Super-sub Desira Buttigieg saves Stripes a point

by Ayrton Galea - 19th November 2016

Substitute Matteo Desira Buttigieg proved to be a super-sub on the day as he scored a last-gasp goal to save Birkirkara FC a point in a 1-1 draw against St. Andrew's FC.

Birkirkara could only take a point from the first match of the second round and needed a last-minute goal to take something from the match. The Stripes once again disappointed with their performance while their offensive problems continued to be more evident.

For the Stripes, things continued to get worse as they have now gone three matches without a victory following a defeat to Hibernians and a draw against Floriana, while they continued to be adrift off Balzan and Valletta respectively who both registered narrow victories.

Coach Drazen Besek, who fielded a familiar 4-4-2 formation, made two changes from the last match against Floriana as Mislav Andelkovic, who returned following an injury, and Shaun Bajada replaced Rowen Muscat and Ryan Scicluna respectively.

The First Half

In a low-key first-half, St. Andrew's surged ahead past the half-hour mark. In a quick counter-attack, Dale Camilleri supplied an excellent through-ball towards Enmy Pena Beltre who lobbed the ball over Miroslav Kopric.

Birkirkara reacted with a shot ending over by Gareth Sciberras while Plut's fine header was deflected into a corner kick. Just before half-time, Dimitrov dribbled Beltre but his fierce strike was blocked into a corner kick by goalkeeper Jake Galea.

The Second Half

Many expected the Stripes to be all over their opponents for the second half but they struggled for long stretches as they looked short of ideas. It was St. Andrew's who first came close with a shot by Beltre which was saved by Kopric. On the other side of the pitch, Zerafa had a shot saved by Galea while Attard hit over off a corner by Dimitrov.

St. Andrew's looked well on course for the win but substitute Matteo Desira Buttigieg had other ideas. Temile's low-cross was picked-up by late substitute and placed at the ball of the net to hand his low-key side a point from the game.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard (Matteo Desira Buttigieg), Christian Bubalovic, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Shaun Bajada (62' Ryan Scicluna), Frank Temile, Srdjan Dimitrov (James Brincat), Vito Plut.

ST. ANDREW'S: Jake Galea, Enmy Pena Beltre, Ante Bakmaz, Dale Camilleri, Bong Che, Godwin Mckay, Felix Udoh, Ziga Kastrevec, Kyrian Nwoko, Joseph Farrugia, Karlo Kesinovic.

Referee: Leonardo Gwidi.
Assistant Referees: Salvatore Tuttifrutti, Ilie Laurenti.
Fourth Official: Michele Scarpino.

Yellow Cards: 16' Enmy Pena Beltre, 19' Bong Che, 30' Srdjan Dimitrov. 42' Joseph Farrugia, 82' Ryan Darmanin.

Scorers: 33' Enmy Pena Beltre (St. Andrew's), 90+3' Matteo Desira Buttigieg).

BOV Player of the Match: Enmy Pena Beltre (St. Andrew's).

comments powered by Disqus