Birkirkara FC stuns Hearts, to write history
by Ayrton Galea - 22nd July 2016
High-flying Birkirkara FC wrote a new page in Maltese football's history when yesterday evening they became the first Maltese Club to qualify to the third qualifying round in European Competitions, following a 2-1 victory over Heart of Midlothian FC.
In a memorable night for the Stripes, backed by more than fifty supporters who travelled all the way to Scotland. The Stripes went through a series of events including having their top-form goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric saving a first-half penalty kick which could have changed the game. However, two goals in the second-half by Bubalovic and Herrera in the space of twelve minutes put the Stripes in the driving seat before Hearts pulled one back, but it was too little, too late for them.
This is an extraordinary feat for the Stripe. Last year they were only eliminated by a penalty shoot-out against West Ham United, but this round time they had what it takes to make it to the next round, and now will host the Russian giants FC Krasnodor.
The players played a five-star performance but this victory is also owed to Coach Drazen Besek, who is evidently leaving his mark as the Stripes are transformed in a very organised and tactical team, and they are undefeated in this year's campaign.
Besek affected one change from the home-leg as Edward Herrera was given the nod to start instead of Matthew Guillaumier. Herrera was included in a surprising 4-1-3-2 attacking formation.
Kopric defended the posts, while Marcelina once again was deployed as a centre-back with Bubalovic with Attard and Zerafa as side-backs. Sciberras started as the defensive shield in-front of the defence supporting the midfield trio composed of Bajada, Dimitrov and Scicluna. Plut teamed-up with Herrera up-front.
The First Half
The Stripes almost registered a perfect start, after just two minutes. They were quick to come out and put pressure on their opponents to win an early corner kick. From the set-piece taken by Dimitrov, the ball surprised goalkeeper Hamilton but produced an excellent save to block a close-range effort by Bajada.
Birkirkara threatened against on the sixteenth minute. Plut served Herrera a fine through-ball on the left-flank who showed fine technique to avoid his marker, before sending a dangerous cross into the box which was cleared into safety by the alert Hearts defender.
Hearts tested Kopric for the first time after twenty minutes. A cross from the left saw Callum Paterson on the second post rising high, but his header was too weak to worry the Birkirkara goalkeeper.
Hearts, with the lion's share of possession, began to pile up the pressure and they went close on the twenty-sixth minute. A cross from the right found Jamie Walker unmarked on the second post to hit a wonderful bicycle-kick but his effort smashed against the crossbar.
Hearts had a lovely chance to break the deadlock on the thirty-second minute when Cain Attard, who was already booked moments earlier, floored Sam Nicholson and the referee ordered the penalty. However, from the eleven-metre spot taken by Buaben, Kopric showed great reflexes with an excellent save.
With half-time approaching, Hearts continued to push forward. Five minutes from half-time Faycal Rherras had a solo-action concluded with a well-curling shot on the far post but his effort ended wide.
Just before the half-time whistle, Kopric had possession stole near the corner flag and Jamie Walker was quick to direct a shot on goal from a tight angle only to find Marcelina in the perfect position to head the ball out of the goal-line and into safety.
The Second Half
Hearts went out with all guns blazing in the second-half forcing a number of corners but none could penetrate the steady defence. Eighth minutes in the second-half, Prince Bauben made a solo-action which he concluded with a weak shot that ended wide.
The Stripes surged ahead in the next attack, on the fifty-fourth minute. A free-kick by Srdjan Dimitrov failed to be cleared by the defence, and the ball fell in the path of Christian Bubalovic who hit a firm drive past goalkeeper Jack Hamilton.
Hearts were stunned. They knew that now they will need two goals to qualify and their instant reaction almost made them level, when Sam Nicholson cut to the middle and hit a powerful drive which smashed against the crossbar.
Birkirkara doubled the lead on the sixty-sixth minutes in a brilliant piece of attacking football. In a fast counter-attack, Dimitrov dribbled past his mark to serve Plut and the Slovenian forward continued the ball to Herrera who alone against Hamilton showed great confidence as he drilled the ball past his legs. The Birkirkara clan erupted with joy with Herrera celebrating his goal in-front of the loud Birkirkara supporters.
The Stripes were now two goals up away from and home, with full knowledge that a draw would have been enough. However, their resolute was tested when Hearts reduced the score with Conor Sammon heading past Kopric with seventeen minutes to play.
Hearts threw more players up-front as they had nothing to lose at this point. However, their belief and efforts faded as time went on. A shot from outside the box ended wide and a free-kick by Ozturk ended over.
The full-time whistle found the Birkirkara clan erupting with joy as they had lived history in the making. Moments of joy between the whole clan were evident as the supporters cheered for the historical qualification to the third round.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Christian Bubalovic, Emerson Marcelina, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna (90+2' Ryan Camenzuli), Shaun Bajada (66' Predrag Jovic), Srdjan Dimitrov (73' Matthew Guillaumier), Edward Herrera, Vito Plut.
HEARTS: Jack Hamilton, Callum Paterson, Faycal Rherras, Igor Rossi Branco (74' Robbie Muirhead), Alim Ozturk, Jamie Walker, Prince Buaben (81' Don Cowie), Arnaud Dijoum, Sam Nicholson, Conor Sammon, Liam Smith (57' Juanma Delgado).
Yellow Cards: 32' Cain Attard, 43' Ryan Scicluna, 62' Srdjan Dimitrov, 68' Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), 90+2' Jamie Walker (Hearts).
Scorers: 54' Christian Bubalovic, 66' Edward Herrera (Birkirkara), 73' Conor Sammon (Hearts).
Attendance: 14, 301.
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