Balzan sinks Stripes with a last-gasp goal
by Ayrton Galea - 14th September 2014
Oscar Guerrero's dramatic goal deep into stoppage time condemned Birkirkara FC to their first defeat in four matches in the BOV Premier League, as Balzan came back twice from behind to defeat the Stripes with a 3-2 score.
In was yet another frustrating match for the Stripes who failed to impress after the interval. Birkirkara surged ahead close to the half-hour mark but Balzan were quick to level matters before the Stripes' regained the lead and held it till the end of the first half. In the second half, Balzan played better football and took an edge over Birkirkara to score twice and clinch their third win in the league and extended their excellent start.
With this defeat, Birkirkara failed to keep the pace with Mosta who shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw against Naxxar. Also, Balzan overtook the Stripes and they are now on the ten point mark.
Mr. Paul Zammit fielded a 3-4-1-2 formation and made two changes from the last victory against Naxxar Lions. Matheus Bissi and Eliandro Gonzaga found their way back in the starting-eleven selection by replacing Alejandro Mendoza and Leighton Grech.
The first-eleven featured Haber defending the posts, with Bissi, Muscat and Vukanac forming the threeline defence. Herrera and Camenzuli patrolled the wingbacks, supporting central midfielders Scicluna and Fenech. Ledesma started in his usual roaming role behind the two strikers Gonzaga and Morais.
Birkirkara were still without the services of goalkeeper Ini Akpan, Edmond Agius and Gareth Sciberras as they are all recovering from injuries. The Club's latest signing, Vyacheslav Shevchenko was not included with the eighteen-man squad.
The First Half
Birkirkara had a slow start, unlike Balzan who went out aggressive from the starting whistle and had two scoring opportunities in the opening minutes.
First, Lydon Micallef received the ball from Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza but had his long-distance effort end over on the seventh minute. Eighth minutes later, Gianmarco Piccioni fired over wither another long distance effort.
The Stripes settled down as time went by and they had their first scoring opportunity on the eighteenth minute. Rafael Ledesma was fouled a few metres outside the box and referee Marco Borg ordered the free-kick. From the set-piece, Ledesma saw his central strike parried by goalkeeper Steve Sultana.
Birkirkara were being controlled quite well by a resistant Balzan side, but the latter gave in for the first goal of the game on the twenty-eighth minute and Birkirkara took the lead. Ryan Camenzuli's cross from the left failed to be cleared and the ball reached Ellinton Morais who headed past goalkeeper Sultana.
However Birkirkara's lead lasted only five minutes as Balzan levelled matters on the thirty-third minute. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza made some fine foot-work before unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box which surprised goalkeeper Justin Haber and ended into the net.
On the thirty-ninth minute, Paul Fenech unleashed a powerful volley which was blocked by Sultana and cleared into safety. Just moments later, Morais saw his header ending wide by inches following a cross by Edward Herrera.
These two scoring opportunities prompted the Stripes to increase their efforts and they regained the lead three minutes from half time. Morais was the protagonist once again by pouncing on a short clearance before hitting a wonderful low strike that beat Sultana.
The end of the first half that produced three goals in space of fifteen minutes saw Birkirkara having a narrow lead with a 2-1 score.
The Second Half
Birkirkara started the second half brightly as after six minutes they went close on increasing the lead when Morais sent a threatening cross but Herrera failed to hit from an ideal position.
The Stripes' superiority began to fade, and it was Balzan who were showing the better attacking ideas. On the fifty-third minute, Mifsud Triganza wasted a golden opportunity when he failed to hit the target in front of Haber after being served by Piccioni. Four minutes later, Oscar Guerrero sprinted inside the box but his final shot ended wide.
Balzan continued to dictate matters. Their instructions to attack down the right wing were being a torment for the Birkirkara defenders who failed to deal with the speed of Guerrero and Lydon Micallef. In fact, it was the latter who fired wide a few moments later.
On the hour mark, Birkirkara were forced to surrender their lead for the second time in the match as Balzan's determination earned them the equalizing goal. Gianmaroce Piccioni shot appeared to hit his fellow team-mate Lydon Micallef but Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza pounced on the loose ball to fire home from inside the box.
With the lead lost, and struggling to settle down inside the second half, Mr. Paul Zammit affected his first two substitutions on the sixty-fifth minute. Leighton Grech replaced Paul Fenech and Alejandro Mendoza replaced Rafael Ledesma.
These changes led to tactical adjustments as Mr. Paul Zammit shifted his defence to a four-man line with Mendoza included as a central back, with Bissi advancing to midfield. Leighton Grech was included on the left wing, continually supporting Gonzaga.
Grech quickly left an instant impact as twenty minutes from time, he combined well with Gonzaga in one-two passes. The Brazilian striker served Grech whose shot was turned into a corner kick by Sultana.
Birkirkara continued to push forward but they rarely troubled goalkeeper Steve Sultana. On the eightieth minute, it was Bissi who come the closest with a typical long-distance free-kick but it ended wide by a matter of inches.
In the Stripes' third and last substitution, Kurt Zammit replaced Edward Herrera on the eighty-fifth minute as Mr. Zammit inserted a fresh forward player for the last crucial minutes.
Birkirkara thought that they had notched another late winner when Grech's cross flew towards the unmarked Eliandro but the latter mishot and the ball ended over.
From a chance for a dramatic win, the match turned into an unbelievable last-gasp defeat. In a fast transition for Balzan from defence into a quick counter-attack, Oscar Guerrero advanced on the right side before having his deflected shot hitting past Haber for a dramatic goal, in the ninety-fourth minute.
Marco Borg's full time whistle found Birkirkara suffering their first defeat in the BOV Premier League.
BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Matheus Bissi, Nikola Vukanac, Zach Muscat, Ryan Camenzuli, Edward Herrera (85' Kurt Zammit), Paul Fenech (65' Leighton Grech), Ryan Scicluna, Rafael Ledesma (65' Alejandro Mendoza), Eliandro Gonzaga, Ellinton Morais.
BALZAN: Steve Sultana, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Ice-Cream Osa Guobadia, Clive Brincat, Lydon Micallef (90+2' Michael Borg), Oscar Guerrero, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (79' Luke Sciberras), Gianmarco Piccioni.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Luke Portelli.
Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow Cards: 76' Zach Muscat (Birkirkara), 18' Ice-Cream Osa, 45' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, 54' Justin Grioli, Steve Sultana (Balzan).
Scorers: 28', 42' Ellinton Morais (Birkirkara), 33', 60' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, 90+2' Oscar Guerrero (Balzan).
BOV Player of the Match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Balzan).
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