BIRKIRKARA 4
Iorio 11; Yankam 40
Alves 50; Tulimieri 67
NADUR YOUNGSTERS 0
BIRKIRKARA
A. Sylla, O. Iorio (62 D. Pires), E. Pepe (69 A. Camilleri), A. Alves ( 62 K. Tulimieri), Y. Yankam, P. Mbong, K. Zammit, C. Attard, E. Cabrera (75 J. Valletta), S. Zibo (62 N. Micallef), A. Coppola.
NADUR YOUNGSTERS
S. Sultana, L. Baretto, M. Tabone, I. Xuereb, J. Vella (80 M. Camilleri), Marcelo, S.Cassar (67 G. Farrugia), G. Hili, G. Dourado (67 G. Muscat), I. Nedeljkovic, P. Djordevic.
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.
Yellow card: Camilleri.
Birkirkara scored four against Nadur Youngsters in a one-sided affair at the Centenary Stadium to book their place in the last 16 of the FA Trophy.
After registering the biggest victory in Round 32 of the competition when thrashing Vittoriosa Stars 7-1, many thought that the Gozitan sider were going to be more than a match for the Stripes.
With Ħamrun Spartans establishing themselves as run-away leaders in the Premier League, Giovanni Tedesco knows that Birkirkara’s hopes of silverware this season now rest with the FA Trophy.
Perhaps a signal of his intent to land his first honours with the Stripes, the Italian coach named his strongest possible line-up bar second-choice goalkeeper Amara Sylla who was preferred to Giacomo Nava.
Tedesco’s men started brightly enough and took the lead through Osvaldo Iorio.
On 11 minutes, Yannick Yankam picked out the unmarked Iorio on the edge of the box. The Italian midfielder adjusted his body to perfection and hit the ball home with a spectacular bicycle kick.
Five minutes from half-time, Yankam applied the coup de grace to a sweeping Birkirkara move when he was able to wrap his foot around the ball, turn and hit it home.
Birkirkara were effectively home and dry five minutes into the second half when Kurt Zammit stripped Nadur’s defence bare before squaring for Alex Alves to supply the easiest of finishes.
Shy the hour mark, Simon Zibo set up Enzo Cabrera for a sweeping right-foot finish from the angle of the penalty box.
When the Argentine’s effort came back off the bar, Yankam was on hand to nod home but Lucas Baretto cleared the ball off the line.
On 67 minutes, substitute Kevin Tulimieri conjured a superb individual goal for the Stripes when he exchanged the ball with Yankam before he hit a low drive behind Steven Sultana.
Birkirkara even enjoyed the luxury of giving their home-grown hopes a rare run-out as the minutes ticked away.
