Five-star Stripes overpower Balzan to narrow the gap
by Ayrton Galea - 17th October 2016
A five-star Birkirkara FC side returned to winning ways in the BOV Premier League, and brought to an end Balzan's unbeaten run, by winning 3-0 on Sunday afternoon.
It was a brilliant display from the Stripes, who on the day proved to be too strong for their opponents. Birkirkara narrowed the gap with Balzan to just three points, and strengthened their aspirations of being among the main challengers for the league title.
Vito Plut opened and closed the scoring account in the first half, while an own goal by Steve Bezzina in between added further woes for Balzan.
Coach Drazen Besek was forced to make one change from the draw against Valletta as Predrag Jovic was suspended. He was replaced by Christian Bubalovic who made his return after two months following a muscle injury.
The First Half
Balzan went close after sixteen minutes. Bojan Kaljevic unzipped the defence with a fine through-ball to the on-running Alfred Effiong, but from an ideal position he found an alert Birkirkara's goalkeeper, who blocked his attempt.
What Balzan failed to do, the Stripes did just two minutes later. It was all owed to Vito Plut who left defender Bruno De Oliveira behind, when he sprinted inside the box. Vito's shot was blocked by Balzan's goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic, but he slotted home from the rebound.
Boosted by the opening goal, the Stripes doubled their score six minutes later. A cross towards Rowen Muscat unzipped the defence with the Birkirkara midfielder delivering a low cross, from which Steve Bezzina diverted the ball into his own net.
With Balzan stunned and Birkirkara continuing to grow in confidence, it was no surprise that they made them three just before the half-time whistle. The Balzan defence was once again left in wake of Temile's dazzling run, after having two efforts blocked by Janjusevic, from the rebound his cross was headed home by Plut.
The Second Half
The Stripes remained superior in the second half and they could have made them four, after six minutes. Rowen Muscat, showed his vision with a precise through-ball towards Plut, who saw his shot blocked by Janjusevic.
Birkirkara had another good chance to increase the score twenty minutes into the second half. Frank Temile showed great technique and served Vito Plut, who advanced to an ideal position, but once again was denied by Janjusevic.
Five minutes later Temile sped through once again, and his low cross was met with a back-heel by Plut, who saw his effort denied by the post.
Substitute Ryan Scicluna went also close for the Stripes as the match remained a one-way traffic affair. Cain Attard received a cross by Zerafa from the other side of the pitch, and served Scicluna who did well to avoid his marker, but his shot from inside the box scratched past the post.
Nine minutes from time, Temile was unlucky to not put his name on the scoring sheet. He dashed forward to collect a through-ball by substitute Bajada, but the Nigerian forward once again saw his shot blocked by Janjusevic.
Vito Plut, scorer of two goals, was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Christian Bubalovic, Gareth Sciberras (62' Ryan Scicluna), Mislav Andjelkovic, Srdjan Dimitrov, Vito Plut (71' Shaun Bajada), Nikola Vukanac, Frank Temile (83' Edward Herrera), Joseph Zerafa, Cain Attard, Rowen Muscat.
BALZAN: Ivan Janjusevic, Justin Grioli (29' Samir Arab), Bojan Kaljevic, Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Steve Bezzina (46' Alan da Silva Souza), Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong (63' Matteo Piciollo), Dylan Grima, Abdelkarim Nafti, Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, Terence Agius.
Referee: Mario Apap.
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Martin Borg.
Fourth Official: Matthew De Gabriele.
Yellow Cards: 14' Christian Bubalovic, 39' Miroslav Kopric, 60' Joseph Zerafa, 89' Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara), 37' Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, 87' Samir Arab (Balzan).
Scorers: 19' Vito Plut, 25' Own Goal, 45+2' Vito Plut (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Vito Plut (Birkirkara).
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