Stripes wear down resolute Hotspurs

Pietà Hotspurs 1
Birkirkara 4

Birkirkara's rise in the Premier League standings continued yesterday when the champions brushed aside the challenge of Pietà Hotspurs in the final match of the weekend.

Goals from skipper Michael Galea, who hit a brace, Adrian Ciantar and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza handed the Stripes their third successive win and shot them up to third in the standings, level on 30 points with Msida St Joseph.

Although the end-result might suggest that it was a comfortable outing for the Stripes, the reality was somewhat different as Birkirkara had to work hard for the spoils.

After outplaying their opponents in the opening 45 minutes, Birkirkara had to contend with a bold Pietà fightback in the second half.

Only a string of excellent interventions from Polish goalkeeper Andrzej Bledzewski kept Birkirkara on velvet.

With five wins in their last six matches, Birkirkara look to be on the right track to relaunch their title challenge as they now trail Marsaxlokk by nine points. That gap will become smaller when the point tallies of all 10 Premier League teams are halved.

Birkirkara coach Stephen Azzopardi made two changes from the team that beat Floriana 1-0.

Striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza started on the bench and wing-back Mark Anthony Bonnici was ruled out by injury.

Etienne Barbara, who has just returned from a trial with Croatian club NK Rijeka, kept his place in the starting formation and linked up with Michael Galea up front. Midfielders Ciantar and William Camenzuli received starting roles.

Carmel Busuttil, the Pietà coach, had to make do without suspended goalkeeper Andrew Hogg who was replaced by Mark Vella. Newly-signed Italian midfielder Roberto Provenziano was not in Pietà's starting line-up but made his debut in the final 20 minutes of the match.

Birkirkara took control from the early stages. Vella was soon called into action, tipping over a Barbara cross-shot after 12 minutes.

Ten minutes later, the Pietà goalkeeper was forced to dive to his left to keep out Camenzuli's volley. That was the prelude to Birkirkara's opener which came two minutes later. After a prolonged move, the ball fell to Barbara who served the unmarked Galea and the Birkirkara skipper buried the ball home from close in.

It was all Birkirkara now and on the half hour, Matthew Calascione passed to Barbara who released Ciantar but the Stripes midfielder was unlucky to see his firm drive bouncing off the upright with Vella beaten.

Three minutes later, Pieta's Edward Herrera picked out Svetlan Kondev but the Bulgarian midfielder was blocked by the onrushing Bledzewski.

The start of the second half was characterised by a series of miscued passes from both sides, leaving both sets of fans craving for some constructive football.

All this changed after 12 minutes when, out of nowhere, Birkirkara doubled their advantage. Calascione sent a pin-point cross towards Ciantar who dived full stretch to head the ball home.

The Hotspurs almost pulled a goal back a minute later when Martin Deanov burst through and chipped the ball over the advancing Bledzewski but luckily for the Stripes, Camenzuli raced back to clear the ball away.

Birkirkara suffered a blow on 59 minutes when Jonathan Holland suffered an injury and was replaced by Mifsud Triganza.

The Hotspurs kept fighting and on 63 minutes Dylan Kokavessis's cross-shot surprised Bledzewski but luckily for the Birkirkara custodian the ball bounced off the bar before it was cleared.

Two minutes later, George Mallia set up Galea who sprinted through but his shot hit the side netting.

Camenzuli again came to Birkirkara's rescue on 71 minutes when he cleared off the line Deanov's goalbound shot after the Bulgarian had turned past Bledzewski.

Pietà were now pushing forward with more intent and on 75 minutes Bledzewski effected a fine block from Carl Pulo's shot.

The Stripes came close to a third goal 10 minutes from time when from another precise Calascione cross, Galea was first to the ball but his header hit the bar.

However, the Birkirkara captain made amends eight minutes from time when, from a fast counter-attack, he was put through by Mifsud Triganza and placed the ball beyond Vella.

Pietà's response was immediate as, within a minute of Birkirkara's third goal, they reduced the arrears, Deanov firing a low drive that gave Bledzewski no chance.

Birkirkara went close to a fourth goal in time added on when Barbara got behind the Pietà defence but missed the target by a whisker.

The Stripes did achieve their poker in time added on when substitute Andrew Spiteri, yesterday facing his former team-mates, was upended in the area by Rumen Galabov. Mifsud Triganza coolly dispatched the ball into the net for a final 4-1 scoreline.

Pietà: M. Vella-5, B. Sciberras-5.5, M. Deanov-6.5, Q. Refalo-5 ('46 G. Goodlip-6), C. Pulo-6, C. Sammut-6.5, S. Kondev-6.5, D. Mifsud-6, E. Herrera-6.5, R. Galabov-5.5, D. Kokavessis-6 ('70 R. Provenziano-5).

Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski-7, R. Sammut-6, W. Camenzuli-6.5, M. Calascione-6.5, E. Barbara-6.5 ('63 P. Borg-6), M. Galea-7.5, R. Briffa-7, J. Holland-6 ('59 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6) J. Zerafa-6 ('84 A. Spiteri), G. Mallia-6, A. Ciantar-8.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Scorers: Galea 24, 82; Ciantar 57; Deanov 83; Mifsud Triganza 90 pen.

Yellow Cards: Ciantar; Mifsud; Briffa; Borg.

BOV Player of the Match: Adrian Ciantar (Birkirkara).

Next Fixtures

Friday: (National Stadium)
6 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Sliema
8 p.m. Msida vs Hibs.

Saturday: (Hibs Ground)
1 p.m. Valletta vs Marsa
3 p.m. Pietà vs Floriana.