Birkirkara off to a winning start

Birkirkara 1
Marsaxlokk 0

Birkirkara took to the defence of their championship crown with a slender 1-0 win over rivals Marsaxlokk in an entertaining and highly-charged encounter at the National Stadium yesterday.

Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza struck the all-important winner on 69 minutes when Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Reuben Debono fumbled his shot into the net.

With the southerners also being considered by many as serious contenders for the championship, this game allowed both coaches to gauge their team's credentials to challenge for the honours.

Coach Brian Talbot was making a return to Maltese football with the aim of striking success with Marsaxlokk following his positive spell with Hibernians some years back. The Englishman fielded a strong formation including Luke Dimech in the heart of defence and Haruna Doda partnering Andre Schembri in attack.

Although the season is still at an early stage, Birkirkara mentor Stephen Azzopardi has already had to endure some major headaches as a number of key players were ruled out of this encounter. Michael Galea, Roderick Briffa, Adrian Ciantar were among the extensive list of casualties that also included Antoine Zahra, Etienne Barbara and Jonathan Holland.

The champions threatened to draw first blood with a fourth minute attempt from outside the area by Mifsud Triganza which failed to trouble Debono.

On eight minutes, the nippy Birkirkara forward was again in the thick of action as he wreaked havoc in the southerners' defence, outpacing two defenders before having his shot parried into a corner by Debono.

At the other end, Schembri towered to meet a cross at the far post but the agile striker could only manage to power his header over the crossbar.

The match was quickly evolving into a lively affair and on ten minutes Lino Galea delivered a cross from the left, Debono was slow off his line and mistimed his sortie as the unmarked Matthew Calascione could only watch in frustration his header skimming the upright.

The Stripes maintained the pressure and they were unlucky not to open their account on 20 minutes. Angelo Paradiso was the provider setting up Mifsud Triganza who headed past Debono only for Dimech to clear off the line.

Inside the last five minutes of the first half, the Stripes forced two corners as Marsaxlokk were pegged into their own half for lengthy stretches. Somehow, the southseasiders held on as the teams went into the interval on level terms.

Five minutes into the second half, a defensive howler by Steve Wellman nearly led to Birkirkara's opener.

The Marsaxlokk defender tapped a back pass to goalkeeper Debono without realising that Mifsud Triganza was within striking distance. The striker pounced on the chance as he tried to squeeze a shot past the goalkeeper only for Debono to stretch a leg and skew the ball to safety.

Following a number of close shaves, Marsaxlokk nearly stunned their opponents with an opportunistic chance masterminded by Cleaven Frendo on the hour. The crafty player outwitted the Stripes' central defence as he unleashed a shot that took a wicked deflection ending in Schembri's path. The ex-Hibs player was unlucky to see his firm drive hit the upright.

On 63 minutes, Debono came to Marsaxlokk's rescue when he kept out George Mallia's header with an excellent save.

Talbot was left fuming midway through the second half as substitute Daniel Bogdanovic squandered a golden opportunity with his first touch of the ball.

Set up by the intelligent Schembri, the Marsaxlokk striker tried to place a low shot into the net but he miscalculated the angle and slid his attempt wide.

On 69 minutes, Talbot had every reason to go ballistic as the Stripes forged ahead courtesy of a seemingly harmless Mifsud Triganza shot that deceived Debono with the ball rolling gently into the back of the net.

Shocked by this goal, Marsaxlokk tried to surge forward in search of an equaliser.

On 80 minutes, Kevin Sammut thought he had done enough to draw his side level as he whipped in a low shot which Polish keeper Andrzeij Bledzewski repelled into a corner.

More misery was in store for Marsaxlokk when Gareth Sciberras was sent off for a second bookable offence seven minutes from time.

Enjoying numerical advantage, Birkirkara could have sealed the points late on but Camenzuli's volley finished just over.

Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski-6.5, M.A. Bonnici-6.5, A. Galea-6.5, R. Sammut-6, W. Camenzuli-6, M. Calascione-6.5, K. Scicluna-6, A. Paradiso-7 ('84 H. Sbai), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7.5, G. Mallia-7, G. Gallovich-6.

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono-6 C. Mamo-6, S. Wellman-6, K. Sammut-6, C. Magro-6, L. Dimech-6, G. Sciberras, H. Doda-6.5, C. Frendo-6.5 ('60 D. Bogdanovic-5.5), A. Schembri-6.5, J. Pace-6.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorer: Mifsud Triganza 69.

Yellow Cards: Sciberras, Wellman, Bonnici, Galea.

Red Card: Gareth Sciberras 83.

Bov Player of the Match: George Mallia (Birkirkara).