, Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Marcelo Dias, Andrew Cohen (84'Jurgen Degabriele), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla (47'Joseph Mbong), Andrei Agius, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, Jorge Santos Silva (45'Denni Rocha Dos Santos).
Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Sammy Attard
Additional Assistant Referees: Fyodor Zammit, Philip Farrugia
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Zach Muscat, Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara), Jackson Lima, Marcelo Dias (Hibernians)
Scorers: 19' Jorge Santos Silva (Hibernians), 45' Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara)
BOV Player of the Match: Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).
