Match Report | Birkirkara FC - La Fiorita

by Clayton Schembri - 16th July 2021

Birkirkara FC qualified for the second round of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a 2-1 aggregate score, when yesterday evening they held La Fiorita of San Marino in a 1-1 draw at the San Marino Stadium in Serravalle. The Stripes will now face Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia away from home next Thursday.

Coach Andre Paus made two changes from the first leg match as Diego Venancio replaced Ryan Scicluna and Claudio Bonanni replaced Johan Bezzina.

The Stripes held control of the match for much of the opening hour and created the first scoring opportunity after five minutes, when Attard set Venancio in a good position on the right side, but his shot ended well over the bar.

Birkirkara continued to push forward and went close on the 10th minute. A cross by Briffa found Yankam on the left, but his header was saved by Gianluca Vivan.

The Stripes went out the second half on the attack and after two minutes, Attard's lobbed the ball inside the box and Montebello`s header was cleared off the line.

Birkirkara continued to dictate the match and on the 53rd minute, Luke Montebello scored a spectacular opener after an excellent run going past three players and slotted the ball into the net.
The Stripes conceded an equaliser just three minutes later, when from a freekick from the right the ball was deflected by Yankam into his own net.

However, La Fiorita's desperate late efforts fall blank as The Stripes held strong to their aggregate advantage and secured their place in the second qualifying round.

BIRKIRKARA: Daniel Fernandes, Enrico Pepe, Yannick Yankam, Luke Montebello, Roderick Briffa (86′ Ryan Scicluna), Kurt Zammit, Diego Venancio, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Claudio Bonanni (90+2′ Johann Bezzina), Oscar Carniello.

LA FIORITA: Gianluca Vivan, Andrea Brighi, Ivan Pedrelli, Roberto Di Maio, Matteo Prandelli, Simone Errico, Andrea Grandoni, Ramiro Lago (72′ Tommaso Zafferani), Danilo Rinaldi (77′ Giordan Bardeggia), Armando Amati (77′ Simone Loiodice), Marcello Mularoni (64′ Tommaso Guidi).

Referee: Eldorjan Hamiti (ALB)
Assistant Referees: Ridiger Çokaj, Ani Kociaj (ALB)
Fourth Official: Erjon Bastari (ALB)

Yellow cards: Pepe, Carniello, Rinaldi, Montebello.

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