Valletta 1
Frendo 12
Birkirkara 1
Bajada 47
Victor Sciriha's financial prowess has made Valletta the envy of most teams in Maltese football as the Citizens at present boast the strongest and most attractive squad in the Premier League.
The champions may have maintained their unbeaten start in the league but any illusion Valletta may have had of an easy run to the Premier League title was emphatically swept away yesterday.
Locking horns with Birkirkara, Valletta were made to look like an ordinary side by their tenacious rivals whose diligent approach not only helped them to wipe out Cleaven Frendo's early opener but put them in the driving seat for the best part of the second half.
It was a game of few scoring chances and a draw was a fair result, although Birkirkara looked more pleased with a point than their opponents who had a rare off day.
New signing Roderick Briffa made his first start for Valletta at right-back as Justin Grioli had to make do with a place on the bench. The abundance of riches at Paul Zammit's disposal could be seen from the first-time exclusion of the likes of Ian Zammit, Stefan Giglio, David Camilleri, Josef Mifsud and Paul Massaro.
John Buttigieg, the Birkirkara coach, gave the green light to Jonathan Holland to partner Bulgarian Ivailo Sokolov in defence as Dane Ron Hartvig was serving a one-match ban. Striker Jean Pierre Mifsud, also suspended for yesterday's match, was replaced by Bulgarian Krasev Valkov.
Birkirkara survived an early scare when goalkeeper Bernard Paris spilled Luke Dimech's right-wing cross into the path of Sebastian Monesterolo who miscued his shot from inside the penalty box. This came after eight minutes.
Valletta put their noses in front five minutes later when Cleaven Frendo moved past Jonathan Holland and his piledriver ricocheted off Paris's diving body and into the net.
The Stripes might have gained an instant equaliser but Alan Tabone's drive from the edge of the box was repelled by Andrew Hogg.
Valletta were let off the hook on 15 minutes when right-back Trevor Cilia, fastening onto a floated pass from deep, used his speed to nip behind the exposed City defence. The former Floriana winger burst past Hogg but his effort crashed against the foot of the near post.
The Citizens' early momentum all but petered out as Birkirkara's tactical solidity and their non-stopping running in midfield clipped Valletta's wings.
Graft prevailed over craft in the latter stages of the opening half but in the final five minutes, Valletta managed to forced two corners.
From one of them, Agius's inswinging cross-shot sailed tantalisingly towards goal but Paris fisted the ball away.
Birkirkara had a terrific start to the second half as they equalised after barely two minutes. Tabone's free-kick caused panic in the Valletta defence who failed to clear the danger, Sokolov nodded the ball to Shaun Bajada who was on hand to prod past Hogg.
Sensing his team's troubles to cope with Birkirkara's tempo, Zammit tried to add strength and width to his team's attack by throwing on Zammit for Dyson Falzon and switching to a more conventional 4-4-2.
With 21 minutes remaining, Monesterolo came close to opening his scoring account since rejoining Valletta earlier this month. Gilbert Agius touched the ball to the Argentine from a set-piece but the latter's screamer was pawed away by Paris.
Frendo's cross-shot then flew just wide but, by and large, the Citizens' performance remained dull.
Seven minutes from time, Valletta would have probably hit the killer blow but for a fine Paris save. The Birkirkara goalkeeper parried a strong volley from Zammit.
Valletta
A. Hogg-6.5, E. Agius-6.5, K. Scicluna-6.5, L. Dimech-6, S. Bezzina-5, J. Pace-6.5, G. Agius-5 ('79 P. Massaro), R. Briffa-5.5, C. Frendo-6.5, D. Falzon-5 ('57 I. Zammit-5.5), S. Monesterolo-4 ('72 D. Camilleri).
Birkirkara
B. Paris-6, J. Zerafa-6, I. Sokolov-6.5, T. Cilia-6.5 ('89 T. Paris), P. Fenech-6.5, A. Tabone-6 ('79 M. Anastasi), S. Bajada-7, M. Galea-6, G. Mallia-7.5, K. Valkov-4 ('72 A. Buhagiar), J. Holland-7.
Referee: Anton Zammit.
Yellow cards: Dimech; G. Agius; Zerafa; Briffa; Tabone; Holland; Zammit.
BoV player of the match: Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara).