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Season 2001/02
Birkirkara FC vs Dinamo Moscow
First Round - Second Leg
27/09/2001 - National Stadium, Ta' Qali
Birkirkara FC (MLT) vs Dinamo Moscow (RUS)
0-0 (aggregate score 0-1)
| DINAMO | Vasili Khomutovski, Deividas Semberas, Kirill Novikov, Zholt Hornyak, Darjius Zutautas, Vitaly Grishin, Rolan Gusev, Anton Khazov, Petr Bystrov, Denis Kliouev (46' Deividas Cesnauskis). |
| B'KARA | Robert Savic, Justin Tellus, Kenneth Scicluna, Michael Spiteri, Lucian Dronca, Hubert Suda, William Camenzuli, Matthew Calascione (79' Keith Fenech), Chucks Nwoko, Antoine Zahra, Michael Galea (67' Michael Cutajar). |
| Referee | Roland Beck (LIE) |
| Thanks to the only goal by Anton Khazov in the first leg, Dinamo Moscow moved to the second round of the UEFA Cup as they tied 0-0 at Ta' Qali in the second leg. Although Birkirkara were eliminated, they still left the pitch with their heads high. They shared the exchanges with their more illustrious opponents, never looking inferior to them.
The absence of influential midfielder Joe Brincat for Birkirkara was dearly felt. Brincat was replaced by Michael Galea, a striker, and one could have noticed clearly the absence of the player who links the midfield and the forward line. The Stripes had Romanian Lucian Dronca being very authoritative in defence with Hubert Suda also playing a very good game for the local side. Turbo-powered Rolan Gusev played an excellent match for Dinamo creating lots and lots of chances for his team. The first attempt at goal occurred after four minutes when Michael Galea took advantage of an erratic clearance by Tochilin but his low shot was saved by the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, off a freekick by Rolan Gusev from the left, a header by Vitaly Grishin was tipped into a corner by Savic. Off another freekick by Gusev, Khazov headed wide. On the 12th, a shot by Grishin ended just over the bar. Following a freekick by Spiteri, Zahra sent Michael Galea through but goalkeeper Vasily Khomutovsky anticipated. A powerful shot by Gusev was then tipped into a corner by the Birkirkara goalkeeper on 14 minutes. Birkirkara created a good chance a minute later. Following a good move by Dronca, the Romanian defender served Chucks Nwoko. Nwoko passed the ball to Hubert Suda who fell to the ground following a tackle. However the referee waved play on. On the 17th, a insidious freekick by Gusev was cleared by Dronca. Then, off a cross from the right by Gusev, a flying header by Khazov ended just wide. Four minutes later, Birkirkara replied with Michael Spiteri heading just wide off a freekick by Hubert Suda. On the other side of the pitch, Kliouev sent Khazov through but Kenneth Scicluna managed to anticipate before the Russian striker could conclude. On the half hour, Matthew Calascione took advantage of an erratic clearance by the goalkeeper serving Michael Galea but his shot ended just over the bar. Dinamo were reduced to ten men on 34 minutes. Anton Khazov, scorer of the only goal in the first leg, was sent off for hitting Kenneth Scicluna inside the area. Just before half-time, a dangerous freekick by Petr Bystov ended a few centimetres over the bar. Five minutes in the second half, Gusev was again on target. However his low shot was saved by Savic. Off a cross from the right by the same player, Cesnauskis failed to hit the ball from close-range. Birkirkara started to push forward a bit more and on the 54th, Birkirkara went close as off a corner by Suda, Michael Galea's header was cleared into a corner by a defender. Two minutes later, off a freekick by Zahra, Spiteri's back header missed the target by a whisker. On the 62nd, a powerful long distance freekick by Antoine Zahra was saved by Khomoutosvsky. On the 79th, a good move between Zahra and Calascione ended with Chucks Nwoko hitting high from an ideal position just outside the area. A minute later, a diagonal shot by Gusev ended wide. Nine minutes from time, Dinamo almost surprised the hosts but Deividas Semberas's powerful drive hit the cross bar with Savic beaten. A cross shot by Justin Tellus from the right created no problems for the Russian goalie two minutes from time. In the dying minutes, following a good move by Cutajar, Justin Tellus received the ball on the right but his shot ended high over the bar. | |
© domenic aquilina 2001
© domenic aquilina 2001
First Round - First Leg
20/09/2001 - Dinamo Stadium, Moscow
Dinamo Moscow (RUS) v Birkirkara FC (MLT)
1-0 (HT 1-0)
| DINAMO | Vasili Khomutovski, Deividas Semberas, Kirill Novikov, Zholt Hornyak, Darjus Zutautas, Peter Bystrov, Rolan Gusev, Denis Klyuev, Anton Khazov, Evgeni Kharlachev (64' Alexey Medvedev), Dmitry Bulykin (70' Vitaly Grishin). |
| B'KARA | Robert Savic, Kenneth Scicluna, Justin Tellus, Michael Spiteri, Lucian Dronca, William Camenzuli, Hubert Suda, Joe Brincat, Matthew Calascione (66' Michael Cutajar), Chucks Nwoko, Antoine Zahra. |
| Referee | Ceri Richards |
| A goal by Anton Khazov on 22 minutes gave Dynamo Moscow a 1-0 win over Birkirkara therfore denying the Stripes a most prestigious result on their first appearance in the first round proper of the UEFA Cup. A results that keeps the Birkirkara fans hoping to make history by being the first Maltese team to reach the second round.
As expected Dynamo created several chances throughout the game, espectially during the first half mostly thanks to Bystrov, the most active player for the Moscow side. Birkirkara goalkeeper Robert Savic was outstanding with a number of great saves instilling confidence in his colleagues. In the second half, the Stripes' defence controlled well and Savic was hardly tested. Dinamo went close after two minutes with a good shot by Anton Khazov. The Stripes replied with attempts by Joe Brincat and Matthew Calascione ending high. On the 20th minute, Joe Brincat came to the rescue deflecting the ball into a corner as a pass from the left by Peter Bystrov caused havoc inside the area. Dinamo took the lead two minutes later. Off a cross from the right by Bystrov, Anton Khazov headed home. A freekick by Joe Brincat ended high. Savic was superb deflecting a Medvedev effort into a corner on the 68th minute. Six minutes from time, off a freekick from the left, a header by Denis Klyuev ended just wide with Medvedev arriving late in trying to deflect the ball into the net. In the dying minutes, Khazov had two good chances but first he was anticipated by Savic and then he headed wide off a corner by Bystrov. The return leg will be played in a week's time at Ta' Qali. | |
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