Stripes lose to Balzan in last league match
by Ayrton Galea - 8th May 2015
Birkirkara FC ended their BOV Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Balzan FC as a goal by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza ten minutes from half-time was enough for Balzan to take the three points.
In a match that failed to reach any particular level, the Stripes enjoyed large swatches of possession in the first-half, but Balzan's goal seemed to be the turning point in the match. The lack of inspiration in the forward line remained evident as the Stripes' looked too weak to make a reaction in the second half.
The match had no significant meaning as both teams had their places confirmed, with Birkirkara ending their league campaign in the third place while Balzan ending in the fourth position. The Stripes ended on the forty-two point mark, one over Balzan.
Coach Paul Zammit made three changes from the goal-less stalemate against Hibernians. Edward Herrera, Rafael Ledesma and Zach Muscat all conceded their starting place to Edmond Agius, Ellinton Morais and Kurt Zammit.
The Stripes fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation. Hamzabegovic kept his place between the posts while Mazzetti and Vukanac, who was sporting the captain's armband, led the pack at the back. Bissi and Zerafa started as side-backs, while Edmond Agius and Rowen Muscat were deployed in front of the defence. The midfield trio featured Scicluna as an offensive midfielder, with Ryan Camenzuli and Ellinton Morais on the wings, supporting striker Kurt Zammit.
The First Half
The match had a slow start, but the Stripes created the first scoring opportunity after ten minutes. Scicluna served Muscat who had his shot saved by goalkeeper Steve Sultana. Four minutes later, Agius was high and wide, with a shot from distance.
The Stripes went close to surging ahead on the eighteenth minute. Kurt Zammit won possession off a defender inside the Balzan box, and served Morais who dribbled past hit marker but fired over from close-range.
On the twenty-fourth minute, Morais sprinted forward inside the box, but his low cross in the path of Zammit was parried by Sultana. Balzan replied two minutes later with a header by Dylan Grima ending wide.
The Stripes were dictating matters but the lack of punch in their forward line remained evident once again. Balzan surged ahead against the run of play ten minutes from half-time. Mifsud Triganza advanced alone following a through-ball and lobbed over Hamzabegovic.
The Stripes went close to grabbing the equalizer four minutes from half-time. Hamzabegovic was quick to transfer the ball forward in the path of Morais, and the latter had a fierce shot turned into corner with an excellent save of Sultana.
Just before the half-time whistle, the Stripes had a penalty claim, when Ryan Camenzuli was floored inside the box but the referee waved play-on. The end of the first-half found the Stripes trailing by one.
The Second Half
Ellinton Morais had a shot ending over five minutes into the second half, after being served by Rowen Muscat, while Mazzetti shot wide from distance, as the Stripes looked lacking from inspiration.
Coach Paul Zammit made the first substitution as he inserted the offensive Rafael Ledesma off Matheus Bissi. Six minutes later, Rowen Muscat suffered a knock and was replaced by Edward Herrera.
Birkirkara threatened on the sixty-eighth minute when Morais served Agius who had his shot saved by Sultana, while two minutes later, Camenzuli went close but his shot scratched past the far post.
Camenzuli served Morais on the seventy-seventh minute but his shot was turned into a corner kick by Cassar. A minute later, Zerafa had an in-swinging shot ending over.
In the third and last substitution, Antoine Borg replaced Kurt Zammit on the eighty-third minute.
Just before the full-time whistle, Scicluna had a shot saved by Sultana, as Balzan held strong for a narrow victory.
BIRKIRKARA: Mirza Hamzabegovic, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa, Matheus Bissi (60' Rafael Ledesma), Rowen Muscat (66' Edward Herrera), Edmond Agius, Ryan Scicluna, Kurt Zammit (83' Antoine Borg), Ryan Camenzuli, Ellinton Morais.
BALZAN: Steve Sultana, Edison Zaratae, Dylan Grima, Elkin Serrano Valero, Luke Sciberras (66' Justin Grioli), Steve Bezzina, Samir Arab (82' Godwin McKay), Osa Ice Cream Guobadia (46' Terence Agius), Clive Brincat, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Lydon Micallef.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, William Debattista.
Fourth Official: Marco Borg.
Yellow Cards: 61' Ryan Scicluna, 81' Edmond Agius, 88' Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara), Terence Agius, Steve Sultana (Balzan).
Scorer: 35' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Balzan).
BOV Player of the Match: Lydon Micallef (Balzan).
comments powered by Disqus
