Heads held high Stripes downed by late goal

by Ayrton Galea - 16th July 2015

Birkirkara FC left the Boleyn Ground with heads held high after giving an outstanding account of themselves, despite conceding a goal one minute from time, to give West Ham United a narrow advantage before Thursday's home match.

Pre-match predictions rated Birkirkara's task as an almost impossible mission for the Stripes but they came very close to producing one of the biggest upsets that a Maltese Team has ever made in European competitions.

It was no wonder that despite the heart-breaking goal, the loud Birkirkara supporters, who never stopped backing their players throughout the whole match, gave a standing ovation and applauded their players after the match.

Coach Giovanni Tedesco kept faith in the first-eleven selection that defeated Ulisses FC the previous Thursday, as Haber's return was the only change. He fielded a 4-1-4-1 formation, switching to 4-3-3 when in possession.

Goalkeeper Justin Haber recovered from his injury in time, and this proved vital for the Stripes, as he stole the limelight by pulling a number of brilliant saves to keep the Stripes in the match.

Mazzetti and Vukanac were rock-solid at the back. Zach Muscat and Joseph Zerafa were given a hard time on the wings, but still contributed well.

The Birkirkara midfield looked tireless. Rowen Muscat, playing in an advanced role, won countless balls. The same goes for Paul Fenech, who made a number of vital interceptions before suffering an injury. His replacement, Kurt Zammit, did an excellent job, as did the other second-half substitute. Edmond Agius. Camenzuli once again relied on his physical strength to win a number of duels in the midfield department.

Fabrizio Miccoli was once again given the nod to start and he was the central figure in Birkirkara's attack, continuously supported by wingers Edin Murga and Ellinton Morais, with the latter coming the closest for the Stripes just before the hour mark.

The First Half

West Ham United protested for a penalty after just a minute. On the other side of the field, in a fast transition, Miccoli served Morais, but a defender blocked the Brazilian striker before he could race into the box.

West Ham went close on the ninth minute, when off a cross from the right, Modibo Maiga headed over. Just two minutes later, from another cross, Morgan Amalfitano held the ball inside the box but fired over from an ideal position.

On the twentieth minute Rowen Muscat advanced forward, and passed to Morais on the wing, but the latter's cross-shot ended over.

The abilities of Haber were tested to the maximum on the twentieth minute, when he pulled-off what seemed to be an impossible save from a header by Modibo Maiga, following a free-kick from the right. Haber deflected his effort into a corner with an acrobatic save.

Modibo Maiga was giving the Stripes a tough time, and in a fast break-away on the twentieth minute, he raced forward before his powerful shot was deflected by Haber and then denied by the upright.

Fabrizio Miccoli tried his luck with a direct free-kick on the twenty-second minute, but goalkeeper Adrian saved his effort. On the other side of the pitch, two minutes later, Aaron Cresswell's effort ended inches wide.

The hosts continued to pile pressure, but the Stripes were coping well as their tactical discipline, especially at the back, was giving no space to West Ham United. The Hammers were attacking down the wings, but the resilient Stripes cancelled all their efforts.

West Ham came close once again ten minutes from half-time. Haber blocked another cross with the ball rolling towards Matt Jarvis, but Fenech did well to throw his body in the way and block the attempt from inside the box.

Haber was the protagonist once again as the half-time approached, when he pushed away a free-kick by Mauro Zarate. Three minutes from half-time, Kevin Nolan pushed forward but his low shot was saved by Haber.

The end of the first-half saw the Stripes brimming with confidence as they headed to their dressing room with a goal-less score.

The Second Half

The Birkirkara Coach added a fresh pair of legs, as Edmond Agius replaced Edin Murga. Agius was deplyed in the midfield, in-front of the defence with Fenech, while Camenzuli was shifted as a winger.

However, only three minutes later Birkirkara's Coach was forced to make his second substitution. Fenech, who collected a first-half knock, was unable to continue playing and was replaced by Kurt Zammit, for his debut in UEFA competitions.

West Ham sought an early goal in the second half. Five minutes into the second half, Justin Haber was brought in action once again, when he pushed away an attempt from a direct free-kick by Mauro Zarate. Moments later the hosts threatened again by Matt Jarvis, but his low shot was parried by Haber.

The Stripes began to push forward. On the fifty-fifth minute, Miccoli did some fine footwork to dribble past his marker, before serving Camenzuli but his cross shot in the path of Morais was cut out by the defender.

Birkirkara almost surged ahead on the fifty-eighth minute, with their best scoring opportunity. Joseph Zerafa won possession and was quick to transfer the ball to substitute Zammit. The youngster served Miccoli, who showed great vision by sending Morais through and the latter's shot ended past the second post by a whisker.

For Morais, this was his last-action as he could not continue playing and was replaced by Vito Plut on the sixty-fifth minute, in Birkirkara's third substitution and the second forced changed.

As the final minutes approached, West Ham were all over their opponents. A series of corners for West Ham did not bode well for the Stripes. Mauro Zarate's corner found James Tomkins unmarked, and he chested the ball home from close-range, to the disappointment of the Stripes clan.

The heart-breaking goal was enough for the hosts to register their win. After the match, the Birkirkara supporters showed their gratitude to their players, for their efforts, with clapping and chanting. The result leaves everything open, and hopes alive, for next Thursday's second-leg match.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa, Rowen Muscat, Paul Fenech (48' Kurt Zammit), Ryan Camenzuli, Edin Murga (46' Edmond Agius), Ellinton Morais (65' Vito Plut), Fabrizio Miccoli.

WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Winston Reid, Aaron Cresswell, Kevin Nolan (79' Diego Poyet), James Tomkins, Matt Jarvis, Mauro Zarate, Mark Noble, Joey O'Brien, Modibo Maiga (69' Elliott Lee), Morgan Amalfitano (59' Martin Samuelsen).

Referee: Markus Hameter
Assistant Referees: Roland Braunschmidt, Andreas Heidenreich
Fourth Official: Julian Weinberger.

Yellow Cards: Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), Joey O'Brien, Aaron Cresswell, Winston Reid (West Ham)

Scorers: 89' James Tomkins.

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