Bajada's goal puts Stripes on pole

Marsaxlokk 0
Birkirkara 1
Bajada 52

A Shaun Bajada goal seven minutes into the second half was enough for Birkirkara to edge past Marsaxlokk and go top of the Euro Challenge Cup competition yesterday.

The Stripes fully deserved to take all points yesterday as they held the upperhand for much of the match and it was only in the latter stages that Marsaxlokk threatened to take something from the game.

Birkirkara are now top of the round-robin tournament with four points from two matches and if Valletta fail to beat Marsaxlokk tomorrow, the Stripes will be declared winners of the season-opening competition.

As expected, Birkirkara coach John Buttigieg made some changes to his starting formation. Omar Borg, who had a fine match against Valletta on Monday, made way for Bernard Paris. Danish defender Ronnie Hartvig was rested while Angus Buhagiar made his competitive debut for the Stripes as Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza started on the bench along with Thomas Paris and Martin Anastasi.

Marsaxlokk coach Brian Talbot included only two new signings in his initial 4-3-3 formation with Saviour Darmanin given the nod to guard his team's goal while Marcelo Pereira partnered Steve Wellman and Julio Alcorse upfront.

After only two minutes, Birkirkara should have taken the lead when from a Buhagiar cross, Michael Galea fired the ball over from just inside the area.

Marsaxlokk responded on 11 minutes when Wellman's solo run finished with the Marsaxlokk player firing into the side netting.

Three minutes later, Bajada, a hard-working figure in the Birkirkara team, had a free-kick deflected to a corner. The Birkirkara winger was at it again on 18 minutes but this time his volley was blocked by Darmanin.

John Buttigieg's side continued to press forward and on 16 minutes Bajada combined well with Buhagiar with the latter's shot being pushed away to a corner by Darmanin.

On 21 minutes, George Mallia missed a sitter for Birkirkara when shooting high and wide from routine distance from a corner.

Marsaxlokk responded on 27 minutes when Alcorse laid the ball into the path of Gareth Sciberras who with only Paris to beat he shot straight into the Birkirkara goalkeeper.

Eleven minutes from the break, Bajada's long-range shot just missed the target and on 37 minutes Carlo Mamo fired just wide from the edge of the area.

After the interval, both Talbot and Buttigieg effected some changes to their line-ups. The Marsaxlokk mentor reverted to a more cautious 4-4-2 formation with Pereira and Sciberras making way for Mark Barbara and new signing Christian Cassar. Buttigieg responded by throwing into the fray Anastasi at the expense of Alan Tabone.

Still it was Birkirkara who kept control of proceedings and it was no surprise that they took the lead on 52 mintues.

Buhagiar's well-struck volley was partially blocked by goalkeeper Darmanin but in came Bajada who rammed the ball home from the rebound.

The Birkirkara winger should have struck again four minutes later but this time he fired wide after being well set up by Lee Lombardi.

Stung by Bajada's goal, the southseasiders started to get more into the picture and on 62 minutes they were unlucky not to draw level. Kevin Sammut's low cross found Alcorse inside the area but the Argentine's tap-in was somehow kept out by Bernard Paris.

Four minutes later, the Argentine forward threatened again but this time he fired over from a good position after some good work from Cassar.

The Birkirkara goalkeeper denied Marsaxlokk again on 68 minutes when he pushed away Barbara's close-range header.

Fifteen minutes from time, William Camenzuli tried his luck from the distance but his fierce drive from a free-kick was again neutralised by Bernard Paris.

With Marsaxlokk pushing for an equaliser, Birkirkara's forwards were finding more space and nine minutes from time Thomas Paris's curling cross found substitute Mifsud Triganza who incredibly headed wide from a few metres out.

In time added on, Mifsud Triganza was again close when in a swift break he dashed past two opponents but instead of passing the ball to the unmarked Anastasi he opted to do it alone and lost possession.

Marsaxlokk
S. Darmanin, R. Conceicao, M. Licari ('74 C. Brincat), C. Mamo, G. Sciberras ('46 C. Cassar), K. Sammut, J. Alcorse, S. Wellman, W. Camenzuli, T. Templeman, M. Pereira ('46 M. Barbara).

Birkirkara
B. Paris, P. Borg, L. Lombardi, E. Yanchev, J. Zerafa, P. Fenech, G. Mallia, S. Bajada ('63 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), A. Tabone ('46 M. Anastasi), M. Galea ('77 T. Paris), A. Buhagiar.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow Cards: Tabone, Mamo, Anastasi.

Tomorrow: (Centenary Stadium)
8 p.m. Valletta vs Marsaxlokk