Under-17's Team downed by Zebbug

by Ayrton Galea - 16th February 2015

Birkirkara FC Under-17's Team suffered a narrow defeat on Sunday morning, when a goal in each half doomed them to a 2-1 defeat against Zebbug Rangers.

It was an intense match, that burst into life seven minutes from time, when substitute Gianluca Zammit narrowed the gap, after Zebbug had built a two-goal lead thanks to a goal in the opening stages of each half.

The Stripes pushed forward in the dying minutes of the match but their efforts were cut short as Zebbug held strong to register a crucial victory.

The First Half

Birkirkara were unlucky not to surge ahead after just one minute. Neil Micallef beat the offside trap to race forward but had his shot blocked by the goalkeeper. The rebound fell to the same player who was unlucky to see his attempt denied by the crossbar.

Zebbug also went close to taking the lead after just five minutes. Following a short-cleared free-kick, Zebbug had a dangerous shot from outside the box scratching past the far post.

The Stripes heaved a sigh of relief but the danger refused to go away. Zebbug took the lead on the seventh minute, with a direct free-kick that gave goalkeeper Emanuel Galea no chance.

In another free-kick on the eighteenth minute, from position similar to the opening goal of Zebbug, this time Emanuel Galea made a fine save to neutralise. Seven minutes later, Neil Micallef had a direct free-kick parried by the Zebbug goalkeeper.

The Stripes were unlucky to be denied by the crossbar for the second time on the day, just before the half-hour mark. Nigel Bugeja made a fine solo-action, before delivering an inviting cross-shot which surprised the goalkeeper, only to smash against the crossbar.

Coach Precious Monye utilised the first substitution when he withdrew an injured Nigel Borg on the thirty-third minute, to introduce forward Ryan Muscat, who was back from a two-match suspension.

Zebbug had a shot turned into a corner by Emanuel Galea six minutes from half-time, while the Stripes replied with a long-distance drive by Max Borg Bartolo, which was parried by the Zebbug goalkeeper.

The Stripes increased their efforts in the final stages of the first half, but they were unable to level matters to head to their dressing room chasing the game.

The Second Half

For the start of the second half, Coach Precious Monye included Birkirkara's latest signing Liam Reno Gatt, and he replaced Sean Bonello.

Birkirkara started aggressively and they could have levelled matters after just two minutes, when Ryan Muscat made an excellent action which he concluded with a shot that scratched past the far post. Eighth minutes later, the same player had a powerful low shot saved by the goalkeeper.

Zebbug made them two on the fifty-fifth minute, when the Birkirkara defence was unzipped with an intelligent pass, and a powerful shot beat goalkeeper Galea.

On the fifty-seventh minute, Gianluca Zammit replaced Matthew Calleja.

The Stripes threw everything forward and on the hour mark, substitute Liam Reno Gatt had a powerful shot saved by the Zebbug goalkeeper. Five minutes later, Max Borg Bartolo had a shot ending wide,

Birkirkara pulled one back on the seventy-third minute, when Gianluca Zammit raced forward to dribble past the goalkeeper and hit home into an empty net. The goal created havoc inside the box, and the referee sent off substitute Ryan Muscat and a Zebbug defender.

The Stripes were unlucky not to level matters five minutes, from time when Zammit unzipped the defence and had his shot blocked by the goalkeeper. One minute later, Neil Micallef had a shot ending over.

Birkirkara continued to press forward, but Zebbug held strong to inflict the third defeat on the Stripes, in seven games. Fixtures for the upcoming matches are still to be announced.

BIRKIRKARA:Emanuel Galea, Sean Bonello (41' Liam Reno Gatt), Max Borg Bartolo, Nigel Borg, Nigel Bugeja (33' Ryan Muscat), Matthew Calleja (47' Gianluca Zammit), Roberto Curmi, Jacob Magri, Neil Micallef, Jordan Sciberras, Shaun Xuereb.

Red Cards: 74' Ryan Muscat.

Scorers: 73' Gianluca Zammit.

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