Birkirkara sink 10-man Floriana

FLORIANA-0, BIRKIRKARA-3

Birkirkara made it two wins on the run after beating 10-man Floriana 3-0 in a game that came to life in the second half this evening.

The Stripes scored all of their three goals in the second half as Floriana struggled to overcome the dismissal of goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.

Victory for the Stripes lift them to third, level on 16 points with Qormi and Floriana.

Floriana had two new players in their starting line-up, Swedish midfielder Andrew Grabowski and Brazilian forward Lucas Pessanha. Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit named newly-signed Serbian goalkeeper Aleksandar Canovic among the substitutes.

Birkirkara were the better side in a generally drab first half.

It was Floriana who came close to taking the lead after just two minutes. Christian Cassar’s corner from the right was only partially cleared by Birkirkara as the ball landed at the feet of Ivan Woods whose far-post attempt was beaten away by Jorge Mora, Birkirkara’s Spanish goalkeeper.

The next scoring chance came on 20 minutes. Trevor Cilia profited from a misunderstanding between goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo and Mano Micallef who got in each other’s way as they tried to close down the Birkirkara winger. Cilia retrieved the loose ball on the byline and cut it back for Terence Vella who blasted over from a good position.

Vella then concluded a fine run with a shot that ended wide. Six minutes from half-time, Birkirkara should have opened the scoring when Cilia’s precise cross was met by Avila Perez whose header sailed just over the bar.

Late in the first half, Cilia served Paul Fenech from a free-kick but the Birkirkara captain’s effort was pushed away by Bartolo.

Floriana took the game to Birkirkara at the start of the second half. Mora did well to save Cassar’s dangerous free-kick and, another occasion, the Spanish goalkeeper stopped a central effort by Pessanha who had been sent clear by Woods.

The Birkirkara goalkeeper distinguished himself with a top-notch save as he dived to his right to keep out Pessanha’s close-range volley after the latter had reached Grabowski’s cross.

From the possibility of going ahead, Floriana found themselves a goal down 10 minutes into the second half. Birkirkara were awarded a penalty after Pablo Doffo was adjudged to have floored Joseph Zerafa inside the box, much to the frustration of the Floriana players who claimed that the foul had occurred outside the box.

Cilia made no mistake and, to make matters worse for the Greens, goalkeeper Bartolo was sent off for a second booking after kicking the ball at Terence Vella after conceding from the spot.

Birkirkara doubled their lead three minutes later, Zerafa hitting home at the far post after receiving from Cilia.

Avila then hit wide from inside the box after Floriana had failed to block Vella’s run.

At the other end, Doffo’s well-hit free-kick came off the woodwork as nothing would come right for Floriana.

Birkirkara made it 3-0 12 minutes from time. Leighton Grech ran into the box down the right and squared to Vella who hit goalwards and Floriana defender Owen Bugeja only managed to send the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.

Vella was named BOV player of the match.