Birkirkara hit Balzan with four

by Ayrton Galea - 5th February 2012

Birkirkara moved to fourth place in the league thanks to a comfortable win. With a five star performance, 'The Stripes' defeated Balzan Youths with a score of 4-0.

No one expected Birkirkara to bounce back from their negative patch with this emphatic win or with this result. The positive performance by all the players, coupled with their determination and fighting spirit throughout the whole match was evident to all.

The attacking department had a day to remember as Shola Shodiya, Jorge Santos Silva and youngster Michael Camilleri (who entered as a substitute late in the match) all scored their first goal in the Premier League with our Club. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza also started his second spell with a goal and was voted as 'Man of the Match'.

The midfield department formed by Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech and Shaun Bajada was excellent as they managed to win the midfield battle while serving several fine passes to the forward line.

In the back four there was also a great improvement especially, by Angus Buhagiar. Today Angus was solid and concentrated on every ball, besides supplying good precise passes. Rodrigo Pereira, Joseph Zerafa and Ryan Camenzuli who were the other three forming the defence also had a positive performance.

The First Half

Birkirkara were the better side in this first half. They took an early lead and then notched another goal just a few minutes before the half time whistle.

A cross by Angus Buhagiar on the 6th minute was hit by Shaun Bajada but goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri neutralised.

Shola Shodiya sent a through-ball towards Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza but it was too powerful and Camilleri came out to stop the threat.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza had a low shot ending wide on the 11th minute.

Birkirkara took the lead just one minute later. A fine through ball towards Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, who advanced before his cross found Shola Shodiya who slotted the ball home.

A long distance lob by Mifsud Triganza was parried by Camilleri on the 19th minute.

In their first goal scoring, opportunity on the 22nd minute, Balzan had a shot ending wide following a good combination.

A header by Martin Deanov on the 32nd minute was parried by Reuben Gauci.

On the 37th minute, Jorge Santos Silva won possession after a defensive blunder, advanced and served Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza whose shot was turned into a corner kick.

Mifsud Triganza did nt make the same mistake twice. Tree minutes later, on the 40th minute, Jorge Santos Silva served Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza whose close range shot beat the Balzan custodian.

Shola Shodiya could have increased the lead on the 45th minute. After finding himself in and ideal position his low weak shot was saved by Camilleri.

The Second Half

After building a two goal lead in the first half, Birkirkara continued to dominate and searching for more goals and managed to add another two to round off a satisfactory performance.

Balzan had the first opportunity of the second half when a header ended over the bar on the 49th minute.

Birkirkara had a goal disallowed for a controversial offside position. On the 53rd minute Jorge Santos Silva's shot was not parried by Camilleri and Mifsud Triganza tapped in the ball but the goal was disallowed for an offside position.

Ryan Camenzuli served Shola Shodiya who in turn sent a perfect through ball towards Mifsud Triganza whose long distance shot was saved by the Balzan custodian on the 61st minute.

Rodrigo's header following Shaun Bajada's freekick ended wide on the 66th minute.

Birkirkara made them three on the 68th minute when Shola Shodiya rounded no less than three players before serving Jorge Santos Silva who fired a shot from outside the box which surprised Matthew Camilleri.

Pedro Dos Santos Calcado for Balzan had a powerful freekick ending wide on the 76th minute.

Birkirkara almost made them four on the 83rd minute when Jorge Santos Silva anticipated Matthew Camilleri but his diagonal shot was cleared off the line by the defence.

Birkirkara went near once again on the 88th minute. After a powerful fast solo run, Joseph Zerafa sent a through ball towards the substitute Moises Avila Perez, who anticipated Camilleri and back heeled towards Zerafa but the defence cleared into safety.

After they went near on these two occasions, Birkirkara were rewarded on the 90th minute. From a freekick by Shaun Bajada, Michael Camilleri, who had come an as a substitue a few minutes before, headed home for his first goal in the Premier League, despite his young age.

The full time whistle found the supporters applauding the players for a performance that they had failed to see for months, while hoping that this could be the beginning of a positive performance in the next matches.

BIRKIRKARA: Reuben Gauci, Rodrigo Pereira, Gareth Sciberras, Joseph Zerafa, Shaun Bajada, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (73' Moises Avila Perez), Jorge Santos Silva, Paul Fenech (90' Fabian Zammit), Shola Shodiya (84' Michael Camilleri), Ryan Camenzuli, Angus Buhagiar.

BALZAN: Matthew Camilleri, Roderick Farrugia (25' Bjorn Bondin), Clifton Ciantar, Bledjon Guga, Yessous Camilleri, Jonathan Francica (42' Miguel Ciantar), Dylan Grima, Nikola Tasic, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Martin Deyanov, Anthony Eviparker (72' Lydon Micallef).

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