Birkirkara dissapoint again
by Ayrton Galea - 28th November 2011
For the second time in a week, Birkirkara failed to grab maximum points. Although they dominated they were held in a goal-less draw by Mosta.
It was another disappointment for Birkirkara who went all out searching to bounce back from Monday's defeat in order to keep pace with the first three teams. This was the first draw registered under the helm of Mr. Paul Zammit.
Despite the disappointing result, one should say that there was a marked improvement in the performance and it is a pity that 'The Stripes' failed to score. One should mention that luck was definitely not on our side as Birkirkara twice hit the post from attempts by Paul Fenech and Shola Shodiya.
Although it was a disappointing result, one could still mention certain positive points like the solid and determined performance of Joseph Zerafa who probably had one of the best games so far. Jorge Mora also returned on a positive note as in the few occasions that he was tested, he performed well. Although not returning in the best possible way, it was a relieve to see Shaun Bajada back in the squad as everyone knows the potential of this player. Shola Shodiya who started the first match since the return of Mr. Zammit had a positive performance too and as said earlier he was unlucky to hit the post.
The most negative outcome of this game is the fact that three players will be suspended for the next match against Hibernians. Paul Fenech collected the fourth yellow card while Moises Avila Perez and Shaun Bajada were sent off in the final few minutes.
Mr. Paul Zammit made no less than four changes: Jorge Mora returned between the posts instead of Alexandar Canovic, promising youngster Ryan Camenzuli began instead of Rodrigo Pereira, Ryan Scicluna was preferred over Alan Tabone and Shola Shodiya started the match instead of Trevor Cilia.
The First Half
The first half was completely one sided as Birkirkara dominated from the initial whistle. Birkirkara almost took the lead thanks to Paul Fenech who saw his powerful shot denied by the crossbar. On the other hand, Mosta were dangerous in their set pieces but they were neutralised well by the defence and Mora.
0' - Referee Glenn Tonna blew the starting whistle.
1' - Moises Avila Perez had a shot ending wide.
3' - Birkirkara won a corner following a deflection. The corner taken by Terence Vella was cleared by the Mosta's defence.
5' - A good solo run by Shola Shodiya ended with a powerful low shot which scratched past the post.
5' - Moises Avila Perez was caught in an offside position.
5' - Dragan Perisic fouled Michel Mvondo. From the following freekick it was blocked well by Mora.
7' - Mosta had a shot ending wide.
8' - Shola Shodiya fouled.
8' - Mosta had a good opportunity from a cross shot which caused no danger to Birkirkara's defence.
10' - Angus Buhagiar fouled.
12' - Joseph Zerafa fouled. From the freekick, Mora turned well into a corner kick.
13' - Paul Fenech fouled. Once again, the freekick was turned into a corner kick.
16' - A shot by Paul Fenech ended wide.
17' - Birkirkara won a freekick and it was cleared, from a long distance shot near the half of the pitch, Paul Fenech fired what many thought would be the deadly ball but it was denied by the cross bar. Had he scored it would definitely have been the best goal so far, but Lady Luck had other thoughts.
18' - Gareth Sciberras fouled.
20' - Shola Shodiya fouled.
21' - Mosta were caught in an offside position.
23' - The lack of luck for Birkirkara continued. Moises Avila Perez served Terence Vella whose shot was temporarily blocked, and from the rebound Shola Shodiya's tap was also somehow blocked and then cleared.
23' - Dragan Perisic was fouled.
26' - Moises Avila Perez's shot ended wide.
29' - Dragan Perisic fouled.
29' - Mosta's Mvondo collected the yellow card for trying to block Mora's drop kick.
30' - Shola Shodiya's cross was turned into a corner kick. The corner kick was cleared.
32' - Ryan Camenzuli was fouled.
32' - Mosta had a good opportunity when Dragan Perisic's short clearance was timed with a first timer from Kurt Magro which was turned into a corner kick thanks to a good save by Jorge Mora.
35' - Shola Shodiya was fouled.
36' - Shola's fine cross found Moises Avila Perez but the latter failed to hit well.
37' - Paul Fenech fouled and was shown the yellow card. This means that he will be suspended in the next match against Hibernians.
40' - Gareth Sciberras fouled.
41' - In the first substitution for Birkirkara, injured Dragan Perisic was replaced by Shaun Bajada. Early reports indicated that Dragan suffered a hamstring injury and it is not excluded that he will miss next match.
41' - Ryan Scicluna was fouled.
44' - In another good opportunity for Birkirkara, Joseph Zerafa's fast overlap served Moises Avila Perez who then served Joseph again, but his shot was saved.
