FA Trophy - Birkirkara FC 2-1 Hamrun Spartans FC
by Ayrton Galea - 27th January 2019
Birkirkara FC registered a magnificent victory in the fourth round of the FA Trophy, when they came from behind to defeat Hamrun Spartans FC with a 2-1 score and reach the quarter-final of the competition.
The top fixture of the fourth round of the FA Trophy didn't let down, as in a match of two halves, Hamrun Spartans took an early lead and dictated matters in the first half, but the Stripes made a strong comeback and held on for the victory to secure their place in the final eight.
An unfortunate own goal put the Spartans ahead after twelve minutes, but goals by Jorge Pereira and substitute Marcelo Henrique, who converted from the spot, turned the score in Birkirkara's favour and enabled them to extend their string of positive results.
Sporting Director John Arne Riise affected one change from last week, when Jorge Pereira was rewarded a place in the starting-eleven selection, as he replaced Luke Montebello. Marcelo Henrique returned after missing the last match, while Jake Grech was missing.
There was no formation adjustments from the last match, as Mifsud and Vella playing at the either side of Jorginho. The midfield trio once again featured Andelkovic behind Bezzina and Guillaumier, while there were no changes at the back.
The First Half
Birkirkara threatened first after ten minutes. Matthew Guillaumier served Johann Bezzina, who dribbled well past his marker, but his right-footed shot from outside the box ended wide.
However, the Spartans surged ahead two minutes later. A vertical through-ball by Caetano Calil unzipped the defence and Kevin Tulmieri'shot was blocked by Naumovski, but the ball hit Eduardo Dos Dos for an unfortunate own goal.
Shocked by an early goal, the Stripes reacted two minutes later. Maurizio Vella made an excellent run down the left flank before sent a cross towards Brazilian Jorge Pereira, with the latter inches away from meeting the ball from an ideal position.
The Stripes tried to find their feet, but it was the Spartans who threatened again. Wilfreid Domaroud produced a fine solo-action, before he tried his luck with a shot from outside the box, but goalkeeper Kristijan Naumovski produced a fine save.
Birkirkara enjoyed swatches of possession, but they were short of ideas especially in the forward line. On the other hand, the Spartans were producing another aggressive display with high pressing all over the pitch that unsettled the Stripes for long stretches of the first half.
Three minutes before the break, it was the Spartans who went close again. Calil, a key-player for the Spartans, was in action once again when he delivered an excellent cross towards the second post and Domaroud's header ended wide by a whisker.
The Second Half
Trailing by one with fourty-five minutes to go certainly forced Sporting Director, John Arne Riise to urge his players to step-up their tempo and his half-time team talk resulted to be in an inspirational one, as the Stripes made the score level after just two minutes.
Hamrun goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo made a hash off a header by Guillaumier inside the box as he failed to hold the ball, before opportunist Jorge Pereira did well to drill a low shot into the net. This was Jorginho's second goal in two matches.
The Spartans went close to regain the lead close to the hour mark. Tulmieri made a dazzling run down the right flank before he delivered an excellent cross towards Domaround, but the latter's header ended over.
Marcelo Henrique almost made an immediate impact as the Stripes went close to surge ahead twenty minutes inside the second half. The Brazilian rapid-forward dived full stretch to connect an inch-perfect cross by Attard, but his effort ended over by a whisker.
The Stripes created another fine scoring opportunity three minutes later. The Stripes were quick to transfer the ball forward as Guillaumier set Jorginho through and the Birkirkara forward's shot was turned into a corner kick by a save of goalkeeper Bartolo.
The resulting corner kick led to the second goal. Referee Glen Tonna adjudicated a foul inside the box and the referee ordered the penalty, amid protests from the Spartans players and clan. From the spot, Henrique hit hard past Bartolo to put Birkirkara in the lead for the first time in the match.
Hamrun Spartans almost replied instantly. A free-kick from the right found Domaroud, but his header hit the woodwork. On the other side of the pitch, Andelkovic caught Bartolo out of his position, but his lob ended over.
The Spartans put everything forward in the dying minutes of the match, but the Stripes held strong to secure a big victory and a place in the Quarter-Final of the FA Trophy.
BIRKIRKARA: Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Matthew Guillaumier, Mislav Andelkovic, Maurizio Vella, Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Dos Santos, Michael Mifsud (64' Marcelo Henrique), Johann Bezzina (75' Terence Agius), Cain Attard, Jorge Pereira (85' Luke Montebello).
HAMRUN SPARTANS: Manuel Bartolo, Enrico Pepe, Triston Caruana, Sebastian Nayar, Wilfried Joselin Domaroud, Matthew Gauci, Marco Criaco (82' Ryan Darmanin), Karl Micallef, Orestis Nikolopoulos, Caetano Calil, Kevin Tulmieri.
Referee: Glen Tonna.
Assistant Referees: Christopher Francalanza, William Debattista.
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow Cards: 61' Johann Bezzina, 76' Terence Agius, 90+2' Kristijan Naumovski (Birkirkara), 45+1' Marco Criaco, 46' Enrico Pepe, 55' Kevin Tulmieri, 87' Sebastian Nayar (Hamrun Spartans).
Scorers: 12' Own Goal - Eduardo Dos Santos (Hamrun Spartans), 47' Jorge Pereira, 71' Marcelo Henrique (Birkirkara).
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