Superior Birkirkara outclass Gudja United

BIRKIRKARA     3

Adamovic 27 og

Zammit 30

Montebello 43 pen

GUDJA UNITED             0

BIRKIRKARA

A. Guarnone-6, L. Montebello-6.5, R. Briffa, K. Zammit-6.5, Y. Yankam-6.5, F. Falcone-6.5, C. Attard-7, C. Bonanni-6.5, C. Henrique-7.5 (90 G. Farrugia), O. Carniello-7, A. Alves-5.5 (70 P. Mbong).

Gudja United

G. Zammit-6, J. Farrugia-5 (65 T. Gusman), Y. Messias-5, A. Friggieri-5 (46 D. Camilleri-5), L. Cremona-5.5, G. Mensah-5.5, A. Caseres-5 (65 T. Vella), G. Adamovic-5, J. Bolanos-5, J. Grioli-5, P. Mota-5 (65 N. Micallef).

Referee Alex Johnson.

Yellow cards K. Zammit, Carniello, Bolanos, Farrugia, Camilleri.

BOV Player of the match Caio Henrique (Birkirkara).

Birkirkara returned to Premier League action in impressive fashion as the Stripes scored three first-half goals to see off Gudja United at the National Stadium.

It was an impressive performance from the Stripes who shrugged off any concern of their fitness after being forced out of action for the last month due to a mandatory quarantine.

Andre Paus’ men were on top right from the outset as they completely dominated their opponents with their swift attacking play to bag three vital points that pushed them to 13th place on seven points.

Birkirkara were soon on the offensive and after seven minutes they were unlucky not to forge ahead. From an Alex Alex corner, Oscar Carniello’s header was somehow kept out by Glenn Zammit, the ball fell to Luke Montebello whose shot was cleared off the line by Justin Grioli. Claudio Bonanni leapt high to meet the rebound, but his header was saved by the Gudja no. 1.

Gudja responded on 18 minutes when Yuri Messias weaved his way past three defenders, but his shot was easily blocked by Alessandro Guarnone.

Birkirkara found the breakthrough on 27 minutes when Cain Attard seized possession in midfield and sped clear before serving the unmarked Federico Falcone who saw his low shot coming off the upright before hitting defender Goran Adamovic and finishing into the back of the net.

The Stripes kept pushing forward and they grabbed a second three minutes later. From an Alves corner, Carniello nodded the ball onto the far post where Kurt Zammit was on hand to head home.

Gudja were rattled and Caio Henrique almost piled more misery on the southerners on 32 minutes but his angled drive flashed wide.

Messias almost put Gudja back in the game on 34 minutes when he stormed inside the area but Guarnonen did well to block.

Two minutes from the break, Birkirkara all but wrapped up the points when Caio was brought down in the area by Bolanos and from the spot Luke Montebello made no mistake.

In stoppage time, Messias was put clear by Llewlyn Cremona but the Brazilian blasted over.

After the interval, Gudja tried to push themselves back into the match and on 58 minutes Bolanos pounced on a poor clearance by the Birkirkara defence but fired wide.

Twenty minutes into the second half, Montebello released Alves who stormed inside the area but drifted the ball just wide.

At the other end, Guarnone did well to keep out Messias’ humdinger.