Birkirkara March On To Second Qualifying Round

Birkirkara 4-3 Santa Coloma (Agg: 7-3)


Maltese Champions, Birkirkara progressed to the UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round for the first time after a goal fest of a match against Andorran Champions Santa Coloma, who had to forfeit their first leg tie due to poor pitch conditions. It looked out of reach from the off for the Andorrans.

10 minutes in and Birkirkara extended their aggregate score through captain, Michael Galea on the 10th minute. Coloma pulled one back on 21 minutes with Norberto Urbani scoring, but a quickfire brace from Galea and Trevor Cilia on 31 and 35 minutes put the Maltese side in a very strong position. Cilia scored his second goal on the stroke of half time, and Coloma also pulled one back before the break through Manolo Jiménez. The second half was no where near as eventful as the first and the only goal of the half came from Mariano Urbani on the 85th minute.

Santa Coloma were left thinking of what could have been after scoring 3 away goals. The disappointment of having their game forfeited left a bitter taste, and on this performance they probably felt they had a great chance of making the next round. But it will be Birkirkara who face Slovakian giants Žilina in the Second Qualifying Round.