Under-17's Team lose to Qormi

by Ayrton Galea - 26th January 2015

Birkirkara FC Under-17's Team suffered a first-half goal by Qormi, to lose the match 1-0.

In a tight match, played under heavy rain and strong winds at the Rabat Ajax Grounds, the Stripes conceded their second consecutive defeat, despite, once again, deserving more for their efforts.

The First Half

The Stripes produced their first scoring opportunity on the seventh minute when following a fine move inside the box by Gianluca Zammit, the latter had his shot saved by the Qormi's goalkeeper. Five minutes later, a shot by Jacob Magri ended over.

The match was turning out to be a very balanced encounter as both sides failed to threaten the opponents' goalkeepers. However, Qormi surged ahead on the twenty-eighth minute, thanks to a powerful shot which hit hard past the Birkirkara goalkeeper and ending in the right top corner.

The Stripes could have quickly levelled matters on the thirty-third minute, thanks to a powerful free-kick by Max Borg that smashed against the up-right. Three minutes later, in an identical action, the same player had a shot deflected by the Qormi goalkeeper, with the ball cleared into safety before Shaun Xuereb could finish into an empty net.

The Second Half

Seven minutes into the second half, the Birkirkara goalkeeper, Emanuel Galea, kept the Stripes in the match by eliminating the danger following a fast counter-attack.

The encounter continued to be tight. Qormi, enjoying a single goal lead, were controlling the Stripes' pressure, with the latter failing to penetrate in the final third of the pitch. On the sixty-third minute, Fabien Lufi had a shot easily parried by the goalkeeper, and two minutes later, Nigel Bugeja's shot ended wide.

The Stripes produced their best scoring chance ten minutes from time. Following quick fine one-touch passes, Nigel Borg's shot ended wide, with the Stripes leaving the Rabat Ajax Grounds with nothing to show for their efforts.

BIRKIRKARA: Emanuel Galea, Fabien Lufi, Nigel Bugeja, Jacob Magri, Roberto Curmi, Max Borg, Jordan Sciberras, Shaun Xuereb, Gianluca Zammit, Nigel Borg, Justin Cardona.

Substitutes: Sergio Conti, Sean Bonello, Matthew Calleja, Zachary Cassar.

comments powered by Disqus