Stripes, Greens in a goal-less stalemate

by Ayrton Galea - 1st February 2016

Birkirkara FC extended their unbeaten run in the BOV Premier League to six matches, but despite registering another clean-sheet, they failed to go beyond a goal-less draw against a determined Floriana FC.

With this result, Birkirkara are now five points behind leaders Valletta and two behind Hibernians. However, despite keeping a comfortable six-point advantage over Floriana, they saw their five-point lead over Balzan trimmed to three points, with both sides going head to head next week.

The draw was a fair result that exposed Birkirkara's strongest and weakest side. On the positive note, goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric continued to impress, aided by a bold-defensive display of the Stripes' back four. On the other hand, the Stripes lacked fire-power up-front and it was no surprise that they failed to find the net as they only had a few scoring chances.

Coach Mr. Drazen Besek made three changes following the mid-week victory over St. Andrew's. Mauricio Mazzetti replaced Christian Bubalovic, Mislav Andelkovic took Edmond Agius's spot, while Frank Temile was chosen over Vito Plut.

The Croatian Coach fielded a 4-2-1-3 formation. Kopric defended the posts, Mazzetti and Vukanac formed the central-backs while Attard and Zerafa started on the sides. Andelkovic and Sciberras were deployed in-front of the defence, while Bilbao was given the nod to push forward. Camenzuli and Mujanovic patrolled the wings, at either side of central-forward Temile.

Club's latest signings Matija Smrekar and L'imam Seydi were both unavailable for Besek's selection, while Edward Herrera and Ryan Scicluna are still recovering from injury.

The First Half

There was a quite start to the match, but it was the Greens who threatened first. Goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric had to come out of his position to intercept Juninho Cabral as the Floriana forward was about to conclude, after being served a fine through-ball by Steve Pisani.

Floriana thought they surged ahead on the seventeenth minute. Steve Pisani's free-kick was headed by Steve Bonnici and tapped home by Juninho Cabral, but the latter was in an offside position and the goal was not validated.

The match remained very balanced. For long stretches, the match was battled in the midfield, as both sides failed to win an edge over their opponent. For the Greens, Matteo Picciolo was being the most dangerous on the left flank, but right-back Cain Attard stepped-up his display as time went by.

The Stripes had their first decent scoring opportunity four minutes from half-time. Cain Attard's high-pressing awarded him possession and his low cross found Ryan Camenzuli, who dribbled past his marker, but had his shot turned into a corner kick by goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona.

On the other side of the pitch, it was the Greens who came close to break the deadlock just two minutes before half-time. Mazzetti's square pass in the direction of Vukanac was intercepted by an alert Villa, with the latter denied by an excellent save of Kopric.

The first-half ended goal-less.

The Second Half

The Stripes looked shaper at the start of the second half but it was Floriana who once again went close. Ten minutes into the second half, Villa served Picciolo, and the latter advanced but his fierce shot from inside the box ended over.

Birkirkara's Coach Mr. Drazen Besek was forced to make his first substitution on the sixty-fifth minute when Joseph Zerafa sustained an injury and he was unable to continue playing. Ryan Darmanin made his debut as he replaced Birkirkara's side-back.

The injury of Zerafa and the inclusion of Darmanin brought some positions adjustment. Camenzuli was deployed to the left-back while Temile moved to the left wing to make space for Darmanin, who was included as a centre-forward.

More changes followed six minutes later when Matthew Guillaumier replaced Goran Mujanovic. Following this substitution, Edison Bilbao was advanced on the right flank and Guillamier took a midfield role.

With the Stripes stepping their match, they should have done better ten minutes from time. Two second half substitutes, Guillaumier and Darmanin combined a delightful one-two, with Darmanin finding Bilbao unmarked but the latter's touch was too long and Calleja Cremona collected the ball.

Temile could have done better in the final moments, when after showing great skills to dribble past his marker, his cross was too central and easy for Calleja Cremona.

The score remained unchanged and both sides took a point.

Birkirkara defender Mauricio Mazzetti was named the BOV Player of the Month.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric, Mauricio Mazzetti, Nikola Vukanac, Cain Attard, Joseph Zerafa (65' Ryan Darmanin), Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Edison Bilbao. Ryan Camenzuli, Goran Mujanovic (71' Matthew Guillaumier), Frank Temile.

FLORIANA: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Andre Scicluna, Antonio Monticelli, Enrico Pepe, Steve Pisani, Mauricio Villa (75' Mario Fontanella), Juninho Cabral, Matteo Piciollo, Steve Bonnici, Emanuel Briffa, Emerson Marcelina.

Referee: Marco Borg.
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Spiteri, Chris Francalanza.
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow Cards: 23' Cain Attard (Birkirkara), 5' Enrico Pepe, 21' Matteo Picciolo, 25' Emerson Marcelina, 53' Juninho Cabral (Floriana)

BOV Player of the Match: Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara).

comments powered by Disqus