Stripes hold Hibernians in a goal-less draw

by Ayrton Galea - 4th May 2015

Birkirkara FC mathematically secured the third place of the BOV Premier League as they earned the required point, when they held the new champions Hibernians in a goal-less draw, in a match that the Stripes dominated for long stretches.

The Stripes left the National Stadium blaming their luck for only having a point to show for their efforts, as they hit the post once in each half, and they had to settle in a goal-less draw against Hibernians who failed to match the Stripes' aggressiveness.

Last Saturday's defeat against Valletta left the Birkirkara faithful disappointed with a below par performance, but the Stripes bounced back on Sunday evening, with an excellent display despite taking only one point from the game. The two points dropped cost them the chance to battle Valletta for the second place.

Coach Paul Zammit made three changes from the defeat against Valletta. Mirza Hamzabegovic started at the expense of Justin Haber while Matheus Bissi filled the gap of Paul Fenech. Nikola Vukanac was the Birkirkara Captain.

The First Half

The Stripes sent a warning of their intentions in less than a minute, when Rafael Ledesma raced inside the box but his diagonal strike went wide. Moments later, Herrera fired wide after being served by Rowen Muscat.

Birkirkara remained the most aggressive side and they went close after seven minutes, when Bissi hit a thunderous free-kick from distance that saw Borg turning into a corner-kick. Hibernians replied a minute later with a weak shot by Pereira which ended wide.

The Stripes almost surged ahead on the sixteenth minute when Herrera sent a dangerous cross from the right, with Rodolfo Soares almost making an own goal, but goalkeeper Borg saved from the goal-line.

Just three minutes later and Birkirkara went close once again. Camenzuli shifted the ball from the left to the opposite side to Herrera. Herrera went past Failla and served Camenzuli who had his in-swinger denied by the up-right.

Birkirkara had another two fine scoring opportunities. On the twentieth minute, Herrera saw his square-pass inside the box picked by Borg and a minute later, off a cross by Zerafa, Rowen Muscat headed over.

Herrera had two dangerous crosses both parried. First, ten minutes from half-time, his curling cross on the second post was parried by Borg, and three minutes later, Herrera found Ledesma inside the box but the latter's failed to control the ball and Borg stopped the danger.

Two minutes from half-time, Bissi penetrated the defence with an excellent through-ball but Scicluna's touch was too long, and Borg parried the ball, as the first-half ended goal-less.

The Second Half

The Stripes almost surged ahead after two minutes. A powerful strike by Scicluna was turned into a corner kick by Borg. From Ledesma's corner, Borg bounced the ball and Mazzetti's strike was cleared off the goal-line.

Hibernians had strong claims for a penalty on the fifty-third minute, when Pereira went down after a challenge by Mazzetti, but the referee waved play on. Three minutes later, Hamzabegovic saved a fine shot by Faila.

In Birkirkara's first substitution on the hour mark, Rafael Ledesma was replaced by Ellinton Morais. Morais' inclusion did not bring any tactical changes, as he was included as a striker.

The Stripes were denied by the post for the second time on the day, when twenty minutes into the second half Bissi played a brilliant pass to Camenzuli, and his thunderous strike smashed against the foot of the far post. Two minutes later, Morais had a shot deflected into a corner-kick.

In Birkirkara's second substitution on the seventy-eighth minute, tireless midfielder Ryan Scicluna was replaced by Edmond Agius. Three minutes later, Camenzuli was substituted by Zammit as Birkirkara continued to push forward.

One minute from time, Hibernians almost notched the winning goal. A short-cleared free-kick saw the ball bouncing into the path of Jonathan Pearson, who unleashed a powerful volley that brought the best of Hamzabegovic with a brilliant save, and he sent the ball into a corner-kick as the score remained unchanged.

Ryan Camenzuli, who played a great match, was voted as the BOV Player of the Match.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Jurgen Spiteri.

Additional Assistant Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Andre Arciola.

Fourth Official: Mario Apap.

Yellow Cards: 13' Joseph Zerafa, 66' Mirza Hamzabegovic, 83' Mauricio Mazzetti (Birkirkara), 3' Marcelo Dias (Hibernians).

BOV Player of the Match: Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).

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