Birkirkara and Tarxien share the spoils

by Ayrton Galea - 23rd July 2014

Birkirkara scored three goals in the last fifteen minutes to share the spoils with Tarxien Rainbows in an entertaining 3-3 draw in a friendly match played on Tuesday evening.

Tarxien looked that they were going to notch a comfortable victory as they were leading by three goals to nil, thanks to a goal in the first half and another two in the second. However fifteen minutes from time, two goals by two Academy products, Antoine Borg and Kurt Zammit, put Birkirkara back in the match, before Edmond Agius equalised.

Mr. Paul Zammit started with a 3-4-3 formation. Sanchez defended the posts while Bissi, Vukanac and Mendoza formed the three line defence. Zach Muscat began as holding midfielder behind Paul Fenech and Edmond Agius. Rafael Ledesma had a roaming role behind the three strikers Leighton Grech, Kurt Zammit and Antoine Borg.

The First Half

Tarxien opened better and were more aggressive. They threatened first on the fifth minute when off a cross from the left, Jorge Santos Silva mishot his effort and goalkeeper Sanchez easily parried the low shot from inside the box.

Tarxien kept playing better football and they surged ahead on the twelfth minute. Following a fast break-away, Jorge Santos Silva sent an excellent cross in the direction of Wesley Pipico and his fine strike beat the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Adrian Sanchez.

Birkirkara had their first attempt on the twentieth minute when Antoine Borg won a ball down the right wing and served Rafael Ledesma but the Brazilian player had his fierce strike ending over.

On the half hour, Leighton Grech served Ledesma who dribbled past a player before sending a dangerous cross which saw Zach Muscat hitting high from close range. Two minutes later, Tarxien had a powerful free-kick from distance but Sanchez made a fine save and turned the ball into a corner kick.

Five minutes before half-time, Matheus Bissi penetrated on the left wing before serving Ledesma who passed Leighton Grech having a shot ending wide. A minute later, Tarxien had a free-kick ending over.

The first half ended with Birkirkara chasing the game as Tarxien led by one.

The Second Half

Mr. Paul Zammit made three changes. Edward Herrera replaced Zach Muscat, Joseph Zerafa replaced Antoine Borg and Ryan Scicluna replaced Paul Fenech.

However, Zerafa did not have much time on the pitch, as he suffered a head injury and Antoine Borg once again took his place.

Tarxien made them two ten minutes inside the second half when it was once again Wesley Pipico who managed to hit a fine strike from close range to beat goalkeeper Sanchez for the second time on the day.

On the hour mark, Matheus Bissi had a direct free-kick ending over. A minute later, Ledesma delivered a perfect free-kick but Herrera mishot his effort in front of the goalkeeper.

Tarxien made them three twenty minutes inside the second half when Alvaro Branquinho made a perfect solo-action by getting past two defenders, racing forward and then beating Sanchez with a powerful strike.

On the seventieth minute, Adrian Sanchez, Alejandro Mendoza and Leighton Grech were replaced by Ini Akpan, Zach Muscat and Paul Fenech.

Birkirkara narrowed the gap on the seventy-second minute when off a perfect corner taken by Ledesma, Antoine Borg raised high to see his powerful header beating the Tarxien Rainbows goalkeepers.

The Stripes got back in the match ten minutes from the end. Ledesma was in action once again when he delivered a brilliant cross that Kurt Zamit rising high to hit past goalkeeper with an excellent header.

Birkirkara's superiority continued to be evident as they equalised five minutes from the end. Ryan Scicluna served Edmond Agius who hit a brilliant strike from distance to equalise for Birkirkara for the final result of 3-3.

Birkirkara FC: Adrian Sanchez (70' Ini Akpan), Matheus Bissi, Nikola Vukanac, Alejandro Mendoza (70' Paul Fenech), Zach Muscat (46' Edward Herrera), Edmond Agius, Paul Fenech (46' Ryan Scicluna), Rafael Ledesma, Antoine Borg (46' Joseph Zerafa), Kurt Zammit, Leighton Grech (70' Paul Fenech).

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