Stripes drop another two points

by Ayrton Galea - 16th December 2012

Birkirkara dropped another two precious points yesterday evening as for the third consecutive time they failed to keep the lead and ended all square in a 1-1 draw against Floriana.

Birkirkara were heading in the right direction till the one hour mark but Verma's header saw the story repeating itself as ‘The Stripes' lost the lead and lost the three precious points.

With no reminder needed that Birkirkara were in a must win situation to keep the pace with Hibernians and Valletta for the title race despite still at a quite early stage, ‘The Stripes' were dominant for long stretches and they created enough opportunities to conclude the game in their favour. However, a ‘killer-striker' was once again missing as the absence of Shola and Joselito is continually being missed. Although, one should also say that the post also denied Birkirkara to regain the lead in the second half.

Mr. Paul Zammit showed faith in the 4-3-3 formation with Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza as the central striker with speedy Jhonnattann and Herrera on the wings. Rowen Muscat and Ryan Scicluna were omitted from the first eleven replaced by Gareth Sciberras and the same Herrera. Reuben Gauci and Ryan Camenzuli were missing besides the long absent Shola and Joselito. Joseph Zerafa regained his place back in the starting eleven.

The First Half

With the early stages of the match slightly dominated by Birkirkara, it was no surprise that they took the lead. On the fifteenth minute, Jhonnattann gave a perfect corner kick and Nikola Vukanac rose above everyone for a powerful header to beat Warner.

This goal seemed to settle ‘The Stripes' down as they had a fine cushion in the early stages to use their lead wisely to keep possession and ‘The Greens' in their own half.

Floriana's first reaction had to wait till the 21st minute to make their first reply. Off a direct freekick from an ideal position, Aman Verma saw his effort saved by Akpan who was once again replacing the injured Gauci.

Floriana's Coach Stephen Azzopardi could not allow his team to be dominated any more, as Birkirkara were heading for the second goal from time to time. In his first substitution Trevor Cilia was replaced with Thomas Paris.

Birkirkara could have close the game at an early stage as on the 34th minute they wasted a great opportunity for which they paid a sour price. Edward Herrera's deep run on the right wing was concluded with a perfect pass to Mifsud Triganza, with Tyrone Farrugia, the Floriana's captain deflecting the ball but the same Mifsud Triganza could have concluded much better as his shot was saved by Warner.

On the stroke of half time, Jhonnattann and Mifsud Triganza combined perfectly and the Brazilian winger nearly made them two. A quick interchange between the two forwards saw Mifsud Triganza serving Jhonnattann whose firing shot was tipped away in a corner kick by Warner.

The first half might have not entertained the present crowd but the Birkirkara supporters were happy to see their team ending the first fourty five minutes in the lead thanks to Vukanac's powerful header.

The Second Half

Having produced a narrow lead in the first half, Birkirkara opened the second half on a firing note and they continued from where they had left in the first half to search for another important goal which could seal the match.

Six minutes in the second half, Yosimar Hernandez who seemed to have a fine match till then sent a perfect inviting cross from the left but Mifsud Triganza failed to hit. Two minutes later, off a short clearance following a Jhonnattann's corner, Edward Herrera sent a fine cross but Hernandez's header from close range was blocked by Warner.

On the 54th minute, Mifsud Triganza performed a fine solo run before sending a perfect cross which however Hernandez failed to time well his first timer effort.

On the hour mark, Valdo Alhino replaced Sunday Waisu in the second substitution by ‘The Greens'.

For every goal scoring lost, there is always a sour price to pay and Birkirkara should learn that and they received another tough lesson as Floriana equalised against the run of the play.

On the 62nd minute, a good quality freekick by Igor Coronodo, Englishman Aman Verma rose high to beat Akpan with a placed header on his left low corner.

This goal seemed to be a cold shower for ‘The Stripes' who till then had the total control of the game but it took them just few minutes to make their first serious reaction.

Just three minutes after the equalising goal, Jhonnattann fired a curling drive which hit the post and cleared into a corner. From the resulting corner, Alejandro Mendoza hit home but the goal was cancelled for an offside position much to the disappointment of the Birkirkara clan who thought that they regained the lead in a perfect time.

Birkirkara's hunger to regain the lead continued. A direct freekick by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was saved by goalkeeper Warner on the 70th minute.

With twenty minutes remaining, Floriana's Head Coach Mr. Stephen Azzopardi did not want to risk anything and he included central defender Owen Bugeja off winger Mark Spiteri to close all possible gaps.

Boosted by the equalising goal, Floriana started to be the best side on the pitch, led by their speedy Corronado. On the 79th minute, Duncan Pisani's through ball saw substitute Alhino beating the offside trap but after he advanced his cross shot was parried by Akpan.

In the dying minutes, Birkirkara could have notched the winner. In a desperate attempt for the winning goal, Paul Fenech's shot was short cleared with the ball ending at Jhonnattann whose shot from an ideal position ended over.

The full time whistle saw the Birkirkara players with their heads down knowing that they dropped another two precious points and they failed to keep the pace with Hibernians who moved two points above the same Stripes.

BIRKIRKARA: Ini Akpan, Zach Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Yosimar Hernandez (86' Ryan Scicluna), Edward Herrera (75' Rowen Muscat), Jhonnattann Benites, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

FLORIANA: Tony Warner, Kane Farrugia, Trevor Cilia (30' Thomas Paris), Aman Verma, Igor Corronado, Sunday Waisu (60' Valdo Alhino), Mark Spiteri (70' Owen Bugeja), Duncan Pisani, Tyrone Farrugia, Sacha Borg, Clyde Borg.

Scorers: 15' Nikola Vukanac (Birkirkara), 60' Aman Verma (Floriana)

Yellow Cards: Alejandro Mendoza, Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), Clyde Borg, Aman Verma, Igor Corronado, Tony Warner (Floriana)

Man of the match: Jhonnattann Benites (Birkirkara)

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