Birkirkara 2

Qormi 0

Birkirkara made a positive start to the new 2011/2012 BOV Premier League, beating Qormi with a goal in each half in the season’s first match yesterday.

The Stripes’ success was a deserved one as they were the better side overall and could benefit from Qormi’s lack of required punch up front. In fact, Qormi,at the start of the second half, after conceding Birkirkara’s opener, but Matthew Bartolo fluffed that chance.

who still need time to gel as a team, had their moments in flashes and could have equalised, after conceding Birkirkara’s opener towards the quarter hour, but Matthew Bartolo fluffed their best chance. A late penalty ensured Birkirkara take all three points from this encounter.

Shorn of some regulars and bereft of others who left the club, it is still too early to judge Birkirkara’s potential but their three foreigners on display yesterday gave a very good account of themselves. Italian striker Camilli was not included in their squad.

There were some new, but other not so unfamiliar faces on show as both teams reshuffled their squads from last season.

Birkirkara had Spanish keeper Jorge Mora back in goal, returning after two seasons as the backbone of their team this season is all foreign. Brazilian central defender Rodrigo Pereira will be filling the void of Vukanac as striker Moises Alvira Perez, also of Spanish nationality will be taking Michael Galea’s place.

Birkirkara of course had the injured Shawn Bajada and Paul Fenech missing from their starting line-up yesterday but they gave debuts to their newcomers Gareth Sciberras and Leighton Grech in midfield.

Qormi have retained only one foreigner from the previous season, defender Karamanolis. They rely on the ability of new Brazilian Jorge Pereira Da Silva in attack, supported by the industry of Matthew Bartolo, skipper Joseph Farrugia, youngster George Chircop as well as new recruit Dino Cachia. The latter, together with defender Jeffrey Chetcuti, have joined Qormi from relegated side Vittoriosa Stars.

The initial stages were rather cagey with both sides trying to get to grips with the match. Birkirkara enjoyed slightly the better share of possession but Qormi looked dangerous after 12 minutes with a good Bartolo run through the Birkirkara defence but his cross was equally well intercepted by keeper Mora before Da Silva could connect.

The goal came on the other end though, hardly one minute later. Moises Alvira ran inside the Qormi area and although challenged by Wellman, he beat keeper Matthew Farrugia from a tight angle almost from the byeline.

Once they broke the deadlock, Birkirkara grew in stature. On 19 minutes Cilia crossed from the left for Alvira to test keeper Farrugia, tipping the ball over the bar into a corner.

Qormi showed again in the half’s late stages. Da Silva’s shot from a short free kick played by Joseph Farrugia, went narrowly off target.

Then keeper Mora repelled Da Silva’s cross shot and Chircop shot the loose ball over in what was Qormi’s best spell before halftime.

To Qormi fell the first and best chance after the restart. A glaring miss towards the hour denied them an equaliser when Bartolo ran through on the right and with only the keeper to beat, he put his shot off target.

Birkirkara took a more laid back approach in the second period and Qormi were allowed to venture more forward although with little purpose. Coach Azzopardi put in forward Bello Osagie for defender Chetcuti on 69 minutes.

Birkirkara retained possession though. On 73minutes Rodrigo Pereira found space to shoot from edge of the area, although he failed to put it on target.

On 80 minutes Alvira ran unhindered towards the Qormi goal but keeper Farrugia rushed off his line to block.

The match was over for Qormi, four minutes from time, when they conceded a penalty for Karamanolis’ foul on Alvira inside the area and Trevor Cilia made the points safe for Birkirkara from the spot kick.

Birkirkara: J. Mora, R. Pereira, G. Sciberras, T. Cilia, A. Tabone (T. Vella), A. Decesare, M. Alvira Perez (R. Scicluna), L. Grech (R. Camenzuli), J. Zerafa, A. Buhagiar, R. Muscat

Coach: P. Curmi

Qormi: M. Farrugia, J. Chetcuti (A. Bello-Osagie), R. Sammut, M. Bartolo, J. Farrugia, C. Karamanolis, G. Chircop (L. Sciberras), D. Cachia (C. Sammut), J. Bondin, J. Pereira Da Silva, S. Wellman

Coach: S. Azzopardi

Referee: K. Azzopardi

Asst.refs: W. Debattista, S. Attard

4th official: E. Azzopardi

Scorers: M. Avila Perez 13, T. Cilia 86 pen

Yellow cards: R. Pereira, J. Farrugia, J. Zerafa, M. Bartolo, J. Chetcuti

Player of the match: Trevor Cilia (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Muscat 2. R. Pereira 3. M. Alvira Perez