Stripes share the spoils with Valletta
by Ayrton Galea - 1st October 2016
Birkirkara FC and Valletta FC shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in the BOV Premier League thanks to a goal each in the second half.
The Stripes can feel guilty who only took a point from this match as with a much improved performance, they were the better side for long stretches and could have sealed the match after taking the lead. However, an equalising goal and having Jovic sent off turned the last twenty-five minutes in favour of the Citizens but couldn't break the Stripes' resistance to take a deserved point each.
Coach Drazen Besek made no less than five changes from the disappointing defeat against Pembroke Athleta. Cain Attard, Gareth Sciberras, Joseph Zerafa, Predrag Jovic and Rowen Muscat all regained a first-eleven start in the 4-3-1-2 formation fielded by the Croatian Coach.
Besek shuffled his defence by the return of Attard, Jovic and Zerafa who joined Vukanac at the back. Andelkovic started at the defensive shield supporting midfielders Sciberras and Muscat. Dimitrov took his usual role roaming behind the forward duo of the tried and test Temile and Plut.
The First Half
Both teams exchanged possession in the opening stages and both teams sought not to conceded rather than trying to put their noses in front. The Stripes had two chances by Dimitrov who first hit high from a direct free-kick and then had another shot ending over.
The match came to life after thirty minutes. Valletta had a fine scoring chance just past the half-hour mark. Jonathan Caruana dashed forward with a powerful run and sent a fine cross to Federico Falcone who controlled the ball well but hit high from a good position.
Birkirkara had a goal controversially cancelled ten minutes from half-time. A cross by Srdjan Dimitrov saw Frank Temile slotting home from close-range but the joy was short-lived as the assistant referee raised his flag to cancel what looked to be a regular goal.
Three minutes later Temile was involved in action once again as he collect a long-ball by Vukanac. The Nigerian forward controlled the ball well and hit a fierce firm drive which ended just over the posts of Bonello.
The Stripes continued to push forward and they went close on the fortieth minute. Kopric was quick to send Plut on the run before the Slovenian forward sent an in-swinging cross but Temile failed to connect with the ball from an ideal position.
The first-half saw the Stripes playing better football and creating the most dangerous chances ended goal-less.
The Second Half
Birkirkara should have taken the lead three minutes inside the second half as they went out with all guns blazing. A through-ball by Andelkovic saw Sciberras beating the offside to get in a one-versus-one against Bonello but he served the ball back to Dimitrov who saw his low shot blocked by Bonello.
The Stripes made amendments for their previous chance lost as they surged ahead just a minute later. Dimitrov delivered a fine corner kick on the second post that found Cain Attard and he struck a wonderful strike past Bonello.
Boosted by the opening goal, Birkirkara should have made them two on the fifty-eighth minute. Gareth Sciberras' through-ball put Dimitrov all-alone against Bonello but the Serbian offensive midfielder somehow failed to hit the target to waste a glorious chance to put the game beyond Valletta's reach.
The Stripes paid the ultimate price for their chances lost as Valletta made the score level six minutes past the hour mark. A direct free-kick by Jhonnattann Benites surprised Kopric as his curling drive ended in the net.
More troubled followed for Birkirkara as just two minutes later, they ended playing with one player less as Predrag Jovic was given his second yellow card and was sent off.
With one man down, the Stripes struggled as the Citizens piled-up more pressure. Falcone had his header pushed away by Kopric fifteen minutes from time after Mifsud won the ball inside the Birkirkara box while four minutes, Jhonnattann's in-swinging shot hit the crossbar.
Valletta continued to push forward but the Stripes held strong to take a point from this match.
Mislav Andelkovic was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Nikola Vukanac, Predrag Jovic, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Rowen Muscat, Srdjan Dimitrov (77' Matthew Guillaumier), Frank Temile (69' Shaun Bajada), Vito Plut (85' Steven Bonnici).
VALLETTA: Henry Bonello, Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi (85' Ryan Camilleri), Steve Borg, Juan Gill Cruz, Jean Borg (70' Llywelyn Cremona), Federico Falcone, Claudio Pani, Valdo Alihniho, Jhonnattann Benites, Romeu Romao (60' Michael Mifsud).
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, William Debattista.
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow Cards: 9' Claudio Pani, 22' Rowen Muscat, 22' Predrag Jovic, 25' Nikola Vukanac, 73' Llywelyn Cremona
Scorers: 50' Cain Attard (Birkirkara), 66' Jhonnattann Benites (Valletta).
BOV Player of the Match: Mislav Andelkovic (Birkirkara).
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