Birkirkara FC Vs. Floriana FC - Match Report
by Clayton Schembri - 23rd December 2020
Birkirkara FC returned to winning ways and finished this year commitments on a positive note when yesterday evening they defeated Floriana FC with a fine 5-2 score and moved sixth place on 21 points, seven behind the leaders Sliema Wanderers.
This was the seventh consecutive positive result in the BOV Premier League and the fifth win in seven matches in less than twenty-five days after the mandatory quarantine.
Coach Andre paus made three changes from the last match. Paul Mbong, Roderick Briffa and Alex da Paixao Alves, who were all included as substitutes in the previous game, were all named in the starting line-up. Briffa replaced the suspended Kurt Zammit on the left flank, while Mbong and Da Paixao Alves were preferred to Claudio Bonanni and Caio Prado.
The Stripes had the first attempt at goal with Luke Montebello trying his luck with a fine curling shot from the edge of the area ending just wide after just five minutes.
However, ironically the greens took the lead on the 12th minute when off a cross by Ulises Arias from the left, Flavio Cheveresan headed home past goalkeeper Alesandro Guarnone.
The Stripes levelled matters on 33 minutes thanks to Paul Mbong who planted the ball past goalkeeper Ini Etim Akpan after a cross from the right by Cain Attard.
The Stripes doubled their lead three minutes later by a fine rising shot from outside the area from Da Paixao Alves Alex after received an assist by Yannick Yankam from the left.
Just before half-time, Brandon Paiber delivered a corner from the left, which was blocked by Guarnone and off the rebound, Matias Garcia's effort was also blocked by a defender to end the half time 2-1 for the stripes.
The Stripes increased the lead on the 72 minutes thanks to a penalty after Da Paixao Alves was held inside the area by Pisani. From the penalty spot, the Brazilian converted to make the score 3-1.
Three minutes later Birkirkara scored the fourth goal after Alex da Paixao sent Luke Montebello through and the latter advanced into the area before hitting low past Akpan.
The Greens managed to reduce the gab seven minutes from time when off a corner from the left, a fine volley by Enzo Ruiz gave the Birkirkara goalkeeper no chance.
The Stripes reacted again and on the 90 minutes they scored the fifth goal after Caio advanced on the right, passed the ball to Da Paixao Alves and the latter served Montebello, whose angled shot from the left beat the Floriana custodian.
Birkirkara: Alessandro Guarnone, Enrico Pepe, Yannick Yankam, Luke Montebello, Paul Mbong, Roderick Briffa, Reginald Mbu Alidor (50' Claudio Bonanni), Federico Falcone (78' Caio Henrique Prado), Cain Attard, Oscar Matias Carniello, Alex Da Paixao Alves.
Coach: Andre Paus
FLORIANA: Ini Etim Akpan, Moustapha Muhamadou Beye, Enzo Ruiz, Kristian Keqi (63' Jan Busuttil), Ulises Arias, Brandon Paiber (84' Siraj Arab Eddin), Jurgen Pisani, Matias Garcia, Alex Cini, Flavio Silva Cheveresan, Tiago Adan Fonseca.
Coach: Enzo Potenza
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Luke Portelli
Fourth Official: Andrea Sciriha
Yellow Cards: Fonseca, Pepe, Paiber
BOV Player of the Match: Alex Da Paixao Alves
