City closer to coronation

Birkirkara 1
Sylla 56
Valletta 2
Grioli 83; Monesterolo 90

The ingredients for another compelling chapter in the engaging Valletta-Birkirkara series were not lacking yesterday. Sporting a five-point lead over Marsaxlokk at the top of the league with only four matches left, Valletta's eyes were riveted on another victory to lay the proverbial hand on the coveted league trophy.

Birkirkara may be virtually out of contention but their revival of late coupled with their pursuit of a UEFA Cup spot have helped to whip up fresh enthusiasm among their fans.

Their fourth and final league meeting this season definitely lived up to expectations as these two rivals tore into each other from the very first minute but it was the Citizens who had the last laugh after another extraordinary fightback in a tense-filled finale that saw City snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after Birkirkara had gone ahead early in the second half.

After the final whistle, the Valletta players and fans celebrated as if they had already won the title and, in truth, they are almost home and dry.

With a full squad to pick his first team from, Valletta coach Paul Zammit restored Gilbert Agius to his starting XI at the expense of Sebastian Monesterolo. Valletta's talismanic captain missed the 4-2 dismissal of Ħamrun because of suspension.

John Buttigieg, the Birkirkara coach, put his trust in the experienced Lino Galea to patrol the left flank but the latter's selection also meant that another established player was left out of the team as Shaun Bajada had to be content with a sub's role.

The two teams began the game at a high tempo but created little of note for much of the opening 16 minutes.

The game was just over 20 minutes old when Birkirkara came close to a breakthrough. Zerafa delivered an excellent cross from the left and Ivorian Davy-Amed Sylla towered above the City defenders to glance the ball towards the far corner. Anxiety coursed through the City players and fans but Andrew Hogg came to his team's rescue as he arced backward to turn the header around his near post.

Valletta relied mainly on Frank Temile's sprightly running to put pressure on the tightly-knit Stripes. Ten minutes from half-time, the Nigerian almost got his reward when Agius's low pass reached him inside the six-yard box but his side-flick was blocked by Thomas Paris.

At the other end, Hogg darted out of goal to fist away Alan Tabone's corner.

Heiner Backhaus then skewed his shot high and wide after receiving a cut-back from Ian Zammit, yesterday deployed on the right of an attacking trident that had Agius at its heart.

The start to the second half was frenetic with Valletta unlucky not to forge ahead after six minutes.

After clearing a Birkirkara corner, the indomitable lion that is Steve Bezzina galloped forward before lofting a pass to Agius who quickly played Temile through.

The Nigerian ghosted past two defenders and ran towards goal but in sweeping past Borg, Temile drifted farther from goal than he had hoped. His pass to Agius was blocked but the latter regained possession and crossed to Zammit whose shot was deflected onto the post and out of play.

Valletta would come to rue this miss as barely five minutes later, Birkirkara took the lead. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's cross sparked a melee in the Valletta box and Sylla was on hand to nod the ball over Hogg.

Coach Zammit responded by throwing on Monesterolo for Giglio and switched Agius to a deeper position. A long-range free-kick by Monesterolo was deflected away for a corner and, at the other end, Mifsud Triganza relased Sylla who swept past Mifsud but blasted his shot high.

As the minutes ticked away, Valletta infused more urgency into their game but in so doing, they took risks at the back. On a couple of occasions, Birkirkara threatened to punish them on the counter but seven minutes from time, the Citizens' efforts paid off as right-back Justin Grioli was in the right spot to head past Borg at the far post after receiving a cross from substitute Dyson Falzon.

In stoppage time, only a point-blank save from Hogg prevented substitute Michael Galea from snatching the winner for Birkirkara but the drama was not over yet. Having forced two corners, Valletta applied the killer blow deep into stoppage time, Monesterolo poking home from close range after a pass from Agius.

Birkirkara
O. Borg-6.5, L. Galea-6, T. Paris-6 ('59 A. Zahra), P. Fenech-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7, A. Tabone-6.5 ('90 S. Bajada), R. Hartvig-7, J. Zerafa-7.5, D.A. Sylla-6.5 ('77 M. Galea), G. Mallia-6, E. Yanchev-6.5.

Valletta
A. Hogg-67, J. Grioli-7, J. Mifsud-6.5, K. Scicluna-6, S. Bezzina-8, I. Zammit-6 ('78 D. Falzon), D. Camilleri-7, H. Backhaus-7, G. Agius-7, S. Giglio-6 ('69 S. Monesterolo-6), F. Temile-7.5 ('86 J. Bondin).

Referee Adrian Casha.

Yellow cards Yanchev; Paris; Scicluna; Mifsud Triganza; Temile.

BoV Player of the match Davy-Amed Sylla (Birkirkara).