Stripes take on Qormi as challenge for top-three continues
by Ayrton Galea - 3rd April 2016
Birkirkara FC will be seeking to keep on the pressure on Balzan and Hibernians for the challenge of the second and third place respectively, when this afternoon they start as favourites to pick-up three precious points against bottom-placed Qormi FC.
The Stripes are coming from three consecutive victories, where following coming from behind twice to defeat Tarxien Rainbows and Sliema Wanderers with an identical 2-1 score, they easily defeated Naxxar Lions with a comfortable 4-0 score in their last match.
Team News
After regaining the services of Mauricio Mazzetti and Joseph Zerafa in the last match, Mr. Drazen Besek will now be boosted by the return of defensive midfielder, Mislav Andelkovic. On the other hand, Edward Herrera and Nikola Vukanac remain unavailable.
Our Opponents
Qormi will be hoping to bring to an end their negative run and keep the pace with St. Andrew's and Naxxar Lions in their challenge against the relegation. They are coming from thirteen consecutive defeats as their last win goes back to the 12 December 2015, when they had defeated St. Andrew's with a comfortable 4-0 score.
League Standings
Birkirkara are still fourth with thirty-six points, twelve points away from leaders Valletta and four from Balzan who both won their respective matches yesterday afternoon. Temporally at the third place, Hibernians take on Floriana, who are in fifth place, in a direct clash for the top-four challenge which is now approaching a decisive stage.
On the other hand, Qormi are lying at the bottom of the table with five points, two behind St. Andrew's who lost narrowly to Balzan and five behind Naxxar Lions who returned to winning ways yesterday afternoon after beating Mosta in the derby of the north.
Previous Encounters
The Stripes had defeated Qormi twice this season, despite both wins came with a narrow margin. In the first-round match, played on the 27 September at the National Stadium, the Stripes opened a two-goal lead in the first-half thanks to a goal each by Vito Plut and Fabrizio Miccoli while Qormi pulled one back three minutes from time.
The second-round match also was won with a narrow score as it was only a first-half own goal that handed Birkirkara a 1-0 victory, in a match played on Sunday, 10 January. This match was the debut of Head Coach Mr. Drazen Besek with our Club.
The match will be played at the National Stadium and it is scheduled to kick off at 16:00.
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