Mallia seals it for Birkirkara

Floriana 1
Madzar 90
Birkirkara 2
Buhagiar 3; Mallia 77

Birkirkara took to their second meeting with Floriana this season firmly intent on atoning for their 1-0 defeat in the corresponding, first fixture in the first round.

Pre-match indications suggested a rough ride for the Stripes as Floriana were themselves coming from back-to-back wins.

What was not envisaged was that a direct encounter between two teams in the top five positions would unfold into a dull and dire affair as this game was for long spells yesterday.

The Stripes claimed the spoils after beating Floriana, who played the last 25 minutes with 10 men, 2-1 but for the umpteenth time, John Buttigieg's men failed to impress.

That is not to say that the Stripes were not deserving of victory but their performance was below-par, even after Floriana's Joseph Borg was expelled.

It was only after George Mallia drilled a firm shot home that Birkirkara could breathe easier.

The Stripes have now opened up a one-point gap over Hibs but the latter will regain sole leadership if they beat Qormi today.

Left-back Joseph Zerafa, who missed Birkirkara's 1-0 win over Tarxien because of suspension, was reinstated to the starting line-up, taking the place of Paul Fenech who was ruled out by a one-match ban.

Suspension to defender Clyde Camoin and injuries to Orosco Anonam and Duncan Pisani compelled Floriana coach Zoran Popovic to make three changes from the team that beat Ħamrun Spartans. Owen Bugeja, Joseph Borg and Marlon Briffa were drafted into the side.

The game was barely three minutes old when Birkirkara seized the lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances.

Zerafa's cross was nodded on by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, the ball hitting Angus Buhagiar in the chest and bouncing past the wrong-footed Dejan Maksic.

That early breakthrough preceded a long period of mediocre play in which neither side posed anything resembling an attacking threat.

Buttigieg, back to lead his team from the touchline after serving a two-match ban, was forced into his first substitution on 24 minutes. Martin Anastasi replaced the limping Alan Tabone whose afternoon was curtailed by injury.

It was not before 25 minutes that Maksic, the Floriana goalkeeper, was called to paw away a dangerous set-piece cross from Shawn Bajada.

Floriana's Borg mustered a dangerous rising shot from long range but the ball whizzed over the bar.

Maksic then did well to stop a central, point-blank shot from Michael Galea after the latter had been freed by Ron Hartvig but, by and large, the game remained a dull affair.

Floriana, who had Ryan Darmanin again deployed as a lone striker, were clearly missing Anonam's dynamism on the left, their 4-5-1 disposition cutting down their attacking ambitions.

Early in the second half, Trevor Cilia, yesterday gunning against his former team-mates from Floriana, summoned a powerful shot from the distance which took a deflection off Mauro Brincat.

The entertaining value of the match rose slightly at the start of the second half.

Zerafa, one of Birkirkara's best performers, drifted inside the box with a diagonal run but flicked the ball wide of the near post with all in the Floriana defence, including goalkeeper Maksic, expecting a cross.

Briffa and Pablo Doffo began to dovetail effectively for Floriana who certainly needed their midfield players to break forward quickly and effectively to enhance their attacking potential.

The Greens' hopes of cancelling out Buhagiar's opener receded when Borg was sent off after a late challenge on Mifsud Triganza, himself booked a few moments earlier for simulation.

As Birkirkara struggled to translate their numerical advantage into openings, Floriana plucked enough courage to venture forward. They won a free-kick in an inviting position outside the penalty area after Doffo, Floriana's best player, was sent tumbling. Alex Madzar, on for Caruana, guided his free-kick well over the crossbar.

With 13 minutes left, Birkirkara made it 2-0, Mallia dispatching a firm shot past Maksic after Bajada's corner was diverted into his path.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Floriana scored a consolation goal, Madzar heading Briffa's cross past Bernard Paris.

Floriana
D. Maksic-5, O. Bugeja-4, J. Borg, S. Bonnici-5 ('82 J. Briffa), P. Doffo-7, L. Agius-5, M. Briffa-6.5, M. Brincat-5 ('62 D. Zarb-4), C. Caruana-5.5 ('72 A.Madzar), R. Darmanin-5, S. Eboh-7.

Birkirkara
B. Paris-6, T. Cilia-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5 ('84 W. Sander Landim), M. Galea-5.5, A. Tabone ('24 M. Anastasi-5.5), R. Hartvig-6, J. Holland-6, S. Bajada-5, J. Zerafa-7, A. Buhagiar-5.5 ('87 T. Paris), G. Mallia-7.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Zerafa; Borg; Mifsud; Triganza.

Red card: Borg (F) 65.

BoV player of the match: Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara).