Under-17's Team downed by Kirkop

by Ayrton Galea - 8th April 2015

Birkirkara FC Under-17's Team satisfactory performance on Saturday afternoon was not enough to take something from the match, as they were defeated by Kirkop United FC with a 2-1 score.

It was a tight encounter which had a blustering start as all three goals were registered in the opening eleven minutes. The Stripes made a reaction after falling behind for the second time but Kirkop held strong to take the three points.

The First Half

Kirkop surged ahead after just five minutes, when Neil Mifsud was adjudicated to have fouled a Kirkop player inside the box and the referee ordered the penalty. From the eleven metre spot, the Kirkop striker made no mistake.

The Stripes made an instant reaction and they equalised just three minutes later. Gianluca Zammit made a fine movement before serving Liam Reno Gatt, who hit past the goalkeeper with a fine strike to level the score.

However, Kirkop had the last laugh in a tale of three, as they regained the lead thanks to a powerful header from a cross from the right.

The match was now once again up-hill for the Stripes. On the seventieth minute, Neil Micallef had a fierce shot scratching past the upright, and eighth minutes later, Liam Reno Gatt had a shot ending wide. Tthe first half ended with Kirkop enjoying a narrow lead after the first forty minutes.

The Second Half

The Stripes opened well and three minutes into the second half, Nigel Borg had a fine shot saved by the goalkeeper.

Gianluca Zammit went close twice mid-way the second half. The Birkirkara forward dribbled past his marker but his shot from outside the box finished wide, and five minutes later, in another good chance for Zammit, the latter had another shot finishing wide.

The final chance of the game once again fell at the feet of Zammit five minutes from time, when he headed wide from a cross by Fabien Lufi. Kirkop held strong till the end for a 2-1 victory.

BIRKIRKARA: Emanuel Galea, Fabien Lufi, Nigel Bugeja (55' Justin Cardona), Jordan Sciberras, Zach Cassar, Roberto Curmi, Liam Reno Gatt, Jacob Magri (40' Nigel Borg, Gianluca Zammit, Shaun Xuereb, Neil Micallef (76' Sergio Conti).

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