Brave Stripes stifle City to go four clear

Birkirkara 1
Cilia 19
Valletta 0

The 'impossible' dream has now become a distinct prospect for Birkirkara.

Thrust in a head-on confrontation with Valletta, the overwhelming favourites for the title, Birkirkara summoned another robust performance to overpower their rivals and move four points clear at the top with only five matches remaining.

Buoyed by their progress to the final of the Anniversary Cup, the Citizens were fancied to seize the initiative but cometh the hour, they failed to live up to their lofty reputation.

In the build-up to the match, much had been made of Valletta's pedigree and experience but Birkirkara made a mockery of suggestions that they may wilt under pressure.

The loss of two key players, Paul Fenech and Sylvano Comvalius, to injury inside the opening 24 minutes was viewed as a hammer blow for Birkirkara but Paul Zammit's men took this double setback in their stride and adhered to their task of stifling Valletta's midfielders.

Trevor Cilia's 19th-minute opener gave them a foothold and thereafter the well-drilled Stripes showed great resilience to hold out for a potentially crucial victory.

"It was an important game but not decisive," Zammit said after the match.

"I was really pleased to see the players so geared up for this match. We now have a four-point lead but the race is not over yet as we still have some important matches ahead."

Ton Caanen conceded that his team had been below-par.

"We're disappointed about the result and disappointed about our performance," the Valletta coach said.

"The fans were amazing, they were eager and hungry for us to score the first goal but it was not to be. This happens in football but we must move on. It was not our day."

All roads seemed to lead to Ta' Qali yesterday afternoon as thousands of flag-waving fans streamed into the National Stadium.

Caanen made three alterations from the team that started Wednesday's Anniversary Cup semi-final against Tarxien as goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, midfielder Jamie Pace and winger Doding Priso were restored to the initial formation.

Central midfielder Rowen Muscat and Cilia were back in the thick of things for Birkirkara after suspension forced them out of the three-all draw with Tarxien.

The sight of Fenech being carried away on a stretcher early on caused apprehension among the Birkirkara fans after the midfielder appeared to have taken a blow to his ribs. Although Fenech returned to the fray, Zammit decided not to take risks and promptly withdrew the former Msida midfielder.

Both coaches opted for a 4-3-3 gameplan with Michael Mifsud and Priso playing either side of forward Terrence Scerri for Valletta while Birkirkara's attacking trident featured captain Michael Galea, Sylvano Comvalius and Cilia.

Birkirkara will have felt that nothing was going for them when Comvalius was spotted walking gingerly after picking up a hamstring injury but their optimism soared on 19 minutes.

A speedy incursion by Birkirkara saw Shaun Bajada serve Galea who cut in from the left before laying the ball back for the Malta midfielder whose first-time shot was touched away by Andrew Hogg.

The ball squirmed towards the far post where Valletta left-back Steve Bezzina looked to be ahead of Cilia but the latter lunged forward and flicked the ball into the net.

Comvalius's afternoon came to a premature end after 24 minutes when the Dutch winger made way for Joseph Zerafa.

Despite having two creative midfielders in Agius and Roderick Briffa, the Citizens often resorted to speculative vertical balls from defence.

The Citizens survived an almighty scare nine minutes from half-time when the dazzling Bajada danced his way into the box from the left before directing a low cross to Cilia who pulled the trigger. Cilia's goalbound effort was charged down by Jamie Pace but the ball rolled towards Alan Tabone whose shot was again blocked by Pace amid shouts of a 'penalty' from the Stripes' end but their calls were waved away by referee Alan Mario Sant.

Less than a minute from the start of the second half had elapsed when Valletta threatened to level matters.

Borg's long throw was partially cleared by Birkirkara, Bezzina floated the ball back into the box where Agius was untenanted. The City skipper elected to pass the ball to Pace instead of shooting but Nikola Vukanac diverted the ball away for a corner.

Valletta's first cohesive move saw Agius play a through-ball to Scerri who tried to round Mora but the Birkirkara goalkeeper read his intentions and duly grabbed the ball.

Caanen made his first substitution eight minutes into the second half, throwing on Kevin Sammut for the ineffectual Briffa.

A twisting run by Priso unsettled the Birkirkara defence as the Cameroonian winger charged into the box before going down when challenged by Vukanac. Valletta appealed for a penalty but the referee booked Priso for diving instead.

Mifsud had the ball in the net after Sammut chipped the ball into the box but the City striker was offside.

Valletta gained territorial supremacy in the second half but they looked devoid of inspiration.

With 19 minutes remaining, Caanen replaced Scerri with Irish striker Declan O'Brien.

The Citizens spurned an inviting opportunity to equalise when Priso drifted into the box from the right and pulled the ball back for Pace but the latter blasted wide and high. This was the cue for Caanen to instruct Jordi Cruyff to move upfield.

Seven minutes from time, Valletta should have made it one-all when Pace picked out O'Brien whose flick looked destined to roll into the net but Angus Buhagiar hooked the ball off the line.

Shortly after, Sammut crossed for O'Brien but the Irishman was anticipated by Mora. In stoppage time, Valletta were reduced to ten men after Borg was given a straight red card for elbowing Bajada in the back.

Birkirkara fans celebrated long and loud after the final whistle as another title triumph looms large.

Birkirkara: J. Mora-7, P. Fenech ('9 A. Tabone-6.5), N. Vukanac-7, B. Nisevic-7, S. Bajada-8.5 ('88 G. Mallia), R. Muscat-7.5, T. Cilia-7, C. Mamo-7, A. Buhagiar-6.5, M. Galea-6.5, S. Comvalius ('24 J. Zerafa-6.5).

Valletta: A. Hogg-5, J. Cruyff-5, R. Briffa-4 ('53 K. Sammut-6.5), S. Bezzina-4, S. Borg, J. Pace-6, D. Priso-5.5, L. Dimech-5, G. Agius-5, T. Scerri-5 ('70 D. O'Brien-4), M. Mifsud-4.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Yellow cards: Muscat; Priso; Agius; Mora; Cruyff; Dimech.

Red card: Borg (V) 90.

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