Coach Besek enjoys winning start, as Stripes narrowly beat Qormi
by Ayrton Galea - 10th January 2016
Birkirkara FC registered their third consecutive victory in the BOV Premier League, and Head Coach Mr. Drazen Besek's adventure with our Club got off to a winning start, thanks to a 1-0 victory over Qormi, with an own goal in the first half.
One must mention that during this match, the Stripes hit the post twice and had two shots cleared off the goal-line besides a host of other scoring chances. However, if they had to walk away with something less than the three points, they would have only themselves to blame for being careless and not converting their scoring opportunities.
Edison Bilbao made his debut, and the Chilean midfielder had a satisfactory match, alongside Frank Temile whose speed and technique were among Birkirkara's assets during the match. Camenzuli also had a solid performance at an unusual left-back role, while goalkeeper Ini Akpan kept his third consecutive clean-sheet.
Coach Besek's build-up for this match was anything but plain sailing. Besides the departure of a number of players like Zach Muscat, Paul Fenech, Juan Quero and Shola Shodiya, he had to do without Mauricio Mazzetti who was suspended while goalkeeper Justin Haber, Philip Schranz, Edward Herrera and Ryan Scicluna were all ruled-out injured. Club's latest signing Mislav Andelkovic was not on the eighteen man list.
The Coach fielded a 4-2-1-3 formation. Akpan defended the posts, with Zerafa deployed to the centre-back, in the absence of Mazzetti, in tandem with Vukanac. Camenzuli and Attard started on the sides. Sciberras and Agius acted as holding midfielders, while Bibao was given an advanced role. Temile and Morais started at the either side of central striker Plut.
The First Half
The Stripes should have taken the lead after twenty seconds. Plut burst through inside the box and rounded goalkeeper Vella. but the Slovenian striker failed to hit the target from close-range, and his shot came off the post and ended into a goal-kick.
Birkirkara remained brisker in the opening minutes and they had another scoring opportunity. Morais served Plut and the latter anticipated goalkeeper Vella before serving Temile, whose shot from an ideal position ended over.
There was another open chance for the Stripes when Plut picked Morais inside the box and the latter's back-heel found Temile. The Nigerian's effort hit the foot of the post, while from the rebound, it was the same player's shot that from just yards out was deflected into a corner.
The Stripes once again went close on the twenty-second minute. Temile delivered his corner outside the box in the path of Camenzuli and the latter sent a screamer from outside the box that saw Vella making an acrobatic save and he deflected the ball into another corner. From the resulting corner, taken again by Temile, Gareth Sciberras was unlucky to see his header cleared off the goal-line.
Temile remained one of the most active players in attack. The speed of the Nigerian winger was proving to be one of Birkirkara's assets during the match. His technical abilities were evident on the thirty-third minute when he dribbled past his marker but his curling shot ended just over the bar.
It was a one-way match with the Stripes creating a number of open chances, but it was an own goal that put the Stripes in the lead. Morais sprinted inside the box and his cross was blocked, with Qormi's defender Ousmane Sidibe putting the ball into his own net in the attempt to clear the ball.
The Stripes could have made them two before the break. Zarate made fine work in midfield before serving a precise through-ball to Morais, but the latter's shot from inside the box ended over, as they ended the first-half with only one goal to show for their superiority.
The Second Half
For the start of the second half, Coach Besek introduced Emerson Marcelina off Cain Attard. Marcelina was inserted in midfield, as Agius was dropped to the side-back.
Marcelina was involved in Birkirkara's first action in the second half on the fifty-eighth minute. The Brazilan midfielder served Plut who raced inside the box and dribbled past his marker but his shot was blocked by Azzopardi.
Birkirkara created another good chance on the sixty-second minute. Sciberras served Temile inside the box but the Nigerian's low cross was not accurate for either Plut or Morais, who were both in the area.
Two minutes later, the Stripes were unlucky not to double their lead. Zarate raced forward and served an intelligent pass to Morais on the run, who entered the box and his shot beat goalkeeper Vella but was cleared off the goal-line by Ojuola.
In a rare scoring opportunity for Qormi on the sixty-ninth minute, Ryan Micallef had a solo-action before having his shot from outside the box well saved by the alert goalkeeper Ini Akpan. Birkirkara replied with a direct free-kick by Ellinton Morais, which was saved by Azzopardi, on the seventy-third minute.
In Birkrkara's second substitution on the seventy-fifth minute, Vito Plut was replaced by Kurt Zammit. Zammit was inserted on the left wing as Morais was advanced as a central striker. The attacking department was now formed by Zammit and Temile at either side of Morais.
Ellinton Morais hit high from inside the box on the eighthy-first minute and two minutes later, the same player connected wide with a header from a corner. The Stripes held on for a narrow lead and registered their third consecutive victory.
Thanks to this victory, the Stripes are now alone in the third place after Floriana conceded a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tarxien Rainbows, while they kept the pace with leaders Valletta who registered a 2-1 victory against Naxxar Lions and second-placed Hibernians who defeated Pembroke Athleta with also a 2-1 score.
Nigerian forward Frank Temile was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Ini Akpan, Joseph Zerafa, Nikola Vukanac, Cain Attard (46' Emerson Marcelina), Gareth Sciberras, Edmond Agius, Edison Bilbao, Ryan Camenzuli Frank Temile, Ellinton Morais, Vito Plut (75' Kurt Zammit).
QORMI: Andreas Vella, Noah Olawole Ojuola, Ousmane Sidibe, Gillmore Azzopardi, Iven Zammit, Tensior Gusman (68′ Juan Carlos Vieira Peixoto), Ryan Micallef (82' Shamison Zammit), Djamel Leeflang, Yannick Yankam, Alessio Cassar, Immy Micallef (88' Luke Farrugia).
Referee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Chris Francalanza
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow Cards: 68' Frank Temile (Birkirkara), Ryan Micallef (Qormi).
Scorers: 42' Own Goal - Ousmane Sidibe.
BOV Player of the Match: Frank Temile (Birkirkara).
