Stripes bow out after 0-3 defeat

MSK Zilina 3
Piacek 21; Lietava 77; Oravec 90

Birkirkara 0

Birkirkara were eliminated from the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League after going down to MSK Zilina 3-0 at the Pod Dubnom Stadium, yesterday.

The result may give an impression of an easy ride for the Slovak champions but that was not case as Birkirkara fought bravely and only succumbed in the last 13 minutes of the match when Zilina scored twice to avoid extra-time after having cancelled their 0-1 deficit from the first leg in the opening half.

With wing-back Andrew Decesare ruled out by suspension, Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit deployed Rowen Muscat in his starting line-up along with defender Patrick Borg while Carl Pulo started on the bench.

As expected, Zilina, roared on by a partisan home crowd, went all out in search of an early goal to cancel Nikola Vucanac’s goal at the Centenary Stadium last week.

The early exchanges were abrasive and Stripes keeper Ezequeil Lovizon did well on nine minutes to keep out Tomas Oravec’s shot. Zilina had other efforts going astray and at the other end Shaun Bajada’s drive was stopped by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

However, on 21 minutes the hosts opened the score. From a Robert Jez free-kick, Jozef Piacek was on the right spot to hit home.

Birkirkara survived a few anxious moments after that goal but regrouped and captain Michael Galea twice tested Dubravka before Lovizon stopped another Oravec effort on 37 minutes.

Ivan Lietava could have given Zilina the lead before half-time. He missed the target from a good position but that would have been harsh justice on the Maltese team at that juncture.

On resumption, Zilina pressed on the accelerator, enjoying more possession of the ball but Birkirkara never lost shape, also boosted by the fine saves of Lovizon who was on the spot to keep out the shots from Matjan, Jez and substitute Sozak.

Zammit drafted in Carl Pulo for Alan Tabone as Pavel Hapal, the Zilina coach, tried to add more flair in attack by introducing Pavol Poliacek for defender Emil Rilke.

The Stripes were now under constant pressure and their resistance gave way 13 minutes from time when Lietava scored from a Patrik Mraz delivery.

Birkirkara battled on bravely though, a goal would still have taken them to the next round of the competition, uncharted territory for Maltese clubs so far.

Bajada tried his luck from the distance but the shot did not surprise Dubravka. Pulo was close from a corner but from a quick break Oravec made sure of Zilina’s victory with a third goal in stoppage time.

Zilina’s next opponents will be Bulgaria’s Litex Lovech.

MSK Zilina
M. Dubravka, S. Angelovic, P. Mraz, E. Rilke (71 P. Poliacek), T. Majtan (59 S. Sozak), R. Jez, T. Oravec, J. Piacek, O. Sourek, I. Bello, I. Lietava.

Birkirkara
E. Lovizon, P. Borg, B. Nisevic (87 A. Scicluna), P. Fenech, M. Galea, A. Tabone (66 C. Pulo), N. Vukanac, S. Bajada, J. Zerafa, A. Buhagiar, R. Muscat (75 T. Paris).

Referee: Zsolt Szabo (Hungary).

Yellow cards: Galea, Buhagiar, Fenech; Lietava, Angelovic.