BOV Premier League - Santa Lucia FC 0-2 Birkirkara FC

by Ayrton Galea - 10th November 2019

Birkirkara FC registered their second victory in the BOV Premier League as a brace by Edison Luis Dos Santos enabled them to defeat Santa Lucia FC with a 2-0 score.

Inspired by the return of 'Tarabai' in the starting-eleven selection, the Brazilian forward scored a goal in each half in a deserved and well-needed victory for the Stripes.

Coach Andre Paus made two changes from the last match. Tarabai, making just his second start with the club, and Matthew Guillaumier replaced Miguel Alba and the suspended Enrico Pepe.

The First Half

The Stripes could have taken the lead after thirteen minutes. Caio made an excellent run and his low cross reached Tarabai who hit wide in-front an open goal.

Santa Lucia had their first attempt on goal after twenty-three minutes when Rei Tachikawa's shot from outside the box ended over. The Stripes replied with a shot by Rocha that ended over four minutes later. 

Birkirkara surged ahead on the thirty-sixth minute. Tarabai was floored inside the box by Jamie Zerafa and Referee Malcolm Spiteri pointed to the spot. From the spot, Tarabai made no mistake to score his first goal with the club.

The Stripes went close to double their lead two minutes from half-time. Rocha profited from an erratic throw by goalkeeper  Caruana and advanced in the box before his powerful shot was blocked by Caruana.

The Second Half

The Stripes doubled their lead on the sixty-third minute. Rocha played a low free-kick inside the box and Tarabai did well to avoid his marker and his low shot was deflected past goalkeeper Caruana.

Santa Lucia went close to narrow the gap on the seventy-first minute. Substitute Nick Borg's shot was turned into a corner by Hogg. From the resulting corner,  Riascos Torres' header was saved by the alert Birkirkara goalkeeper.

The Stripes went close to make them three. In a rapid counter-attack fifteen minutes from time, Rocha outpaced the onrushing goalkeeper Caruana but took too long to conclude in an open net as his shot was blocked by a defender.

Birkirkara's Tarabai was named the BOV Player of the Match.

SANTA LUCIA: Ryan Caruana, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz (45+1' Nick Borg), Kevin Pinheiro Correia, Kevin Ante Rosero, Carlos Riascos Torres, Jacob Walker (81' Lee Galea), Daniel Agius, Jamie Zerafa (66'  Jamie Magri Overend), Camilo Escobar, Rei Tachikawa, Wilkerson Gomes.

BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Matthew Guillaumier, Edison Luis Dos Santos, Maurizio Vella, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Caio Rocha (90' Michael Mifsud), Oscar Matias Carniello (87' Kurt Zammit), Ryan Fenech, Isaac Ntow.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Duncan Spencer.
Fourth Official: Darryl Agius.

Yellow Cards: 45' Cain Attard (Birkirkara), 60' Daniel Agius (Santa Lucia).

Scorers: 36', 63' Edison Luis Dos Santos (Birkirkara).

BOV Player of the Match: Edison Luis Dos Santos (Birkirkara). 

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