Birkirkara share the spoils with Valletta
by Ayrton Galea - 21st June 2014
Birkirkara FC kicked off their Euro Cup Pre-Season Tournament with a deserved 1-1 draw against Valletta, after youngster Ryan Camenzuli cancelled Abdelkarim Nafti's goal in the first half.
Both Coaches were keener to evaluate the foreign players on trial and promising youngsters rather than to have a winning start. Birkirkara trialled two foreigners right from the start namely Spanish goalkeeper Adrian Murcia Sanchez and Nigerian forward Lucky Omerou while Brazilian midfielder Rafael Ledesma was introduced in the second half and he left a good impression. Leighton Grech who returned from a loan spell, began from the start , while youngsters Kurt Zammit and Andrea Curmi were utilised as substitutes in the second half.
On the other hand, Valletta's new Head Coach gave the nod right from the start to their latest signing, Ryan Camilleri, while the Maltese-Australian Adrian Zahra was included as a substitute in the second half. Valletta's squad featured no surprises as Abdelkarim Nafti, Lateef Elford Alliyu, Hamza Barry and Denni Dos Santos who all formed part of last year's squad featured in the eighteen-man squad alongside with goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo, Ian Zammit, Siraj Eddin and Yessous Camilleri, who returned from being on loan.
Mr. Paul Zammit tested out a 4-1-4-1 formation in the first half. Spanish goalkeeper Sanchez defended the posts while the back four featured Edward Herrera and Joseph Zerafa with Mendoza and Bissi as the central defenders. Gareth began roaming behind the Birkirkara midfielders. Paul Fenech and Daniel Zerafa. Ryan Camenzuli and Leighton Grech continually supported the only forward Omorou.
The First Half
Valletta had their first attempt of the match on the fourth minute when Abdelkarim Natfi saw his in-swinging drive ending over after having been served by Luke Montebello. The Citizens threatened again four minutes later when Llywelyn Cremona had a fierce strike from distance ending over.
Birkirkara were quick to reply and they went close to surging ahead on the ninth minute. In a quick transition, Ryan Camenzili played-in Lucky Omerou inside the box who had a brilliant shot pushed into a corner kick by goalkeeper Yenz Cini.
Valletta took the lead on the fifteenth minute when youngster Ian Zammit raced forward and his shot was denied by an excellent block by Sanchez but from the rebound, Nafti hit home with a powerful shot from inside the box to put the Citizens in the lead.
Following the Citizens' goal, the match did not produce any notable actions as Valletta enjoyed more possession but they failed to penetrate as Birkirkara defended in a comfortable manner.
Birkirkara had a dangerous free-kick on the hour mark, but Yenz Cini managed to neutralise the danger. Moments later Valletta replied with a header that ended wide.
Ten minutes from half, Birkirkara went close thanks to Lucky Omerou. Once again it was Herrera's delivery from a free-kick that found the Nigerian striker unmarked on the second post but he fired over from inside the box.
Birkirkara applied more pressure in the late stages and Joseph Zerafa produced a brilliant solo-action by dribbling past three players and went for the conclusion but his shot was deflected and easily parried by the Valletta goalkeeper, Yenz Cini.
The balanced first forty-five minutes ended with the Citizens leading thanks to Nafti's strike inside the first fifteen minutes.
The Second Half
For the start of the second Half, both teams made their first changes. Birkirkara made their first substitution when Daniel Zerafa was replaced by the Brazilin midfielder, Rafael Ledesma. On the other hand, Lateef Elford Alliyu, Dennis Dos Santos and Adrian Zahra replaced Luke Montebello, Ian Zammit and Abdelkarim Nafti repesctively.
Nine minutes inside the Second Half, Valletta had their first attempt of the second forty-five minutes with a shot from distance that ended wide and over from Sanchez's bar. Just a minute later, Birkirkara replied thanks to a solo-action by Leighton Grech but his shot ended wide following a good run.
The Stripes went close on the fifty-seventh minute when Rafael Ledesma delivered an excellent first post corner kick that saw Mendoza rising high to hit a fine header, but his effort was cleared off the line. Moments later, Mendoza was unlucky once again when in another corner kick taken by Ledesmo, the Spanish defender had his header deflected.
Birkirkara were awarded for their efforts as they equalised on the sixty-two minute. Leighton Grech made fine work to win a ball in midfield and served Ledesma who produced an excellent through ball in the path of Omerou. Omerou sent a diagonal cross inside the box and Ryan Camenzuli had a perfectly timed run to deposit the ball behind goalkeeper Cini.
Twenty minutes into the second half, both teams made more substitutions. Birkirkara included forwards Kurt Zammit and Terence Vella who replaced Ryan Camenzuli and Lucky Omerou. On the other hand, Shaun Bajada, Llywelyn Cremona and Steve Both were replaced by Hamza Barry, Siraj Eddin Arab and Yessous Camilleri.
Terence Vella was quick to leave his impact as just minute after entering the pitch, he showed great vision by sending a dangerous through ball in the path of Leighton Grech, but the Valletta defenders managed to cover the ball.
Second-half substitute Elford Alliyu had a solo-action concluded with a shot from inside the box which goalkeeper Sanchez parried without any difficulty, twenty minutes from time. Just minute a later, Denni had a shot from diagonal position ending wide.
In the last substitution for Birkirkara, on the seventy-eighth minute, youngster Andre Curmi who enjoyed a very positive season with the Under-19's Team, replaced Leighton Grech.
Dos Santos was in action once again on the eighty-second minute when his shot was easily parried by Sanchez. Just five minutes later, the same player had a fierce free-kick from distance blocked by the Spanish goalkeeper before being cleared into safety.
The Referee's full-time whistle found both teams taking a deserved point. Birkirkara will now face Hibernians next Monday, while Valletta face Sliema Wanderers tomorrow.
BIRKIRKARA: Adrian Murcia Sanchez, Daniel Zerafa (46' Rafael Ledesma), Alejandro Mendoza, Matheus Bissi, Joseph Zerafa, Leighton Grech (78' Andrea Curmi), Paul Fenech, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Cmenzuli (65' Terence Vella), Edward Herrera, Lucky Omerou (65' Kurt Zammit).
Substitutes not used: Ini Akpan, McAllisther Clinch, Nikola Vukanac.
VALLETTA: Yenz Cini, Ian Azzopardi, Steve Borg (65' Yessous Camilleri), Ryan Camilleri, Edmond Agius, Roderick Briffa, Luke Montebllo (46' Lateef Elford Alliyu), Ian Zammit (46' Adrian Zahra), Shaun Bajada (65' Hamza Barry), LLywelyn Cremona (65' Siraj Eddin Arab), Abderlkarim Nafti (46' Denni Dos Santos).
Substitutes not used: Manuel Bartolo.
Scorers: 62' Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara), 15' Abderlkarim Nafti.
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