45' - One minute of extra time was shown.
45+1' - Referee Glenn Tonna blew the half time whistle.
The Second Half
The second half was less entertaining. Birkirkara managed to dominate, however they failed to score. 'The Stripes' were unlucky to hit the post again, this time from a Shola Shodiya's header. In the last moments, Birkirkara suffered two drawbacks as Moises Avila Perez and Shaun Bajada were sent off.
0' - Referee Glenn Tonna blew the starting whistle of the second half.
0' - Birkirkara won a corner. From the corner, Mosta cleared into another corner but then it was well cleared by the defence.
4' - Ryan Camenzuli turned the cross into a corner. From the resulting corner, no one hit the ball.
5' - Ryan Scicluna was fouled.
5' - Shaun Bajada was fouled. From the freekick, Shaun Bajada's good effort ended wide.
7' - Ryan Scicluna fouled.
8' - Terence Vella was fouled.
8' - Terence Vella was fouled. The freekick, which was once again taken again by Shaun Bajada, ended wide.
12' - Mosta had a weak shot which ended wide.
13' - Trevor Cilia replaced Terence Vella in the second substitution for Birkirkara.
13' - Ryan Scicluna fouled and was shown the yellow card.
15' - Shola Shodiya's pass was turned into a corner kick.
16' - Mosta won a corner kick.
19' - Angus Buhagiar fouled.
19' - Mosta won a corner kick.
20' - In a fast counter attack Trevor had his shot ending wide.
22' - Birkirkara had a freekick following a hands ball.
24' - Moises Avila Perez was fouled. From the freekick, Shaun Bajada had his attempt blocked and cleared.
26' - Angus Buhagiar was fouled.
26' - Birkirkara were unlucky again. Moises Avila Perez's cross found Shaun Bajada whose perfect cross was headed well by Shola Shodiya who beat Mosta's goalkeeper however the ball hit the post and was then cleared.
28' - Trevor Cilia fouled.
28' - Angus Buhagiar fouled.
29' - Mosta had a shot ending wide.
29' - Joseph Zerafa was fouled.
30' - Sbaun Bajada was fouled.
30' - Gareth Sciberras fouled.
31' - Shaun Bajada fouled and was shown the yellow card.
33' - Mosta were caught in an offside position.
36' - Trevor Cilia was fouled.
37' - Shola Shodiya was flagged for an offside position.
38' - Paul Fenech committed a foul. The freekick ended wide.
39' - Birkirkara had a golden opportunity to take the lead after a perfect cross by Trevor Cilia, Angus Buhagiar incredibly hit high from a close range.
40' - Shola Shodiya fouled.
43' - Angus Buhagiar fouled.
43' - Mosta's Mvondo was flagged for an offside position.
45' - Four minutes of extra time were shown.
45' - Moises Avila Perez was shown a direct red card by the referee, after the assistant referee signalled for a foul away from the action.
45+1' - Freekick for Mosta.
45+2' - Shaun Bajada was also sent off for the second yellow card after committing a foul.
45+3' - Shola Shodiya fouled and was shown the yellow card.
45+4' - Referee Glenn Tonna blew the full time whistle amidst disapproval by the Birkirkara supporters.
BIRKIRKARA Jorge Mora, Ryan Scicluna, Dragan Perisic (41' Shaun Bajada), Gareth Sciberras, Joseph Zerafa, Paul Fenech, Shola Shodiya, Moises Avila Perez, Angus Buhagiar, Ryan Camenzuli, Terence Vella (60' Trevor Cilia)
MOSTA Jonathan Debono, Adrian Borg, Bryan Agius (75' Luca Martinelli), Federico Tisbi, Yannick Ossok, Nikola Bogdanovic, Ian Zammit, Sheldon Grech (64' Firas Aboulezz), Kurt Magro, Gilbert Martin (82' Alex Cini), Michel Bertrand Maki-Mvondo.
Referee: Glenn Tonna
Assistant referees: Sammy Attard, Duncan Sultana
Fourth official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Michel Mvondo, Paul Fenech, Sheldon Grech, Ryan Scicluna, Bryan Agius, Shaun Bajada, Jonathan Debono
Red Cards: 91' Moises Avila Perez, 93' Shaun Bajada
With this draw Birkirkara climbed fourth on level points with Qormi. Floriana won against Tarxien and they are now six points ahead of Birkirkara. Next week, 'The Stripes' will be involved in a very difficult match against Hibernians. Will the crisis continue, or will it be Birkirkara who will silence the critics?
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