Stripes tighten grip on top and move five points clear
by Ayrton Galea - 12th March 2014
Birkirkara FC made another important step in their aspiration of winning back-to-back titles, when on Tuesday evening, they took full advantage of Valletta's slip-up. They went on to defeat Sliema Wanderers with a 3-1 score, to open a comfortable five point lead at the top of the BOV Premier League standings.
The Stripes outsmarted the Wanderers, and brought to an end their unbeaten run of ten matches, with another dazzling performance, to register their third consecutive victory in the Championship Pool.
It was a match where Birkirkara shined with another collective performance. Certainly the goals scored, starting by Herrera's stunner, and Benites' splendid shot that closed the match, caught the eye of all those present.
Mr. Paul Zammit made no tactical changed as he stuck to a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Gareth Sciberras, back from suspension, back in the starting eleven to replace Ronaille Calheira. The forward line featured the tried and tested duo of Shola Shodiya and Jhonnattann Benites, with Edward Herrera and Joseph Zerafa pushing down the wings.
The First Half
There were little to separate both sides in the opening stages, except for a shot by Shola Shodiya when the match was just three minutes old.
The Stripes surged ahead in their first decent attack on the twelfth minute. Joseph Zerafa sent a cross in the direction of Edward Herrera, who showed great skill to turn brilliantly before sending a thunderous drive that hit hard past goalkeeper Henry Bonello, and the ball came off the underside of the crossbar and dropped into the net.
The opener did not put the Wanderers out of the equation, who despite suffering an early goal and had to struggle in the initial moments, till sought to improve their game.
Birkirkara produced a fine action on the twenty-second minute, when in a quick transition, Edward Herrera played in Shodiya, with Henry Bonello showing great reflexes to deny the Nigerian forward with a fine interception.
The Sliema faithful thought that they had levelled matters mid-way through the first half, when Alex Muscat had his swinger hitting the net, but referee Adrian Azzopardi had stopped the play for a foul committed by Stanley Ohawuchi.
Sighs of relief from Birkirkara were cut short, as Sliema equalised on the half-hour mark. Stanley Ohawuchi used his agility to race inside the box ,before having his fierce shot hitting past the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Justin Haber.
One might have thought that the Sliema's leveller could stun the Stripes, but the latter remained calm and they were quick to regain superiority despite hardly threatening the Sliema goalkeeper, Henry Bonello.
Birkirkara's efforts were once again rewarded four minutes from half-time as they regained the lead thanks to another fine goal. Zach Muscat sent a cross that caught Sliema's rearguard on the back foot, and Paul Fenech saw his bullet-header beating Bonello.
Sliema had little time to settle or react, when referee Adrian Azzopardi blew the half-time whistle, which saw the Champions heading to their dressing with a narrow 2-1 lead.
The Second Half
When the second half was just two minutes old, Henry Bonello, the Sliema goalkeeper used his excellent reflexes once again, this time to deny Jhonnattann from a close-range effort.
Birkirkara's strong start in the second forty-five minutes was too much for the Wanderers and on the fifty-seventh minute, the Stripes punished their opponents with a goal. In an excellent build-up, Jhonnattann Benites and Zach Muscat exchanged possession with the latter putting Benites through, who had his stunning shot beating Bonello.
The third goal put the Stripes in a comfortable position, as with a two-goal lead and the Wanderers failing to mathc their opponents' high level of football, the Stripes continued to be the smartest on the field.
With two goals down, the Sliema Wanderers' Coach, Mr. Alfonso Greco sought to spark his forward line by introducing Trevor Cilia, for defender Kane Farrugia just past the hour mark.
Nikola Vukanac almost made them four for the Stripes on the sixty-third, as he had a glancing header blocked by Henry Bonello, after the Birkirkara defender connected perfectly off a Jhonnattann Benites corner.
On the other side of the pitch, substitute Trevor Cilia had a fine shot blocked by goalkeeper Justin Haber who pushed away Cilia's effort into a corner kick.
Twenty minutes from time, the Stripes could have sealed the issue when Edward Herrera, all alone against Bonello, saw the Sliema goalkeeper blocking his low effort. From the rebound, the same Herrera served Benites who back-heeled the ball to Paul Fenech, but his vicious shot ended over.
Mr. Paul Zammit utilised all his three substitutions as the match approached to the final minutes, by introducing Daniel Zerafa instead of Zach Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli replaced Shola Shodiya and Ronaille Calheira for Jhonnattann Benites.
Chants of ‘Campioni-Campioni' by the Birkirkara's faithful filled the National Stadium, as referee Adrian Azzopardi blew his final whistle. The Champions continued to tighten the grip on the top spot of the BOV Premier League as they now enjoy a five-point lead.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Zach Muscat (75′ Daniel Zerafa), Nikola Vukanac, Ryan Scicluna, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera, Paul Fenech, Shola Shodiya (79′ Ryan Camenzuli), Gareth Sciberras, Alejandro Mendoza, Jhonnattann Benites (82′ Ronaille Calheira).
SLIEMA: Henry Bonello, Alex Muscat, Kane Farrugia (61′ Trevor Cilia), John Mintoff (71′ Jacob Borg), Stanley Ohawuchi, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Ivan Woods (79′ Mark Scerri), Paltemio Barbetti, Matias Muchardi, Admir Vladavic, Stefano Bianciardi.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Duncan Sultana.
Additional Assistant Referees: Chris Lautier, Sandro Spiteri.
Fourth Official: Albert Borg Cardona.
Yellow Cards: Clifford Gatt Baldacchino (Sliema Wanderers).
Scorers: 12' Edward Herrera, 41' Paul Fenech, 55' Jhonnattann Benites (Birkirkara) 30' Stanley Ohawuchi (Sliema Wanderers).
BOV Player of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites.
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