Mifsud Triganza treble lifts Stripes

Birkirkara 4
Hamrun Spartans 0

Birkirkara maintained their upward momentum in the Championship Pool with a flattering 4-0 win over Hamrun Spartans yesterday that moved them into second place ahead of Marsaxlokk.

The final score belies the fact that John Buttigieg's side had to sweat hard for long stretches before the Spartans' defence wilted on the hour.

Striker Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was on song as he scored a hat-trick for Birkirkara, the first from the penalty spot just past the hour after George Mallia was judged to have been fouled in the penalty area.

A goal down with less than half an hour left until the final whistle, the Spartans were expected to mount a fightback for the equaliser but in the remaining minutes, Marco Gerada's lads were swept off the park as the Stripes scored three further goals to increase the pressure on front-runners Valletta and Marsaxlokk who square up to each other this afternoon.

The Spartans' misery was further compounded when, with nine minutes left, Roderick Fenech was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Led by veteran captain Stefan Sultana, who was playing his 400th match in the top flight, a record for local football, Hamrun Spartans, who had a number of key players missing, took to this match in the hope of avoiding their fourth defeat in five Championship Pool matches.

For their part, Birkirkara had to make do without midfielder Alan Tabone, suspended, but club captain Michael Galea returned to the squad after recovering from a knee injury.

Two minutes into the match, the Spartans created an anxious moment for the Stripes' rearguard as Alfred Effiong sped down the left flank and curled a low cross towards the centre of the penalty area where Diego Cucciardi attempted a low shot that narrowly missed the target.

After six minutes, Birkirkara, who are unbeaten since the start of the league's second phase, thought they had done enough to break the deadlock.

Davy-Amed Sylla drifted into the penalty area and sent in a dangerous low cross towards Martin Anastasi who belted a low shot into the back of the net only for the assistant referee to annul his strike for an offside infringement.

Midway through the first half, Birkirkara won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Shaun Bajada calmly curled his shot over the defensive wall but the ball rebounded off the crossbar, much to the relief of the stranded Sean Sullivan, the Spartans' goalkeeper.

Sultana's landmark afternoon ended on a negative note as the Spartans captain hobbled off the pitch on 25 minutes. He was eventually replaced by Precious Monye who was also making a return to the Hamrun side after missing the 3-1 defeat to Marsaxlokk.

The Nigerian was given instructions to patrol Hamrun's central defence as Roderick Fenech was assigned a holding midfield role.

On the half hour, the Spartans nearly broke the stalemate as Ryan Fenech's thundering free-kick from 30 metres out rattled the crossbar.

As the first half entered its closing stages, Birkirkara should have stormed into the lead but Paul Fenech's powerful shot was palmed over the woodwork by Sullivan.

Eight minutes into the second half, Fenech made the most of what looked like half-a-chance as he unleashed a shot from some 40 metres out which nearly surprised Sullivan.

Just after the hour, Hamrun defender Aaron Attard was adjudged to have floored Mallia in the box and Birkirkara were awarded a penalty. Mifsud Triganza blasted his shot past Sullivan to put the Stripes ahead.

With Birkirkara now in the driving seat, Mifsud Triganza made sure of his side's victory with a second goal on 75 minutes. The in-form forward powered his way into the penalty area and planted a low shot into the net just as Sullivan made a desperate dive to try and stop Mifsud Triganza's run.

Nine minutes from the end, Roderick Fenech was given his marching orders after he received a second yellow card for a late tackle on Joseph Zerafa.

Three minutes later, Mifsud Triganza completed his hat-trick. Reaching a pass from substitute Antoine Zahra, Mifsud Triganza fired a strong drive past Sullivan.

With the clock weighing down, the Stripes made it a poker of goals two minutes from time when substitute Michael Galea, latched onto a Bajada pass and whipped a low strike into the net from close range.

Birkirkara: O. Borg-6.5, T. Paris-6.5 ('84 L. Lombardi), P. Fenech-8, J. P. Mifsud Triganza-8, M. Anastasi-7 ('60 A. Zahra-6.5), R. Hartvig-6.5, S. Bajada-7, J. Zerafa-6.5, D.A. Sylla-7 ('81 M. Galea), G. Mallia-7.5, E. Yanchev-6.5.

Hamrun: S. Sullivan-6, D. Cucciardi-6, A. Attard-6, K. Borg-5 ('40 C. Cacciatolo-6), Roderick Fenech, S. Meilak-6, Ryan Fenech-6.5, S. Sultana-5 ('27 P. Monye-6), B. Timotic-6, G. Spiteri-5.5 ('85 M. Busuttil), A. Effiong-5.5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Scorers: Mifsud Triganza 62 pen., 75, 84; Galea 88.

Yellow cards: Roderick Fenech; Timotic; Paris; Effiong.

Red card: Roderick Fenech (HS) 81.

BoV Player of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).