Brisk Stripes strengthen title bid

Qormi 0
Birkirkara 2
Galea 48; Mallia 90

They started the season as dark horses but their amazing consistency has transformed Birkirkara into real title contenders.

Forced to field a makeshift defence due to the absence of their regular centre-backs, Nikola Vukanac and Branko Nisevic, Birkirkara provided further proof of their growing confidence with another accomplished performance that simply left Qormi gasping for breath.

Needing a win to put the brakes on a two-match losing streak, Qormi battled gamely but had no answer to the industry of Rowen Muscat in midfield, the poise of Shaun Bajada and the forceful wing play of Sylvano Comvalius and Trevor Cilia.

Even with two youngsters manning their defence, Birkirkara were so brisk, so well-organised that they were virtually untroubled at the back as Qormi strikers Camilo and Alfred Effiong were forced to feed on scraps.

The only surprise in this match was that it took Birkirkara until stoppage time to wrap up their win which keeps them atop the table, level with Valletta on 26 points.

With Nisevic ruled out by suspension, coach Paul Zammit moved Joseph Zerafa from left-back to central defence.

Angus Buhagiar was preferred to Thomas Paris at right-back while Andrew Scicluna filled the void left by the absence of the injured Vukanac. The other change saw Alan Tabone take the place of the suspended Paul Fenech.

Having lost their previous two encounters with Birkirkara this season, Qormi hoped to make it third time lucky, knowing that a win was a must for them to cling on to third place. Jesmond Zerafa, the Qormi coach, limited himself to one alteration from the team that went down to Hibs last week, Keith Fenech coming in for Stefan Giglio.

Comvalius fashioned the first chance of the game after five minutes. The Dutch winger-cum-forward outfoxed Jonathan Bondin before delivering a cross-shot that was tipped away by Matthew Farrugia, the Qormi keeper.

The early exchanges offered little in the way of goalmouth action but Birkirkara gradually assumed control. Qormi were finding it hard to get the ball to Effiong and Camilo as Birkirkara pressed their opponents high up the pitch. Comvalius bent his free-kick beyond Qormi's barrier on 27 minutes but the ball sailed over.

Qormi had to wait until the 32nd minute to create their first notable opportunity. From a corner, Camilo darted into the box before laying the ball back to Matthew Bartolo whose scrambled effort rolled towards Effiong but the latter flicked wide.

A flowing move by Birkirkara had Qormi against the ropes but Bondin eventually cleared Galea's right-wing cross.

The second half was less than three minutes old when Birkirkara broke the stalemate.

Bajada made the spadework with another intelligent run across the edge of the box before rolling the ball to Tabone whose shot was repelled by Farrugia. From the resultant corner, Comvalius crossed towards the near post and Galea guided the ball home.

Emboldened by their opener, Birkirkara upped the tempo. Galea just failed to connect with Comvalius's free-kick. In next to no time, Cilia was charging forward before crossing for Comvalius whose far-post header was blocked by Farrugia.

Qormi were struggling and Farrugia kept his side in the game with smart saves from Cilia's volley and Bajada's inswinger.

On another occasion, Cilia released Comvalius but the latter's drive was stopped by Farrugia.

Six minutes past the hour, George Mallia, who recently completed his rehab from a calf injury, came on for Tabone.

With 19 minutes left, Birkirkara screamed 'penalty' when the goalbound Galea appeared to have been pushed to the ground by Steve Wellman but the referee saw nothing wrong.

Birkirkara should have sealed it when Mallia freed Cilia with an excellent through-ball but the latter's strike was pushed away by Farrugia. From the corner, Farrugia mistimed his sortie but made amends by keeping out Mallia's shot. Still, the danger was not over as the ball dropped to Cilia who volleyed wide.

The Stripes continued to pour forward. Karl Pulo blasted high after being released by Comvalius and, minutes later, the former Pietà winger was twice denied by the excellent Farrugia.

In stoppage time, Qormi hit a long ball towards the Birkirkara box and as Wellman rose, the ball was deflected towards Steve Meilak whose shot was blocked by Mora.

Birkirkara were quick to transfer the ball to attack where Cilia advanced towards goal only to be tripped by Bondin on the edge of the box. Bondin was expelled and Mallia put away the ensuing free-kick with a pulverising drive to secure victory for the Stripes, their third over Qormi this season.

Qormi
M. Farrugia-8, D. Pisani-5, J. Bondin, S. Wellman-6.5, Ramon-6.5, K. Fenech-5, M. Grima-5.5 ('73 S. Giglio), J. Farrugia-5, M. Bartolo-4 ('61 S. Meilak-5.5), A. Effiong-4, Camilo-4.

Birkirkara
J. Mora-6, T. Cilia-7, A. Scicluna-6.5, S. Bajada-8, J. Zerafa-7, A. Buhagiar-5.5, R. Muscat-7, C. Mamo-6, A. Tabone-6.5 ('66 G. Mallia-6), M. Galea-6.5 ('77 K. Pulo), S. Comvalius-7 ('90 T. Paris).

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Wellman; Mamo; Scicluna; Buhagiar; Giglio; Muscat.

Red card: Bondin (Q) 90.

BOV player of the match: Rowen Muscat (Birkirkara).