Valletta win leaves Stripes in peril

Valletta 2
Birkirkara 1

The Valletta-Birkirkara fixture, now firmly entrenched as one of chief attractions of the local football calendar, was back on the menu last night.

Although the second round tiff between these two rivals did not carry the same significance as the many title showdowns of the past, it was still an important match for both teams.

Valletta, the Premier League pace-setters, were gunning for a victory to seal pole position ahead of the start of the Championship Pool whereas Birkirkara badly needed the points to book their place in the top six.

A typically tetchy, keenly-contested match saw Valletta edge Birkirkara by the odd goal in three, leaving the latter in peril as they now need to avoid defeat in their last second round match against Floriana to keep clear of the Relegation Pool.

The resilient Citizens were delighted to have extended their unbeaten run to 11 games but they made hard work of seeing off the gritty Stripes who felt aggrieved by certain decisions made by Alan Mario Sant, especially the penalty which enabled Valletta to make it 2-0 on 77 minutes.

Birkirkara coach John Buttigieg had no surprises up his sleeve as he did what was expected of him by confirming the starting XI that trounced Hamrun Spartans 5-0.

Paul Zammit, the chief-in-command at Valletta, was forced to change his central defensive partnership as Josef Mifsud was ruled out by suspension. With his defensive options shortened by the mid-season departure of Massimo Grima and Renie Forace, Zammit opted to deploy midfielder David Camilleri in the heart of defence where he was flanked by Kenneth Scicluna.

Captain Gilbert Agius started in midfield as Zammit deemed that the speed and mobility of Sebastian Monesterolo, Ian Zammit and Frank Temile were the best weapons to carve open Birkirkara's defence.

There was little between the two teams in the early exchanges but graft superseded craft with the result that goalmouth action was scarce.

On one occasion, Alan Tabone curled the ball towards the centre of Valletta's box from a free-kick but Ronnie Hartvig's diving header was easily saved by Andrew Hogg.

Close to the 20th minute mark, Michael Galea, the Birkirkara captain, twisted and turned outside the box to glide away from the Valletta defenders but his low shot was beaten away for a corner by Hogg.

The Stripes endeavoured to keep their opponents under pressure, Shaun Bajada having an in-swinging cross-cum-shot from the right pushed away by Hogg.

Valletta's riposte was immediate. A neat one-two between Monesterolo and Zammit created an opening for the Argentine but Thomas Paris slid in to flick the ball away.

The marauding Citizens stayed in their opponents' half as Temile crossed towards the far post from the left but Monesterolo's central volley was neutralised by Omar Borg.

On the stroke of half-time, Borg, the Birkirkara goalkeeper, did well to punch away a corner by Camilleri.

Both teams came close to opening the scoring in the space of a minute.

The second half was barely four minutes old when Monesterolo produced a good cross from the right but Zammit's header was saved by Borg.

In no time, Birkirkara had transferred the ball to the opponents' half, George Mallia released the steaming Michael Galea with an intelligent pass from midfield. The Birkirkara captain appeared to take a touch too many before hitting a shot which Hogg repelled. The loose ball rolled to Sylla who flicked towards Bajada but the latter's goalbound strike was deflected away for a corner.

Camilleri was finding it hard to cope with Sylla's speed but at the other end, the pacey City strikers also made lift difficult for the Stripes' defenders.

Valletta broke the deadlock in somewhat fortuitous circumstances 13 minutes into the second half. Camilleri's low cross from a right-wing free-kick was flicked goalward by German midfielder Heiner Backhaus but the ball ricocheted off Mallia and sailed past the diving Borg.

Birkirkara tried to up the tempo of their game, Sylla firing wide from a good position. More pressure from Buttigieg's troops kept Valletta on their toes but their defence stood firm.

Temile might have doubled Valletta's lead when, with 15 minutes left, he stormed into the box following a strong run on the right but his effort was tipped away by Borg.

Thirteen minutes from time, Valletta were awarded a penalty after Lino Galea was adjudged to have tripped Zammit in the box, much to the disappointment of the Stripes' fans who clearly thought that the left-back's intervention had been legitimate.

Sant pointed to the spot and Monesterolo despatched a low shot past Borg and into the right-hand corner of the net.

The Citizens almost increased the lead on 81 minutes but Giglio, diving in an attempt to connect with a pass from Monesterolo, miscued his effort.

Birkirkara did receive a lifeline on the stroke of time as they were awarded a penalty after Agius fouled Mallia in the box. Substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza converted to set up an intriguing finale.

The Stripes intensified their pressure but Temile almost scored a third goal from a counter-attack but his shot was saved by Borg.

Valletta: A. Hogg-8, J. Grioli-6.5, K. Scicluna-7, S. Bezzina-6.5, I. Zammit-6 ('90 K. Magro), D. Camilleri-5.5, S. Giglio-6 ('81 C. Mattocks), H. Backhaus-5.5, G, Agius-6, F. Temile-6, S. Monesterolo-6 ('83 D. Falzon).

Birkirkara: O. Borg-7, L. Galea-5, T. Paris-6, P. Fenech-6, M. Galea-5.5, A. Tabone-5.5 ('75 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5.5), R. Hartvig-6, S. Bajada-5.5 ('84 J. Zerafa), D. Sylla-7, G. Mallia-6.5, E. Yanchev-6.5.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Scorers: Mallia 58 og; Monesterolo 77 pen.; Mifsud Triganza 90 pen.

Yellow cards: Scicluna; Grioli; Backhaus; Hartvig.

BoV Player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta).

Friday (National Stadium)
6 p.m. Floriana vs Birkirkara
8 p.m. Marsaxlokk vs Valletta

Monday (National Stadium)
6 p.m. Mqabba vs Msida St Joseph
8 p.m. Hibernians vs Hamrun Spartans