Match Report: Birkirkara FC 2-1 San Gwann FC
by Ayrton Galea - 20th January 2018
Birkirkara FC needed an extra-time goal to book their place in the Quarter-Final of the BOOST FA Trophy, when goals by Fernando Barbosa and Carlos Alberto enabled them to come from behind and defeat San Gwann FC with a 2-1 score in a hard-fought match.
The Stripes survived an early scare, as San Gwann took the lead after just twelve minutes. The Stripes were all over their opponents and made the score level twenty minutes from time, before notching the winning goal thanks to a stunning strike by Carlos Alberto.
Coach Paul Zammit made two changes from the last outing as Cain Attard and Ryan Scicluna replaced Bruno Andrade and the injured Neil Micallef. Club's latest signing Waldemar Acosta wasn't eligible for the match.
The First Half
Birkirkara created the first scoring chance after seven minutes, when Carlos Alberto tried his luck with a shot from outside the box, but his effort ended wide.
Despite the Stripes having large swatches of possession inside the opening moments, it was San Gwann that broke the dead-lock on the twelfth minute. Alan Borg served Blessing Godwin inside the box and the latter hit a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski.
The Stripes' reaction arrived on the twenty-fourth minute. A curling cross by Ryan Scicluna found Nikola Vukanac inside the box who hit an excellent header, but his effort ended wide by a whisker. Moments later, a fine shot by Scicluna was saved by Manuel Bartolo.
Jake Grech concluded wide off an inviting pass inside the box by Dimitrov on the half-hour mark and five minutes later, Grech was involved in action once again, but his shot from outside the box ended wide.
The Stripes should have made the score level on the thirty-sixth minute. Dimitrov lay-off the ball to Kurt Zammit whose perfect cross found Ryan Scicluna inside the box, but the latter's shot from inside the box was saved by Bartolo.
Birkirkara continued to pile-up the pressure and they produced another two good scoring chances just before the end of the first-half. Scicluna's effort from an ideal position inside the box ended wide, while Dimitrov almost struck a brilliant equaliser, only to see his effort ending inches away.
The Second Half
Birkirkara made their intentions clear to notice at the start of the second half, as they have put more men forward and were transferring the ball quicker to upfront.
Midfielder Jake Grech had a low-shot saved by goalkeeper Bartolo seven minutes inside the second half, while on the other side of the pitch, Naumovski blocked a fine shot from inside the box, following a deflected pass.
The Stripes remained all-over their opponents. Vukanac saw his effort saved, after served by substitute Gianluca Zammit, while Srdjan Dimitrov's curling shot was denied by an excellent save of the San Gwann goalkeeper.
Birkirkara's efforts paid off nineteen minutes from time. A powerful low free-kick by Grech was blocked but not held by Bartolo, and towering defender Fernando Barbosa was first on the ball to slot home from close-range.
The Stripes were close on turning the score in their favour when first, Dimitrov's shot was saved by Bartolo, while deep into stoppage time, Jake Grech failed to hit the target from an ideal position inside the box after served by Zammit.
The Extra Time
The Stripes went out with all guns blazing. Substitute Gianluca Zammit's effort from inside the box ended wide by inches while moments later, Grech saw his direct free-kick ending over.
Rapid-winger Carlos Alberto made a devastating run down the right flank before supplying Jake Grech with an accurate low-cross, but the later hit high from inside the box as the midfielder was left with a frustrating evening in-front of the goal.
The Stripes turned the score in their favour thirteen minutes inside the extra-time period. It was Carlos Alberto again, as the Brazilian speedy winger picked-up possession outside the box and hit a powerful drive that gave goalkeeper Bartolo no chance.
Birkirkara were now in the driving seat and they could have put the match to bed with the third goal nine minutes from time. Jake Grech delivered an accurate cross in the path of Gianluca Zammit, but the latter was inches away from blasting home.
The Referee's full-time whistle found the Stripes heaving a sigh of relief as they survived an early scare to get the job done.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Edward Herrera, Fernando Barbosa, Mislav Andelkovic, Jake Grech, Kurt Zammit, Nikola Vukanac, Carlos Alberto, Srdjan Dimitrov (117' Ayrton Attard), Ryan Scicluna, Cain Attard (67' Gianluca Zammit).
SAN GWANN: Manuel Bartolo, Josuael Azzopardi (92' Nezar Flores), Andre Cachia (83' Luca Mallia), Sergio Hili (60' Mario Suarez), Allan Borg, Ryan Zammit, Thiago Lopes De Souza, Blessing Godwin Henshaw, Sammy Timmy Ogundare, Christian Gauci, Kyle Gatt.
Referee: Jude Amin Utulu.
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Ryan Aquilina.
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow Cards: Srdjan Dimitrov (Birkirkara), Thiago Lopes, Blessing Godwin, Manuel Bartolo (San Gwann).
Scorers: 12' Blessing Godwin Henshaw (San Gwann), 71' Fernando Barbosa, 103' Carlos Alberto (Birkirkara).
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