Birkirkara and Valletta share the spoils in friendly match

by Ayrton Galea - 18th June 2016

Birkirkara FC and Valletta FC shared the spoils in a balanced 1-1 draw in a friendly match played at the Luxol Stadium. Vito Plut put Birkirkara ahead after sixteen minutes but Santiago Malano scored the equalising goal for Valletta seven minutes into the second half.

Birkirkara had Matteo Desira Buttigieg making his first appearance with our shirt, as last season he was loaned to St. Andrew's. The Serbian duo who signed with our Club yesterday, defender Predrag Jovic and midfielder Srdjan Dimitrov, also made their first appearance. Matteo assisted the first goal and enjoyed a very good game, while the Serbian duo who went in as substitutes also left a good impression.

The Stripes went close as early as the fourth minute to take the lead, when from a throw-in by Cain Attard, Vito Plut's first-time volley smashed against the foot of the post. Moments later, Ryan Camenzuli had a direct free-kick from jusy outside the box following a hands-ball which seemed inside the box.

Birkirkara surged ahead on the sixteenth minute. Emerson Marcelina played an excellent through-ball to the on-running Matteo Desira Buttigieg who showed great skills to anticipate and round goalkeeper Nick Vella outside the box before serving Vito Plut who slotted home from close-range.

Just before half-time, Valletta went close to making the score level. Off a cross from the left, Luke Montebello's header came off the crossbar and from the rebound; the same player had his effort from just yards out cleared off the goal-line by Emerson Marcelina.

Valletta made the score level seven minutes into the second half. Leandro Aguirre's cross from the left found substitute Federico Falcone who headed down the ball to another substitute Santiago Malano whose header from close-range went past Kopric.

Defender Predrag Jovic and midfielder Srdjan Dimitrov made their first appearance with our Club when they were included as substitutes when they replaced Emerson Marcelina and Ryan Scicluna. Akpan replaced Kopric between the posts; Herrera replaced Desira Buttigieg while Under-19's Team forward Joseph Willy replaced Vito Plut.

Dimitrov almost left an a quick mark, when five minutes after being substituted in, he produced an excellent run to beat the offside trap and pick an excellent pass by Attard but his close-range shot was blocked by Bonello and from the rebound, Guillaumier had his effort blocked by the defence.

BIRKIRKARA: Miroslav Kopric (60' Ini Akpan), Joseph Zerafa, Christian Bubalovic, Emerson Marcelina (60' Predrag Jovic), Cain Attard, Ryan Scicluna (60' Srdjan Dimitrov), Matthew Guillaumier, Edison Bilbao, Ryan Camenzuli, Matteo Desira Buttigieg (60' Edward Herrera), Vito Plut (60' Joseph Willy).

Scorers: 16' Vito Plut (Birkirkara), 52' Santiago Malano (Valletta).

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