Birkirkara recover from early setback

Birkirkara 4
Cilia 10; Comvalius 55; Bajada 80; Buhagiar 90
Msida St. Joseph 1
Lattes 4

Birkirkara climbed to third in the BOV Premier League table after coming from behind to see off Msida St Joseph.

Msida had shocked their more-quoted opponents when taking the lead after just four minutes but Birkirkara, led by Sylvano Comvalius, recovered quickly and poured forward at every opportunity to ease to a resounding 4-1 win.

With Paul Fenech and George Mallia providing security in the centre of the midfield, Birkirkara's forwards were given licence to roam and they picked where they left off last Monday when they cut Sliema to shreds.

Msida stunned the Stripes' supporters into silence with Emiliano Lattes's fourth-minute strike. Goalkeeper Jorge Mora charged out of his area to intercept a feeble shot by Adam Spiteri, only to let the ball run loose as Lattes stole in for the simplest of goals.

However, Msida's goal galvanised Birkirkara who began to peg back their battling opponents.

The Stripes showed little sign of nerves and Trevor Cilia restored parity six minutes later.

Michael Galea was able to make an unimpeded run on the left flank from his own half and played the ball into the box. Cilia ran clear of a posse of defenders to fire the ball past the wrong-footed Manuel Bartolo.

The match entered a lull midway through the first half with little in the way of shots. The only noteworthy episode was a Mallia shot that flew over the bar after 18 minutes.

Birkirkara found their feet as the end of the first half approached. Mallia swung over a corner that Michael Galea headed into the side-netting.

Few moments later, Mallia's low shot brought a good save from Bartolo and soon afterwards, the goalkeeper blocked Comvalius's shot. Shaun Bajada's follow-up was cleared off the line by Tyrone Farrugia.

In the early minutes of the second half, Spiteri and Lattes almost linked up again, this time from the left as the midfielder found the Argentine striker at the far post, only for Joseph Zerafa to pounce on the ball before the striker could connect.

But that was the closest Msida came before their challenge faded and Birkirkara took advantage.

Birkirkara's most threatening moments came when they attacked down the left flank where Msida defender Stefan Grima was having problems containing his opponents.

That avenue proved the path to Comvalius's goal 10 minutes into the second half. The Dutch striker cut in from the left flank and danced past two challenges before drilling a low shot in at Bartolo's near post.

Comvalius continued to wreak havoc with his speed and guile. On the hour, he tricked his way inside the box only to curl the ball just wide.

Bajada, electric whenever he touched the ball, rattled the post on 75 minutes. And the Malta midfielder put the game beyond Msida with a third goal 10 minutes from the end, drilling a low shot home after a fine move by Galea.

With the Birkirkara fans singing loud, Angus Buhagiar was spurred on to score a spectacular fourth in the dying moments when he turned and volleyed the ball into the top corner.

Birkirkara
J. Mora-5, P. Fenech-8, N. Vukanac-6, B. Nisevic-6, S. Bajada-6.5, T. Cilia-7 ('73 R. Muscat), G. Mallia-7 ('81 A. Tabone), A. Buhagiar-6.5, J. Zerafa-7, M. Galea-6, S. Comvalius-8 ('90 A. Scicluna).

Msida SJ
M. Bartolo-5, S. Grima-4.5, R. Baldacchino-5, C. Sciberras-5, T. Farrugia-6, A. Spiteri-6.5, I. Curmi-5 ('69 A. Farrugia), K. Mifsud-5, K. Ebejer-5 ('56 J. D'Amato-5), E. Lattes-6.5, L. Micallef-5 ('42 A. Formosa-5).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Fenech; Cilia.

BOV player of the match: Sylvano Comvalius (Birkirkara).