Birkirkara FC Vs. Balzan FC - Match Report
by Clayton Schembri - 10th December 2020
Birkirkara FC and Balzan FC shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw yesterday evening in the BOV Premier League match. The Stripes came from behind with a strong reaction in the second half and managed to rescue a point, after we conceded two early goals in the first half.
Coach Andre Paus made one change from the last outing against Senglea as Enrico Pepe regained his place with the starting eleven. Also, Andre Paus had to do without Alex de Paixao Alves, who suffered from an injury against Senglea and the suspended Paul Mbong.
Balzan had a perfect start and managed to score after five minutes thanks to Uros Ljubomirac who received the ball on the left and pulled to a more central position and shot from the edge of the area which gave goalkeeper Alessandro Guarnone no chance.
The Stripes had there first reaction on the 34th minute after Roderick Briffa delivered the ball to Federico Falcone who hit just wide with a fine effort.
Balzan doubled their lead one minute from the end of the first half after Stefan Dimic was pulled down inside the area by Oscar Carniello and from the penalty spot, Augustine Loof converted to make it 2-0.
On the 55th minute The Stripes reduced the gap, after a Roderick Briffa freekick from the left created havoc inside the area and the ball reached Federico Falcone who hit the ball with a powerful shot from the right to past goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes.
Six minutes later, Birkirkara scored their second goal and levelled matters. Claudio Bonanni picked up a short clearance and served Cain Attard inside the area and the latter controlled the ball before beating Vranes with an angled shot from the right.
The Stripes went close to score the winning goal when Luke Montebello was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a header following a corner by Caio Henrique Prado from the right. Birkirkara went close again in the dying minutes, when Caio dragged a shot wide.
BIRKIRKARA: Alessandro Guarnone, Enrico Pepe, Yannick Yankam, Luke Montebello, Roderick Briffa (Reginald Mbu Alidor 85'), Kurt Zammit, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Claudio Bonanni, Caio Prado, Oscar Carniello.
Coach: Andre Paus
BALZAN: Vukasin Vranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab, Paul Fenech, Steve Pisani, Steve Bezzina (Gary Camilleri 72'), Uros Ljubomirac, Stefan Dimic (Alfred Effiong 88'), Pedro Mota (Neil Frendo 92'), Sean Cipriott (Eric McWoods 72'), Moussa Kamara.
Coach: Mark Miller
Referee: Glen Tonna
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Duncan Spencer
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: C. Attard, O. Carniello, F. Falcone, C. Prado, S. Dimic, P. Fenech, P. Mota.
BOV Player of the Match: Uros Ljubomirac
