Birkirkara beats Malta Under-19's Team in friendly match

by Ayrton Galea - 11th October 2014

Two goals in each half paved the way for Birkirkara FC to a comfortable 4-1 win over the Maltese Under-19's National Team in a friendly-match played this afternoon at Ta' Qali Training Grounds.

With the BOV Premier League on a short break due to the National Team commitments, Birkirkara played a friendly match which served as a good opportunity for the squad composed mostly of promising youngsters.

The match played in very hot weather saw Birkirkara showing superiority for long stretches with the Maltese Under-19's Team impressing with their fighting spirit and determination. However, goals by Gonzaga, Vukanac, Borg and Russell Gatt De Raffaele were too much for them.

Mr. Paul Zammit fielded a 3-5-2 formation. Ini Akpan defended the posts while the three-line defence featured the foreign trio of Bissi, Mendoza and Vukanac. Grech and Herrera patrolled the wing-backs supporting midfielders Edmond Agius and Andrea Curmi. Ledesma took his usual role of roaming behind the two strikers Eliandro Gonzaga and Vyacheslav Shevchenko.

The Birkirkara Coach had the National Team players unavailable for his selection namely Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Paul Fenech and Ryan Scicluna. Ellinton Morais and Ryan Camenzuli were ruled-out injured while Kurt Zammit and Beppe Jaccarini formed part of the opposing Under-19's squad for this match.

Shola Shodiya, freshly reunited with the squad, was introduced as a substitute in the second half.

The First Half

The Maltese Under-19's National Team had the first scoring opportunity of the match. Joseph Mbong showed great skill down the left flank, but his shot was deflected into a corner kick. From the resulting corner kick, Birkirkara goalkeeper, Ini Akpan saved a fine header.

Birkirkara were quick to reply. On the tenth minute, Edward Herrera picked a fine pass and dribbled past his marker but his weak shot ended wide. Just two minutes later, Rafael Ledesma tried his luck with a fine curling shot from outside the box but his effort ended over.

The Stripes surged ahead on the twenty-fifth minute. Eliandro Gonzaga made the best of a defensive blunder to win possession and the Brazilian forward raced forward to place the ball at the back of the net.

Birkirkara continued to show the better ideas. On the half-hour mark Ledesma had a shot ending over and five minutes later Gonzaga and Grech combined well but the latter's final pass was too long, only for the goalkeeper to save the danger.

The Stripes made them two just before the half-time whistle. Rafael Ledesma delivered a brilliant corner kick that saw Nikola Vukanac rising high to beat the goalkeeper with a fine header and to double Birkirkara's lead.

The first half ended with Birkirkara enjoying a two-goal lead.

The Second Half

At the start of the second half, Mr. Zammit introduced three substitutes. Shola Shodiya replaced Eliandro Gonzaga upfront, Antoine Borg replaced Edward Herrera while Leon Muscat replaced Edmond Agius.

Antoine Borg was quickly involved in the action and he went close to increasing the lead. Leighton Grech served Vyacheslav Shevchenko who sent a second-post cross that saw Borg mishot his effort before the ball was cleared into safety.

Grech's speed was a continuous threat for the defence. The fast winger penetrated on the right wing but had his cross in the direction of Shola Shodiya was turned into a corner kick. From the resulting corner kick by Ledesma, Shevhcenko's attempt smashed against the cross bar.

The Stripes' strong start rewarded them with the third goal eighth minutes inside the second half. Antoine Borg was once again in action as he made amends for the previous opportunity lost, with a fine header that beat the goalkeeper despite the desperate second attempt of the latter to clear the ball.

Nineteen minutes from time, Malta pulled one back with a low shot to be rewarded for their determination and fighting spirit inside the second half, even if they had to give in for the organized Birkirkara side.

Birkirkara sealed the issue with the fourth and final goal, five minutes from time. Vyacheslav Shevchenko dribbled past his marker to have his shot blocked by the goalkeeper, but off the rebound, second half substitute, Russell Gatt De Raffaele fired home with a close-range effort.

BIRKIRKARA: Ini Akpan (56' Justin Tonna), Alejandro Mendoza, Matheus Bissi, Nikola Vukanac (56' Dylan Aquilina), Edward Herrera (46' Antoine Borg), Edmond Agius (46' Leon Muscat), Andrea Curmi (56' Jonathan Licari), Leighton Grech (72' Shawn Deguara), Rafael Ledesma (72' Russell Gatt De Raffaele), Eliandro Gonzaga (46' Shola Shodiya), Vyacheslav Shevchenko.

Scorers: 25' Eliandro Gonzaga, 45' Nikola Vukanac, 53' Antoine Borg, 85' Russell Gatt De Raffaele.

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