Stripes overshadow City

by Ayrton Galea - 30th September 2013

A five-star performance by Birkirkara saw them beat Valletta with a 1-0 score to return to winning ways on Sunday evening.

The defeat in their previous outing, certainly put on some pressure on the Maltese Champions as they could not afford a second consecutive loss. Under pressure they managed to achieve their objective as they gave an excellent performance to get back on the right track.

The fact that the three points were decided with an own goal by Valletta's Yessous Camilleri, does not reduce the merit of the Stripes in any way, as they were completely superior to their opponents and it was their lack of luck in front of goal which denied them from more goals. The Stripes caught the eye with their brisk counter-attacks which penetrated Valletta's rearguard in a very comfortable way for most of the time.

On the other hand, despite enjoying some fine moments in the match, Valletta largely disappointed. The Citizens hardly penetrated the concentrated and solid Birkirkara's rearguard who led by goalkeeper Justin Haber, registered their first clean-sheet of the season.

Mr. Paul Zammit was unable to field his best side for this match as he had Brazilian Matheus Bissi suspended while Edward Herrera and Ryan Scicluna were ruled out due to injury. This led Mr. Zammit to opt for the 4-3-3 formation, as Joseph Zerafa took a central defender role with Ryan Camenzuli filling the left-back position. Jhonnattann Benites began his first match from the start since returning with our Club.

Besides the excellent performance by all the players, one should also praise the Birkirkara supporters led by the Birkirkara Ultras who still turned in their numbers despite last Sunday's defeat and once again they were the 12th player on the field with their continuous support.

The First Half

With both sides in need of delivering a message, the match started on a high tempo, and it was the Stripes who shaded the early minutes as their sharpness earned them an edge over their opponents.

Birkirkara's tactical plan of being dangerous by attacking on the counter was clear to notice, as the Stripes were playing direct football based on their three foreign forwards.

In the first opportunity of the match, a long-ball from Ryan Camenzuli caught Valletta's rear-guard on the wrong foot with Shola Shodiya all alone against Valletta's goalkeeper Pietro Marino. However Shola failed to control the ball properly with the ball ending in the hands of the Citizens' goalkeeper.

Nigerian forward Frank Temile was in for a testing evening from the early stages of the match, as he who was playing his first match against his former team and was continually booed and jeered by the Valletta supporters.

Birkirkara's direct football sparkled in the early minutes, but then Valletta settled down and were maintaining their offensive game. The Citizens, who were still gaining confidence, began to advance and created their first attempts in front of goal.

One of the most technical players that Valletta enjoy in the squad, Abdelkarim Nafti, had a fierce volley from a diagonal position scratching past Haber's left post just past the 12th minute.

The Citizens had now settled down and they began to play better football. Natfi threatened again in the bid of surging ahead. A well taken in-swinging free-kick from the left almost surprised Haber, but he did well to nudge the ball into a corner kick.

The match proved to be a combative one with the Stripes still opting for the direct football which made them the most dangerous side. On the other hand, the Citizens were containing their opponents well, but they were still finding difficulty in controlling the speed of the Stripes' forward line.

Midway through the first half, the Stripes should have surged ahead. Nigerian Frank Temile, who was still getting booed every time he had the ball, drifted well on the right wing before sending a deadly low-cross. A sliding Jhonnattann Benites in front of Marino failed to connect.

Valletta's woes increased on the 27th minute as Coach Mark Miller had to revise his plans as Jason Vandelannoite sustained an injury and was unable to continue playing. Miller introduced Aziz Corr Nyang who replaced the Belgian defender.

Just before the half hour, the Stripes threatened again. Jhonnattann Benites, who was being a continuous torment to Valletta's rearguard, stole the ball off Luke Dimech, and sent an excellent low cross which saw Paul Fenech on the right hitting wide from an ideal position.

With the Maltese Champions already being dangerous twice, it was little or no surprise that they were third-time lucky,on the 32nd minute. Shola Shodiya drifted outside the box before sending an excellent cross that goalkeeper Pietro Marino failed to anticipate. The ball hit Yessous Camilleri and rolled into his own net.

The Stripes were now deservingly in the lead, but the goal served as wake-up call for the Citizens who till than had failed to make any impact. Substitute Aziz Nyang made some fine footwork before Valletta's most dangerous player on the day, Natfi, saw his acrobatic effort turned into a corner kick.

