Birkirkara’s slim hopes of making progress into the next round were dashed yesterday as Apoel Nicosia proved to be a stronger side, winning comfortably by two goals to nil.
But despite everything, the Stripes only threw in the towel in the last 20 minutes, that is, when they suffered the two goals. Until then, although the Cypriots missed a host of chances, the Stripes seemed to have weathered the storm.
They were forced to play without injured midfielder George Mallia and striker Michael Galea.
Birkirkara were apparently more intent on containing the Cypriots especially in the first half. It was obvious that they suffered the Cypriots initiative almost from the first minute. The superior Apoel side took command of midfield early in the match, but somehow or other, Birkirkara always managed to close the gaps.
Debutant goalie Simon David inspired confidence and Birkirkara grew in stature midway through the first half as they also started moving upfield. In those initial moments, Etienne Barbara was isolated up front and made little impact against a strong Cypriot rearguard where goalie Morphis was not even tested on just one occasion.
The return of Nigerian midfielder Precious Monye also had a telling effect on the Stripes formation. He fought for every ball in midfield and, together with Roderick Briffa, worked hard to get the team going.
At the back, Yanchev also worked hard, but even Camenzuli, Galea and Sammut played their hearts out despite a few shortcomings.
In the second half, the Stripes were a little more adventurous, but they never managed to go past Apoel’s solid rearguard, not even when Stephen Azzopardi boldly introduced striker Matthew Calascione instead of defender Roderick Sammut.
And when Apoel finally broke the deadlock, there was no stopping them. They started playing with more confidence and at the end emerged worthy and comfortable winners making the second match in Nicosia in a fortnight’s time appear just a formality.
Apoel had an electrifying start and almost scored on the fifth minute when Kenneth Scicluna lobbed over his goalie in an effort to clear, but debutant Simon David ran back towards goal to clear to corner in extremis before Ilia could conclude.
Soon after, it was Keofytou who hit the side rigging after a cross from the right.
David was again a protagonist on 17 minutes as he dived at Nasiopoulos’s feet to avoid another awkward situation.
Birkirkara appealed in vain for a penalty when Etienne Barbara fell in the area after a fine run upfield.
Birkirkara, clearly intent on a defensive set-up, again passed through an anxious moment on 33 minutes, when Jovanovic seemed set for a shot at goal, but the Stripes captain managed to clear in extremis.
On 38 minutes, Bonnici, Briffa and Barbara combined beautifully but the latter’s shot from the angle went wide.
Just before the interval, it was again goalie Simon David who thwarted the Cypriots when he blocked a low Jovanovic shot.
On the change of ends, Makrides again tested David with a low shot, but the Stripes goalie saved on deck. Soon after the Stripes defence was at sixes and sevens on a Jovanovic corner, but Yanchev cleared from over the goal line.
The Stripes replied with a good effort from Barbara, but it went over. On 55 minutes, Monye had a freekick from the edge of the area going over.
At the other end, on a Makrides cross, it was Nasiopoulos who headed wide from a favourable position.
On 64 minutes, Birkirkara were lucky not to suffer a goal. Jovanovic lobbed over David from the edge of the area, but the ball went agonisingly just wide of the far upright.
Apoel finally opened the scoring on 71 minutes. Substitute Kaklamavos was unmarked in the area. His cross went to Georgiou whose flick was helped into the net by Mark Anthony Bonnici.
On 78 minutes, it was 2-0. Makrides went through on the left to cross low into the Stripes area. Jovanovic’s first shot was blocked by Yanchev on the line but the Bulgarian’s clearance, unluckily for the Stripes, hit the same Jovanovic and ended at the back of the net.
In the final moments, David saved almost certain goals as he blocked close range shots from Kaklamanos, Jovanovic and Makrides.
Birkirkara: S. David, R.Sammut (M. Calascione), W. Camenzuli, E. Yanchev, K. Scicluna, L. Galea, MA Bonnici, R. Briffa (A. Zahra), P. Monye (C. Micallef), A. Ciantar, E. Barbara.
APOEL Nicosia: M. Morphis, S. Jovanovic,S. Okkarides, G. Nasiopoulos(G. Elephteriou) , N. Alexandrou (J. Sampson), S. Georgiou, D. Daskalakis, M. Ilia, K. Makrides, C. Michael, M. Keofytou (A. Kaklamavos).
Referee: C. Muray (Scotland).
Scorers: S. Georgiou, Jovanovic
Yellow cards: MA Bonnici, M. Ilia