Stripes prove too strong for St. Andrew's
by Ayrton Galea - 6th October 2015
Birkirkara FC climbed to the third place of the BOV Premier League when with a dominant display, they proved too strong for newly-promoted side St. Andrew's FC and registered a comfortable 4-0 victory thanks to a brace by Miccoli and a goal each by Plut and Morais.
In a match where the attacking foreign trio composed of Miccoli, Plut and Morais were on target as Miccoli notched a brace while Plut and Morais scored a goal each, the Stripes broke little sweat to register their second consecutive victory.
As the score indicates, the Stripes were dominant but following building a one-goal cushion in the first half, they had to wait till the opening fifteen minutes of the second half to put the three points beyond any doubt with two goals before Morais sealed the issue with the fourth goal on the nineteenth minute.
Mr. Giovanni Tedesco made two changes from the 2-1 victory against Qormi as Ryan Camenzuli replaced Joseph Zerafa on the left side while Ryan Scicluna made his first start on this year's league campaign following a struggling injury. Scicluna was included in the heart of midfield as he replaced Rowen Muscat.
The Italian Coach still couldn't count on Maurizio Mazzetti who was serving his second match ban while Edward Herrera, Nikola Vukanac and Shola Shodiya are still recovering from different injuries.
Mr. Tedesco fielded a 4-3-1-2 formation. Haber defended the posts with Muscat and Emerson as central-backs while the Under-21's National Team duo Attard and Camenzuli patrolled the side-backs. Fenech, Scicluna and Sciberras, with the latter retaining his place following a brilliant display in the last match composed the midfield department while there were no changes in the attacking department as Miccoli was roaming behind Morais and Plut who formed the attacking department
The First Half
The Stripes took command from the start. They threatened after just a minute when Miccoli had an in-swinging cross short-cleared and Plut saw his fierce strike blocked by goalkeeper Rossetto in two attempts.
Their aggression paid off on the eleventh minute as the Stripes broke the dead-lock. Cain Attard was tackled inside the box by goalkeeper Diego Rossetto and referee Fyodor Zammit ordered the penalty. From the spot, Miccoli sent Rossetto the wrong way to put the Stripes ahead.
The Stripes almost doubled their lead two minutes later when Camenzuli powered himself on the left wing before his accurate cross found Vito Plut that saw his powerful volley ending wide by inches.
The match remained one-way traffic as the Stripes went close on the sixteenth minute. Scicluna and Miccoli exchanged possession with the latter serving Morais who had his in-swinging shot ending just over the bar. Morais then had a shot blocked and from the rebound his header was cleared into safety.
Mid-way through the first-half, Fenech had a fierce from outside the box ending over while four minutes later, Miccoli had a long-distance free-kick ending just over the bar.
The Stripes could have doubled the lead past the half-hour mark. Miccoli sent an accurate corner kick and Scicluna saw his close-range header ending wide by inches.
Birkirkara produced another good opportunity before the end of the first half. Camenzuli's cross saw Miccoli's low shot scratching past the post with Rossetto beaten as the first half ended with the Stripes leading by one.
The Second Half
With only one goal to show for their superiority, the Strioes came out to out the three points beyind any doubt and they threatened in less than sixty seconds. Morais sprinted down the left flank before his cross saw Plut's header denied by a fine save of Rossetto. Moments later, Miccoli fired wide.
The Stripes reached their target in the opening seven minutes of the second half when they doubled their lead. It was a brilliant solo-action by Miccoli who dribbled past three players before the ball took a deflection and arrived at the feet of Morais and the latter served the same Miccoli who hit past Rossetto.
Two almost became three two minutes later. A corner kick by Miccoli delivered on the second post saw Zach Muscat's eye-catching over-head kick denied by an excellent save of Rossetto.
The Stripes made them three in their next action on the fifty-eighth minute. Miccoli's short-corner was short cleared as the ball landed at Sciberras' feet who served Plut and headed home from close-range.
Mr. Giovanni Tedesco utilised the first substitution on the sixty-sixth minute. Ryan Camenzuli, who enjoyed a fine match, was replaced by Kurt Zammit while four minutes later Juan Quero replaced scorer of the two goals, Fabrizio Miccoli.
St. Andrew's were close on pulling one back on the seventy-fourth minute but a close-range header ended past the post.
In Birkirkara's third and last substitution, Ryan Scicluna was replaced by Edmond Agius. The latter was quick involved into action as four minutes had a shot ending over.
The Stripes were unlucky not to score the fourth goal on the eighty-fifth minute. Morais served Juan Quero who had his in-swinging shot denied by the up-right. From the rebound, Agius had his shot saved in two attempts. Two minutes later, Joseph Farrugia had a free-kick ending wide for St. Andrew's.
However, they did add the fourth goal on the nineteenth minute mark. It was Juan Quero again who this time sprinted forward before setting Morais all alone against the goalkeeper and the Brazilian striker had no difficulty on hitting past the Rossetto for a final comfortable 4-0 score.
Tireless midfielder Paul Fenech was voted the BOV Player of the Match.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Cain Attard, Ryan Camenzuli (66′ Kurt Zammit), Zach Muscat, Emerson Marcelina, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Ryan Scicluna (76′ Edmond Agius), Fabrizio Miccoli (71′ Juan Quero), Vito Plut, Ellinton Morais.
ST. ANDREWS: Diego Rossetto, Clyde Cumbo (85′ Marigen Sehitaj), Jordan Williams, Michael Johnson, Nicola Andreis, Dale Camilleri, Matthew Guillaumier, Luca Cosmai (55′ Jacob Walker), Joseph Farrugia, Kyrian Nwoko, Christopher De Nguidjol.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: 12' Diego Rossetto (St. Andrew's), 69' Ryan Scicluna (Birkirkara)
Scorers: 11′ Fabrizio Miccoli, 52′ Fabrizio Miccoli, 58′ Vito Plut, 90′ Ellinton Morais.
BOV Player of the Match: Paul Fenech.
