Birkirkara back to winning ways

by Ayrton Galea - 10th December 2011

Birkirkara brought to an end their negative run as yesterday evening they returned to winning ways when they defeated Mqabba with a solitary goal by Terence Vella.

This win for 'The Stripes' arrived after three consecutive matches without picking maximum points nor scoring a goal. In fact their previous win was registered on the 11th November against Balzan.

As expected, it was not a walk in the park for 'The Stripes' as they had a difficult task to penetrate the disciplined Mqabba side who were also determined to take something from this game.

After Birkirkara had a shaky start in the early stages they began to settle by time and won an edge over their opponents and it was deserved win. In the second half if Birkirkara had made something better of their open chances they had the score would be much different.

The First Half

Mqabba opened well as they were the most aggressive side in the early stages. As said earlier as 'The Stripes' began to settle it was their turn to take an edge over the opponents and managed to score the all important goal in the match.

0' - Referee Andre Arcola blew the starting whistle.

0' - In the first good opportunity for Birkirkara, Shola Shodiya made the best of defensive blunder by Mqabba but his final shot ended wide.

1' - Shola Shodiya was fouled.

4' - Birkirkara won a corner.

6' - Mqabba won a freekick following a foul.

7' - Mqabba won a corner.

7' - Mqabba were caught in an offside position.

10' - Terence Vella fouled.

11' - Ryan Camenzuli was fouled.

12' - Ryan Scicluna fouled.

13' - Birkirkara appealed for a penalty but the referee waved play on.

14' - Bojan Mamic for Mqabba was caught in an offside position.

14' - Shaun Bajada was fouled.

15' - Terence Vella fouled.

16' - Shola Shodiya fouled.

18' - Birkirkara had a good opportunity when Shola Shodiya released Paul Fenech on the right but the latter's shot ended wide.

20' - Rowen Muscat was fouled.

21' - Mqabba won a freekick following a foul.

23' - Mqabba won a corner.

24' - Terence Vella was fouled.

25' - Terence Vella was caught in an offside position.

26' - Bojan Mamic for Mqabba had a shot saved by Alexandar Canovic.

26' - Shola Shodiya was caught in an offside position.

26' - Rowen Muscat had a volley ending wide.

30' - In the best chance for Mqabba, Thiago Dos Santos Mazzitelli shot wide from a close range.

31' - Mqabba were caught in an offside position.

32' - Rowen Muscat was fouled.

36' - Rowen Muscat fouled.

36' - Terence Vella was fouled.

36' - Birkirkara won a corner.

37' - Birkirkara won a corner.

38' - Paul Fenech fouled.

40' - Shola Shodiya was caught in an offside position.

41' - Birkirkara took the lead! Ryan Camenzuli's powerful clearance was not controlled by the Mqabba defender; Terence Vella made the best of it but was brought down by the goalkeeper. Everyone was expecting the red card to be shown but the referee only showed the yellow card. From the eleven meters, Terence Vella made no mistake.

44' - Rowen Muscat was fouled.

45' - Two minutes of extra time were shown.

45+1' - Shaun Bajada was fouled.

The Second Half

In the second half Birkirkara could have sealed the game thanks to their good chances they created. Mqabba then put pressure on the Birkirkara's defence with the aim to grab the equaliser but the Birkirkara defence was solid enough to end the match with a clean sheet.

45' - Referee Andre' Arcola signalled the start of the second half.

45' - Mqabba won a freekick following a hands ball by Leighton Grech.

47' - Mqabba won a corner.

49' - Rowen Muscat was stretchered out, although no foul was given.

50' - Paul Fenech released Shola Shodiya who crossed to Terence Vella but the action ended in a goal kick for Mqabba.

51' - Joseph Zerafa fouled.

52' - Leighton Grech fouled and was shown the yellow card.

53' - Terence Vella was fouled.

55' - Ryan Camenzuli fouled.

58' - Mqabba won a freekick.

58' - Ryan Camenzuli was fouled.

60' - Birkirkara won a freekick.

61' - Shola Shodiya was caught in an offside position.

62' - Shola Shodiya fouled.

64' - In the first substitution for Mqabba, Bojan Mamic was replaced with Shawn Magro.

65' - Mqabba had a shot on target.

66' - In a forced substitution, injured Rowen Muscat was replaced by Alan Tabone. Rowen's situation will be confirmed in the coming days.

66' - Mqabba were caught in an offside position.

67' - Mqabba won a corner.

68' - Mqabba won two corners in quick succession.

71' - Mqabba won a freekick.

72' - Shola Shodiya tried his luck with a long distance which ended wide.

72' - Terence Vella fouled.

73' - In the second forced substation for Birkirkara, Terence Vella who hurt his shoulder when he fell on it, was replaced by Trevor Cilia.

74' - Birkirkara won a corner, which ended with Ryan Camenzuli's attempt ending wide.

75' - Trevor Cilia was caught in an offside position.

77' - Paul Fenech was fouled.

78' - A good solo run by Shola Shodiya, ended with his shot ending wide.

80' - Shola Shodiya fouled.

82' - In the second change for Mqabba, Claudio Calleja was replaced with Clayton Micallef.

84' - Trevor Cilia was caught in an offside position.

86' - Shola Shodiya tried to lob over the goalkeeper but the ball ended wide.

89' - Mqabba had a shot ending wide.

90 - Five minutes of extra time were shown.

90+1' - In the third and last substitution for Birkirkara, Leighton Grech who had a satisfactory performance was replaced with youngster Michael Camilleri.

90+2' - Ryan Scicluna was caught in an offside position.

90+3' - Birkirkara won a corner.

90+4' - Birkirkara could seal the match when in three against one situation, Shola Shodiya served Trevor Cilia who had his diagonal shot deflected by the goalkeeper but the referee ordered the goal kick

90+5' - Referee Andre' Arcola blew the full time whistle.

BIRKIRKARA: Alexandar Canovic, Ryan Scicluna, Gareth Sciberras, Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Camenzuli, Paul Fenech, Shaun Bajada, Rowen Muscat (67' Alan Tabone), Terence Vella (73' Trevor Cilia), Leighton Grech (91' Michael Camilleri), Shola Shodiya.

MQABBA: Kris Calleja, Marko Potezika, Pierre Grima, Branslav Timotic, Marlon Briffa (81' Jean Paul Muscat), David Azzopardi, Thiago Dos Santos Mazzitelli, Claudio Calleja (82' Clayton Micallef), Mauro Bonnici, Ryan Sammut, Bojan Mamic (65' Shawn Magro)

Yellow Cards: Leighton Grech (Birkirkara), Marlon Briffa, Kris Calleja, Claudio Calleja (Mqabba)

Scorers: 41' Terence Vella (Birkirkara)

Man of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara)

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