BOV Premier League | Gżira United 1 – Birkirkara 7

Birkirkara went ahead after nine minutes. Frank Temile sent a low cross towards the unmarked Vito Plut who slotted the ball inside the net.

Gżira responded on the 16th minute when Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma saw his cross from a corner hitting the woodwork.

A minute later, Temile had a good chance to double the score for Birkirkara. The twenty-six year old saw space and attempted a volley from the edge of the penalty area, but saw his effort going wide.

On the 19th minute, Gianmarco Conti of Gżira fired a long range effort that went slightly over.

The Stripes took control of the match and had another golden opportunity on the 24th minute. Vito Plut received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and hit a low shot that ended up centimetres wide.

Birkirkara were close once more on the 37th minute. From Srdan Dimitrov’s cross, Jamie Azzopardi punched the ball towards Nikola Vukanac. The Serbian player sent a header that hit the post.

The Maroons had a great opportunity to draw level in the additional time given by the referee. Conti found Moises Avila Perez who fired a shot that went slightly wide.

Birkirkara dominated all second half and scored nothing less than six other goals.

The stripes doubled the score on the 50th minute. Cain Attard went down the right flank and sent a cross that took a deflection before reaching Dimitrov. The Serbian striker kept his composure and slotted the ball inside the net.

Drazen Besek’s side scored their third goal a minute later. Ryan Scicluna sent a stunning volley from the centre of the pitch that gave Azzopardi no chance.

When things looked like they couldn’t get worse for Branko Nisevic, Birkirkara scored their fourth goal. Gareth Sciberras received the ball from the left flank and finished home.

Azzopardi had to be alert to deny Temile on the 71st minute. The Birkirkara midfielder received the ball inside the penalty area and hit a shot that forced a good save from the young goalkeeper.

Despite this save, Temile scored Birkirkara’s fifth goal from the resulting corner. Shaun Bajada sent a cross inside the penalty area that was met by the Nigerian who headed past Azzopardi once more.

Dimitrov made the score 6-0 a minute later. The Birkirkara striker went past his marker and hit a shot that ended up in the top corner.

Gżira reduced the margin of the score on the 77th minute throguh Moises Avila Perez who finished past Miroslav Kopric.

The stripes scored their seventh goal on the 83rd minute. Substitute Matthew Guillaumier saw his volley from the right side of the penalty area hitting the post before ending up inside the net.

Azzopardi’s nightmare continued in the addition time given by the referee. The nineteen year old handled Vito Plut’s shot from outside the penalty area. Glenn Tonna judged the situation to be a denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity and sent off the goalkeeper. Gianmarco Conti took the goalkeepers jersey since Gżira had already used all available substitutions.

Gżira United starting line-up: Jamie Azzopardi, Rafael Pompeo Ledesma, Gianmarco Conti, Antonio De Queiroz Machedo Neto, Juan Carloas Corbalan, Jonathan Bondin, Moises Avila Perez, Jacob Borg, Zachary Scerri, Souleymane Diamoutene, Yanis Tonna.

Birkirkara starting line-up: Miroslav Kopric, Christian Bubalovic, Gareth Sciberras, Mislav Andelkovic, Srdan Dimitrov, Vito Plut, Nikola Vukanac, Frank Temile, Joseph Zerafa, Cain Attard, Ryan Scicluna.

Referee: Glenn Tonna

Assistant referees: Mitchel Scerri, Peter Abela

Fourth Official: Etienne Mangion

BOV Player of the match: Srdan Dimitrov (Birkirkara)