Under-15's progress to Knockout Semi-Final

by Ayrton Galea - 22nd March 2014

Birkirkara FC Under-15's Team made it to the Semi-Final of the Under-15's Knockout in a dramatic match with the penalty shoot-out deciding the victory over Floriana FC last Wednesday. The semi-final will see them face Valletta FC this afternoon.

The Under-15's league was decided in the last match between the same Birkirkara FC and Floriana FC, when they shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, which was enough for the Stripes to claim the title. With nothing to separate the determined sides, the Quarter Final match had to go to the extra-time period. Floriana broke the dead-lock, but Birkirkara quickly equalised with the latter emerging winners thanks to the penalty shoot-out.

The First Half

There was little to separate both sides in the opening stages, but Birkirkara were showing better ideas in the early minutes. A free-kick for each side ended over. Both teams focused on possession rather than creating scoring opportunities.

Lacking from scoring opportunities, the Stripes struggled to penetrate in the third end and Coach John Vella McIntyre continued to encourage his players. Ten minutes from the end of the first half, the Stripes began to show superior football.

On the twenty-fourth minute, Gianluca Zammit's pressing was too much for a Floriana defender, and he erratically cleared the ball, which ended in Gianluca's feet. Gianluca had a fine strike blocked by the alert Floriana goalkeeper. Three minutes later, the same player had a close-range effort blocked by the goalkeeper.

Close to the half-hour mark, Gianluca Zammit, who was creating countless problems to the Greens' defence, could have put the Stripes ahead, when after beating the offside trap, he raced towards the box, but his lob ended wide by inches.

Two minutes from half-time, it was Floriana's turn to threaten for the opener, when in a swift counter-attack, Floriana's offensive player saw his effort ending wide.

With the referee blowing the half-time whistle, both teams headed to their dressing room in a goal-less draw.

The Second Half

Both Coaches must have insisted with their players over possession in the half-time team talk, as the second half's produced rare scoring opportunities, with the match turning into a tug-of-war in the midfield.

The Greens went out better inside the second thirty-five minutes, as they were being more aggressive. Their attacks on the flanks were creating problems for the Birkirkara defence, but the Birkirkara gaoler was hardly tested.

On the forty-third minute, Floriana were found blaming their lack of luck, when in a well-built action, the Floriana striker saw his uprising shot smashing against the upright, much to the relief of the Birkirkara clan.

The Stripes were not subdued by Floriana's improvement as on the fiftieth minute mark, it was their turn to be denied. Off a second post corner, Captain Neil Micallef rose high to hit a brilliant header, but the Floriana goalkeeper produced a superb save to deny the Birkirkara captain.

With no scoring opportunities produced in the final twenty minutes, as both teams preferred not the concede a goal rather than score one, the referee's whistle found both teams preparing for the extra time period.

The Extra Time

The Extra-Time period began on a high note and after just five minutes, Floriana finally broke the deadlock. In a fast counter-attack, the Birkirkara goalkeeper was adjudicated to have floored the Floriana forward inside the box with the referee ordering the penalty. From the spot, the Floriana player made no mistake.

It was now an uphill struggle for the Stripes who had only few minutes to save their skins. However, when hope seemed to die for the Stripes, they reacted to level the matters. In a swift counter-attack, Ayrton Attard managed to beat the goalkeeper with a shot from inside the box.

With the extra time period failing to produce the winner, the match went to the decisive penalty shoot-out.

Penalty Shoot-Out

Birkirkara scored all their five penalties taken by Ayrton Attard, Kyle Mifsud, Nicholas Farrugia, Julian Micallef and Gianluca Zammit with the latter's being decisive after Floriana failed their third penalty, when the ball hit the post.

The Birkirkara clan erupted in jubilation as their hard-fought victory saw the league Champions progress to the semi-final of the Knockout.

The Semi-final against Valletta will be played today at the Siggiewi grounds, kicking off at 14:45. Come on the Stripes!

First Eleven: Clye Aquilina, Julian Camillieri, Briam Mifsud, Jordan Sciberras, Neil Micallef, Gary Spiteri, Aryton Attard, Kyle Mifsud, Isaac Ciranna, Nicholas Farrugia, Gianluca Zammit.

Substitutes: Karl Caruana, Sergio Conti.

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