Substitute Galea saves 10-man Birkirkara from defeat

Birkirkara 1
Marsaxlokk 1

Substitute Michael Galea last night saved Birkirkara from defeat after his 76th minute equaliser earned the Stripes a merited point from a keenly-contested match against Marsaxlokk at the National Stadium.

It was no more than Birkirkara deserved for their efforts especially after they were forced to play for most of the second half with a man less after Lino Galea was shown a red card after 49 minutes. The Stripes were also denied by the woodwork when a Matthew Calascione shot hit the bar.

Marsaxlokk defended solidly throughout against a Birkirkara side who again fielded Calascione as a lone forward in their starting formation with Michael Galea again starting the match on the bench.

Right from the outset both teams adopted an attacking approach. Marsaxlokk played good passing football with their main threat coming from their flanks. Birkirkara on the other hand were opting for long balls to try and breach the solid Marsaxlokk rearguard that had Carlo Mamo, Stephen Wellman and Chris Bart Williams in top form.

David Simon almost regaled Marsaxlokk an opening goal on 17 minutes when he inadvertently punched the ball into the path of Andre Schembri. The latter lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper but luckily for Birkirkara it hit the bar before finishing wide.

Birkirkara replied two minutes later when Calascione flicked the ball towards Roderick Briffa whose volley finished inches wide.

On 20 mintues back-heeled the ball to Bart Williams who shot just over. The game maintained its entertaining fare and on the half hour Simon did well to keep out Shaun Bajada's free-kick.

Birkirkara caught Marsaxlokk napping in the 34th minute when Briffa's cross shot just missed the target with Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Gauci beaten.

Three minutes later William Camenzuli denied Jamie Pace a clear strike at goal when he hooked the ball away from his lines after some good work by Jamie Pace with the ball looking destined to hit the back of the net.

Birkirkara could have taken the lead against the run of play soon after when Camenzuli's free-kick wreaked havoc in the Marsaxlokk box and Emil Yantchev's shot was somehow kept out by Gauci.

The stalemate was finally broken four minutes into the second half. Lino Galea was judged to have pushed Stephen Wellman in the area and the referee quickly pointed to the spot and harshly dismissed the Birkirkara defender. Man-of-the-match Cleaven Frendo kept his cool to plant the ball in the back of the net.

Playing with a man less the Stripes had a mountain to climb to rescue something from the match.

But three minutes later Birkirkara were unlucky not to restore equilibrium when Calascione was first on Camenzuli's free-kick but his shot was stopped by the woodwork.

Marsaxlokk should have been awarded a second penalty on 69 minutes when Frendo burst into the Stripes area and seemed to be illegally halted by Birkirkara keeper Simon. But to the surprise of all the referee saw nothing untoward.

Birkirkara's efforts were rewarded on 76 minutes when a good one-two between Roderick Briffa and Michael Galea saw the latter cleverly chipping the ball over Gauci.

Marsaxlokk could have won it three minutes from time when Frendo curled in a free-kick but was denied by a fine save by Simon.

In the end the stalemate prevailed as both teams looked happy to leave Ta' Qali with a point apiece.

Birkirkara: D.Simon-6 , M.A. Bonnici-6 ('53 M. Galea-6), L. Galea-5, P. Monye-8, W. Camenzuli-7, M. Calascione-7 ('88 A. Zahra), R. Briffa- 7, K. Scicluna-6, G. Mallia-6, E. Yantchev-6 ('65 J. Mifsud Triganza- 5), A. Ciantar-5.

Marsaxlokk: R. Gauci-6, C. Mamo-7, N. Gomes-6 ('58 C. Magro), C.Bart-Williams-7 , G. Sciberras-6, J. Pace-6, A. Schembri-7, C. Frendo-8, K.Sammut 6, ('82 M. Licari), S. Wellman-7, S. Bajada-6 ('73 T.Templeman).

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Yellow Cards: Yantchev, Frendo, Camenzuli, M. Galea.

Red Card: L. Galea 48.

Scorers: Cleavon Frendo 49, Michale Galea 76.

BoV Player of the Match: Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk).

Next Matches: (Thursday - National Stadium) 6.30 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Mosta; 8.30 p.m. Sliema Wanderers vs Hamrun Spartans.