Stripes, Citizens trade four goals in a tight duel

Birkirkara 2
Bajada 3; Fenech 29
Valletta 2
Falzon 5; Priso 28

Amid growing speculation about repercussions the findings of a UEFA Cup match-fixing probe would have on the image of Maltese football, the local game yearned for an exciting match to divert people's attention back to on-field matters.

Billed as the plum fixture of the fifth day of the 2008-09 Premier League, the first tiff between Valletta and Birkirkara certainly lived up to expectations as the two rivals produced a compelling encounter that finished two-all.

It was a fair outcome to a match that was characterised by a four-goal blitz inside the opening half-hour.

The draw meant that Valletta have now failed to win any of their last three matches but their spirited performance yesterday showed that Paul Zammit's charges are willing to step up the fight and overcome their early-season jitters.

As for Birkirkara, their display provided further evidence of their potential to challenge for the honours as the point gained took them top of the standings, level on 10 points with Hibs who have a game in hand.

Zammit made two alterations to the team that drew 2-2 with Tarxien.

Midfielder David Camilleri was restored to the starting formation, filling the void left by the unfit Steve Bezzina. Jamie Pace was also handed a first-team recall at the expense of Ian Zammit.

Birkirkara's also featured two changes from the match against Qormi, which they won 1-0. Captain Michael Galea started on the bench as coach John Buttigieg chose Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza as his attacking spearhead. Alan Tabone replaced the injured Trevor Cilia.

The game had an explosive start. Birkirkara forged ahead after three minutes as Shaun Bajada's free-kick took a slight deflection which wrong-footed keeper Andrew Hogg.

The Birkirkara fans were still savouring their opener when Valletta levelled matters. It was in the fifth minute when Priso Doding charged into the box before letting fly a rising shot that hit the underside of the bar and dropped on the goal line. Dyson Falzon, unmarked at the far post, tapped into the net.

Although the frequency of scoring chances inevitably dropped thereafter, the tempo of the game remained elevated.

Nineteen minutes into the first half, Valletta might have surged ahead. Capitalising on a string of miscued clearances by Birkirkara, Gilbert Agius dispossessed Angus Buhagiar inside the area but skied his shot high and wide.

The Citizens had their noses in front after 28 minutes. They were awarded a free-kick after Emil Yantchev was adjudged to have barged into Agius just outside the box.

Agius, yesterday taking up a central attacking position in a 4-3-3 formation, floated the ball over to the right side of the box where Luke Dimech directed his header towards Priso who nodded home.

As had happened in the early stages of the game, the team conceding a goal hit back immediately.

This time it was Birkirkara who equalised within a minute of falling behind, Paul Fenech guiding the ball home after Hogg had parried a deflected shot by Mifsud Triganza.

Valletta were the livelier side for most of the opening 35 minutes but the Stripes were always dangerous on the counter.

A strong run by Joseph Zerafa exposed City's defending flaws 12 minutes into the second half. His pass trickled through a posse of bodies, forcing Hogg to rush out of goal. The keeper's clearance fell to Fenech but the latter's lob was off target.

Midway through the second half, Hogg did well to palm away a Bajada free-kick. Ron Hartvig tried to pounce on the loose ball but was shackled by Dimech. Birkirkara's claims of a penalty were ignored by the referee.

For a brief spell in the second half, Birkirkara were down to 10 men as Fenech required medical treatment on a facial injury.

Borg did well to keep out a Gilbert Agius sizzler and Brazilian Marcelo Tolomeotti, who had just replaced Edmund Agius, might have made an instant mark on the game but his diving header from Justin Grioli's cross sailed wide.

Birkirkara
O. Borg-6, J. Zerafa-6, P. Fenech-6, E. Yantchev-5.5, R. Hartvig-6, G. Mallia-6.5, W. Sander-Landim-5.5 ('66 M. Anastasi-6), S. Bajada-6, A. Tabone-7 ('81 J. Holland), A. Buhagiar-6 ('87 M. Galea), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7.

Valletta
A. Hogg-5, K. Scicluna-5.5, J. Mifsud-5, L. Dimech-6, D. Falzon-7, D. Camilleri-6.5, S. Giglio-5.5 ('64 J. Grioli-5.5), J. Pace-7.5, G. Agius-6.5, E. Agius-6 ('83 M. Tolomeotti), N.D. Priso-6.5.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yelow cards: Scicluna; Priso; Agius; Zerafa.

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