BOV Premier League - Sliema Wanderers FC 0-1 Birkirkara FC

by Ayrton Galea - 31st March 2019

Birkirkara FC returned to winning ways and remained on track in their challenge for the fourth place of the BOV Premier League when a late goal by Luke Montebello earned them a narrow victory with a 1-0 score against Sliema Wanderers FC.

In a hard-fought match that lacked scoring opportunities, both teams seemed to take a point each from this direct encounter, but a late goal by forward Luke Montebello earned the Stripes a vital victory for their ambitions of securing a place in European football next season.

This victory also marked a winning start for Coach Mark Buttigieg who was given the charge of the team following the unexpected exit of Sporting Director John Arne Riise.

The Birkirkara Coach had anything than easy to field his formation, especially in the midfield department where he had to do without the suspended Terence Agius and the injured Matthew Guillaumier.

Goalkeeper Andrew Hogg recovered on time and was given the nod for his second starting appearance with our club, while Jorge Pereira and Maurizio Vella replaced Michael Mifsud and Terence Agius.

The Stripes lined up in a 3-4-1-2 formation with Jorginho and Montebello leading the attack. Vella was given the nod to roam behind the two forwards as Bezzina was deployed in the center of the midfield.

The First Half

The match started balanced. The approach of the Stripes was one to notice as they held possession for long stretches by short passes on the ground, unlike the direct football in previous matches.

Jorge Pereira registered the first shot of the match after seventeen minutes. The Brazilian forward did well to turn past his marker, but his deflected shot from inside the box was saved by goalkeeper Timothy Aquilina.

The Stripes went close to surge ahead on the half-hour mark. Luke Montebello made a fine run and served Jorge Pereira who had his shot from close-range ending wide by inches, following a deflection by the Wanderers' defender.

Two minutes from half time, Sliema Wanderers appealed for a penalty when a clearance seemed to hit the hand of Nikola Vukanac, but Referee Laurent Kopriwa waved play on.

The Second Half

Sliema Wanderers started the second half on the attack and they went close after three minutes. Ryan Fenech won possession outside the box and struck a powerful shot that ended wide by a whisker.

The Wanderers failed to convert a glorious opportunity one minute later. A fast break-away saw Younes Marzouk receiving possession in an ideal position inside the box but goalkeeper Andrew Hogg made himself big to save his shot.

The Stripes started to settle inside this second half and created their first chance just past the hour mark. A cross by Johann Bezzina was headed by Marcelo Henrique, but his effort missed the target.

Birkirkara went close on the seventy-sixth minute. Mifsud showed great footwork to get past his marker, before serving substitute Cain Attard who had his close-range shot saved by Aquilina.

Both teams seemed that were going to take a point each from this match, but the Stripes snatched the winning goal on the second minute of added time of the second half.

A low cross by substitute Cain Attard, whose inclusion late in the match seemed to bolster the Stripes' attacking force on the right side, was not cleared by the Sliema Wanderers defence and Montebello slotted the ball from close-range.

SLIEMA WANDERERS: Timothy Aquilina, Matias Muchardi, Kurt Shaw, John Mintoff (58' Kllian Amehi), Ignacio Lucas Varela, Ryan Fenech (69' Mark Scerri), Nii Nortey Ashong, Michele Sansone, Claudio Pani, Stefano Biancardi, Younes Marzouk.

BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Danilo Chapoval, Mislav Andelkovic, Maurizio Vella, Luke Montebello, Johann Bezzina, Kurt Zammit (72' Clayton Failla), Eduardo Dos Santos, Nikola Vukanac, Marcelo Henrique (74' Cain Attard), Jorge Pereira (63' Michael Mifsud).

Referee: Laurent Kopriwa (LUX)
Assistant Referees: Joaquim Da Silva, Tom Hansen (LUX)
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara (MLT).

Yellow Cards: 42' Ryan Fenech, 45+1' Claudio Pani, 76' Maurizio Vella, 90+2' Luke Montebello.

Scorers: 90+2' Luke Montebello.

BOV Player of the Match:

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