Stripes suffer first defeat

by Ayrton Galea - 19th September 2016

Birkirkara FC suffered the first defeat in the BOV Premier League after four matches when Sliema Wanderers grabbed their first victory thanks to a 2-1 victory.

A penalty just before the half-time whistle converted by Alex Muscat and another goal by Wisdom Salomon fourteen minutes from time made the match an uphill struggle for the Stripes who only managed to get one back by Frank Temile ten minutes from time.

Coach Drazen Besek retained the same first-eleven selection with Christian Bubalovic the only player missing for the Stripes.

The First Half

The Stripes enjoyed most of the possession for the first half and going close with a shot by Ryan Scicluna mid-way through the first-half but goalkeeper Giuseppe Sarao saved well. Moments later Dimitrov had a direct free-kick ending over from an ideal position.

Just before half-time, the Wanderers brought the dead-lock when Joseph Zerafa fouled John Mintoff inside the box and referee Esther Azzopardi pointed to the spot. From the resulting penalty, Alex Muscat made no mistake.

The Second Half

In the second-half, Besek brought in Rowen Muscat and Shaun Bajada for Mislav Andelkovic and Cain Attard as the Stripes sough to get back in the match. A shot from inside the box by Dimitrov ended wide while a fine header by Sciberras was saved by Zammit. On the other side of the pitch, Salomon had a shot blocked by Kopric.

The Wanderers doubled the lead on the seventy-sixth minute. Mathias Muchardi avoided his marker before his shot was blocked by Kopric but only for the ball to land at the feet of Salomon who hit home from close-range.

Birkirkara pulled one back four minutes later. Frank Temile produced a solo-action as he dashed inside the box to round his marker and hit a low shot past substitute goalkeeper Glenn Zammit.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard (46' Shaun Bajada), Nikola Vukanac, Predrag Jovic (69' James Brincat), Joseph Zerafa, Mislav Andelkovic (46' Rowen Muscat), Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Scicluna, Srdjan Dimitrov, Frank Temile, Vito Plut.

SLIEMA WANDERERS: Giuseppe Sarao (32' Glenn Zammit), Alex Muscat, Garry Muir, Aidan Friggieri (84' Armando Tarlazis), Giuseppe Muscat, Wisdom Salomon, Mathias Muchardi, John Mintoff, Mark Scerri, Milos Galin (62' Jean Paul Farrugia), Marko Potezica.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Thomas Debono.
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow Cards: 45+3' Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara), Mark Scerri, John Mintoff, Jean Paul Farrugia, Glenn Zammit (Sliema Wanderers).

Scorers: 45+4' Alex Muscat, 76' Wisdom Salomon (Sliema Wanderers), 80' Frank Temile (Birkirkara).

BOV Player of the Match: Mathias Muchardi (Sliema Wanderers).

comments powered by Disqus