Floriana 0
Birkirkara 3
A controversial penalty early in the second half paved the way for a Birkirkara victory against 10-man Floriana yesterday evening.
The victory enabled the Stripes to join the same Floriana and Qormi on the 16-point mark after nine matches.
Floriana missed the services of the injured Christian Caruana in midfield and Tryone Farrugia in the heart of the defence. In their absence Floriana introduced two new foreigners – Swedish midfielder Andre Grabowski and Brazilian striker Lucas Pessanha.
They both showed promise but need more time to settle down in their new surroundings.
On the other hand, Birkirkara also had a newcomer among their ranks, Serbian goalkeeper Alexandar Canovic, starting the match on the substitutes’ bench.
In the first half, neither side seemed able to break the deadlock even if Birkirkara had the better chances in the few openings created.
The Stripes were well served at the back by Perisic and Pereira and they also had a strong midfield sector in which Sciberras, Muscat and Fenech worked hard throughout but were not effective up front as Terence Vella and Moises Avila missed the only two chances created throughout the opening 45 minutes.
On their part, Floriana must have seen less of the ball and never really tested goalie Mora, between the Birkirkara posts. The Greens appeared fast and furious in some of their forays, but apart from a good chance which fell to Woods early in the game, they were rather poor in their few conclusions.
In the second half, Floriana had a great start, but were denied by goalie Mora twice. After conceding a controversial penalty goal and another goal soon after, the match was over. In fact, from then on, the Stripes showed superiority and had little difficulty controlling the Greens’ efforts. However, on one occasion, Floriana could have been back in contention had a Pablo Doffo fine freekick not hit the posts.
Floriana were quickly on attack and on the second minute it was Mora who saved the Stripes fort off a Woods conclusion.
Birkirkara replied with a Trevor Cilia grounder being saved by Bartolo on the 11th minute.
Birkirkara went close to opening the score on 19 minutes when after a misunderstanding between Bartolo and Micallef, Cilia crossed from near the by-line but Terence Vella’s effort went over the bar.
After 35 minutes, Terence Vella advanced swiftly from one side to the other of the pitch, but his final shot was well away from target when a pass to the unmarked Cilia might have paid better dividends.
It was Birkirkara again who had a good opportunity on the 39th minute when off a fine cross by Cilia, Avila’s header went just over.
Before the interval whistle, from a Cilia freekick, Fenech’s shot was partially saved by Bartolo. The ball ran out to Pereira who lifted the ball over the bar to Floriana’s relief.
At the start of the second half, Floriana appeared to be more adventurous and Christian Cassar forced a save off Mora on the 49th minute.
Two minutes later, Woods set Pessanha, completely unmarked on the left, but Mora blocked his weak effort. Soon after, off a Grabowski cross, it was Pessanha again who tested Mora seriously, but the Spanish goalie brought the house down with a splendid save.
At the other end, on the 55th minute, Birkirkara were awarded a somewhat controversial penalty when Joseph Zerafa was upended by Doffo near the edge of the area – it was difficult to determine whether it was inside or outside. Floriana protested hotly albeit in vain and Cilia sent Bartolo the wrong end from the spot-kick to put his side in the lead.
Floriana soon ended up in 10 men as Bartolo was shown a second yellow card after shooting the ball at the rejoicing Birkirkara players. He was replaced by Jurgen Borg as Clyde Borg was sacrificed.
On 57 minutes, Birkirkara doubled their lead with an excellent goal. From a Cilia fine cross, it was Zerafa who first timed beautifully past substitute goalie Jurgen Borg.
On the 66th minute, it was Moises Avila who missed a sitter for Birkirkara after Vella had effected a great run down the left flank.
Four minutes later, Floriana were unlucky when a Doffo freekick hit the crossbar with Mora beaten.
Birkirkara assured themselves of the three points on the 77th minute, when off a Leighton Grech cross, Terence Vella’s effort was met by Floriana defender Owen Bugeja who only helped the ball into the net from over the line.
Floriana: M. Bartolo, O. Bugeja, T. Paris, P. Doffo, M. Micallef, I. Woods, D. Pisani, C. Cassar, C. Borg (J. Borg), A. Grabowski (J. Mintoff), L. Pessanha (R. Darmanin).
Birkirkara: J. Mora (A. Canovic), R. Muscat, D. Perisic, J. Zerafa, G. Sciberras, P. Fenech, M. Avila Perez (S. Shodija), R. Pereira, A. Buhagiar (L. Grech), T. Vella, T. Cilia.
Referee: F. Zammit
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard
4th official: C. Lautier
Scorers: T. Cilia pen, J. Zerafa, T. Vella,
Yellow cards: C. Borg, P. Fenech, M. Bartolo, G. Sciberras, R. Pereira, P. Doffo, J. Mintoff
Red card: M. Bartolo
Player of the match: Terence Vella
TMI Top 3: 1. P. Fenech; 2.T. Vella; 3. P. Doffo
Attendance: 733