Stripes held by resilient Tarxien
by Ayrton Galea - 30th August 2015
Birkirkara FC dropped the first points in the BOV Premier League as they were unable to keep the lead twice. In a match that produced four goals, two on each side, they shared the spoils with Tarxien Rainbows FC with a 2-2 score.
In a match that the Stripes dominated for long stretches, they were unable to keep their lead twice in the match and a resilient Tarxien side came back from behind twice to grab an important point, with the Stripes leaving the National Stadium gutted after conceding another two goals from set-pieces, this time a penalty and a corner kick.
The Stripes surged ahead after less than two minutes thanks to Nikola Vukanac but the lead lasted only ten minutes as Jaoa Pedro equalised thanks to a penalty. Miccoli regained Birkirkara's lead to end the first-half in front but after the break, they were unable to seal the match and were punished by a resilient Rainbows side who levelled the match to take a point each.
Mr. Giovanni Tedesco made two changes in his first-eleven selection from against the opening match against Naxxar Lions. Goalkeeper Justin Haber retained his place between the posts while Joseph Zerafa started at the expenses of Ryan Camenzuli. Edward Herrera, Rowen Muscat, Ryan Scicluna and Shola Shodiya were all missing for the Stripes.
The 4-3-1-2 formation featured Vukanac and Mazzetti forming the central-backs with Zerafa and Attard on the side-backs. The midfield trio was composed of Fenech, Marcelina and Sciberras. Miccoli was deployed the two strikers Temile and Plut.
The First Half
The Stripes were off to a perfect start as they surged ahead in less than two minutes. Fabrizio Miccoli delivered an accurate corner that saw Nikola Vukanac hitting hard past goalkeeper Andrea Cassar to put the Stripes in the lead.
In the action leading to the goal, Tarxien suffered a set-back as Matthew Tabone suffered an injury and was replaced by Ebiabowei Baker.
Tarxien were quick to get back in the match as they restored parity ten minutes later. Referee Adrian Azzopardi adjudicated Cain Attard to have handled the ball inside the box and ordered the penalty. From the spot, Joao Pedro Oliveira hit past Haber.
The Stripes failed to re-group after conceding the equaliser. They were struggling to penetrate in the final third as the attacking tandem of Plut and Temile was being neutralised by the solid Rainbows defence while forward Joao Pedro was being the most dangerous player for the Rainbows thanks to his dazzling runs.
However, the Strips stepped-up their tempo and regained the lead on the half-hour mark. Joseph Zerafa, pushing forward from the left side, drifted inside the box before having his cross short-cleared with the ball reaching Fabrizio Miccoli who hit past Andrea Cassar with a fine first-time shot.
Birkirkara were now playing better football and they had ball at the back of the net six minutes from time when Miccoli's free-kick saw Vukanac heading past Cassar but the Serbian defender was adjudicated to have been in an offside position.
Referee Adrian Azzopardi's half-time whistle found the Stripes heading to their dressing room having a narrow lead.
The Second Half
Ten minutes into the second half, the Stripes went close on adding the third goal. Fabrizio Miccoli had a direct free-kick turned into a corner kick by goalkeeper Cassar. From the resulting corner kick, taken by Miccoli, Vukanac had a powerful header denied by another excellent save by Cassar.
However it was the Rainbows who struck the equaliser on the sixty-fourth minute. After they had their penalty-shouts down after Montebello got down to the challenge of Vukanac, a minute later, Triston Caruana's corner found Ebiabowei Baker unmarked and headed past Justin Haber.
The Stripes made an instant reaction and they were unlucky not to regain the lead two minutes later. Plut served Miccoli who controlled the ball with his chest before unleashing a fierce volley that rattled the crossbar with Cassar beaten.
With the score level, Mr. Giovanni Tedesco made his first substitution as he included Ellinton Morais off Gareth Sciberras on the sixty-sixth minute to increase his strength in the attacking department.
Birkirkara continued to push forward, but they struggled in the final third. On the seventy-fifth minute, Zerafa, given more space on the left side, served Frank Temile who had his low shot saved by Cassar after had dribbled past his marker.
The Stripes continued to dominate and two minutes later, in another corner taken by Miccoli, Mazzetti raised high to hit a powerful header but his effort ended just over the bar as they continued to search for the third goal.
Mr. Giovanni Tedesco utilised his second and third substitution in space of two minutes. On the seventy-seventh minute, Zach Muscat replaced Cain Attard as the Birkirkara sought to strengthen his right side while Camenzuli replaced Temile.
Birkirkara almost completed a dramatic ending in the first minute of added time. Ellinton Morais saw his shot blocked by Cassar before hitting the post while from the rebound, Camenzuli was unlucky to have his effort from close-range cleared off the goal line as Tarxien held strong to achieve a point as the Stripes dropped their first two points.
Birkirkara FC: Justin Haber, Cain Attard (77' Zach Muscat), Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti, Joseph Zerafa, Gareth Sciberras, Emerson Marcelina, Paul Fenech, Frank Temile (79' Ryan Camenzuli), Vito Plut, Fabrizio Miccoli.
Tarxien Rainbows FC: Andrea Cassar, Manuel Caruana, Bruno Oliveira, Timothy Tabone, Triston Caruana, Carlos Menedez, Luke Montebello (77' Ayrton Azzopardi), Daniel Zerafa, Alex Alves (56' Anderson Da Silva), Matthew Tabone (10' Ebiabowei Baker), Joao Oliveira Santos.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow Cards: 15' Gareth Sciberras, 26' Paul Fenech, 60' Frank Temile (Birkirkara), Manuel Caruana, 64' Ebiabowei Baker, Joao Oliveira Santos (Tarxien).
Scorers: 2' Nikola Vukanac, 30' Fabrizio Miccoli (Birkirkara), 13' Jaoa Oliveira Santos, 64' Ebiabowei Baker (Tarxien).
BOV Player of the Match: Joao Oliveira Santos (Tarxien).
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