Moments later, Roderick Briffa fired a powerful shot which saw Justin Haber producing an excellent save and the ball ended in a corner kick on the 38th minute.

From the resulting corner kick, the Citizens almost equalized. Natfi took an in-swinging corner kick on the first post saw. Yessous Camilleri rose high to hit a powerful header which brought the best out of Justin Haber to produce an outstanding save and deny City from the equaliser.

With Valletta caught on the counter, Gareth Sciberras served Shola Shodiya who crossed in the direction of Jhonnattann Benites but Marino anticipated in time.

The first-half which produced an entertaining forty-five minutes saw the Stripes deservingly in the lead.

The Second Half

The Champions quickly showed their intentions of maintaining the lead. The speed in their breakaways was tormenting Valletta's defence as in the opening minutes, their defenders were found chasing shadows of the Birkirkara forwards.

Rowen Muscat served an unmarked Gareth Sciberras who sent the ball in the direction of Jhonnattann Benites, but the latter in front of an empty net was caught in an offside position.

The Stripes kept pushing forward and their second attempt in space of few minutes almost doubled their lead. Jhonnattann Benites sent Shodiya through, who from an ideal position, all alone against Marino fired over.

Having seen his team being outclassed already in the opening stages of the second half, Miller had no other option than to effect a double substitution on the 58th minute. Edmond Agius replaced Dyson Falzon and Ryan Fenech was deployed in the left-back position. Former Birkirkara player, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, replaced defender Yessous Camilleri, with Roderick Briffa repositioned to the right-back position.

Birkirkara's counter-attacks were still being too much for the Valletta's rear-guard. Shola Shodiya drifted wide on the left wing before sending an excellent cross on the second post. Jhonnattann slid in, but saw his effort hitting the outside of the net.

Substitute Aziz Corr Nyang tried a long-distance shot in the bid of equalizing three minutes past the hour-mark but an alert Haber blocked his attempt well.

Mr. Paul Zammit effected his first substitution of the match on the 68th minute when Jhonnattann Benites, the Stripes' most dangerous player on the day, was replaced by Demba Toure. The Brazilian winger was deservingly applauded by the numerous Birkirkara supporters.

A chorus of boos rolled out from the Valletta side on the 78th minute when Mr. Zammit opted to haul off Frank Temile and introduced Daniel Zerafa to strengthen the midfield department. For Zerafa, this was his official debut with our Club since joining at the end of August.

Valletta's efforts in search of the equalizer was far from enough as they hardly tested Haber in the second half.

In the third and last substitution for the Stripes, Terence Vella replaced Shola Shodiya five minutes from time.

Valletta had their last chance of an equaliser when they were awarded a free-kick. Goalkeeper Marino abandoned his goal in an attempt to put everything forward. Ryan Fenech took charge of the free-kick which was met by a header of Luke Dimech with the ball falling easily in the hands of Justin Haber. Justin attempted to kick the ball in the opposing empty goal, but his attempt ended in a throw-in.

Referee Trustan Farrugia Cann's full-time whistle was met with the expected joy of the Birkirkara supporters who witnessed their team's excellent attitude to earn a deserved victory.

BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza, Joseph Zerafa, Ryan Camenzuli, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Rowen Muscat, Shola Shodiya (85' Terence Vella), Frank Temile (78' Daniel Zerafa), Jhonnattann Benites (68' Demba Toure)

VALLETTA: Pietro Marino, Jonathan Caruana, Ryan Fenech, Roderick Briffa, Hamza Barry, Denni Dos Santos, Dyson Falzon (58' Edmond Agius), Jason Vandelonnoite (27' Aziz Corr Nyang), Yessous Camilleri (58' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Luke Dimech, Abdelkarim Natfi.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, Jurgen Spiteri.

Additional Referees: Glenn Tonna, Malcolm Spiteri.

Fourth Official: Roberto Vella.

Yellow Cards: 53' Jhonnattann Benites, 85' Ryan Camenzuli, 90+3' Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara), 59' Hamza Barry, 66' Luke Dimech, 88' Jonathan Caruana (Valletta).

BOV Man of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites.

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