Defiant Borg foils Stripes

Birkirkara 2
Babatunde 13; Cilia 20;
Ħamrun Spartans 2
Falzon 16; Pereira 50;

The onus was on Birkirkara to see off Ħamrun and keep their Europa League bid on track after Floriana had opened a three-point gap in second place the day before.

Victory over the free-falling Spartans was deemed a straightforward task for Birkirkara but like their opponents, the faltering champions have been an unpredictable lot this season.

In an encounter that encap-sulated the inconsistency of these two teams, Ħamrun sprung a mini-surprise. Inspired by goalkeeper Omar Borg, they twice came back from a goal down to hold the casual Birkirkara to a 2-2 draw.

Beset by the injury-enforced absences of Nikola Vukanac and Patrick Borg, Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit instructed Joseph Zerafa to partner the returning Andrei Agius in the heart of defence.

Another positional change in the Birkirkara ranks saw Michael Galea start in midfield as he deputised for the injured Shaun Bajada.

Ħamrun were also without a host of regulars, the likes of Dene Shields, Jovan Vukanic and Lee James Agius. Coach Steve D’Amato deployed Massimo Grima in midfield while in attack, Dyson Falzon and Marcelo Pereira played in support of central striker Gaetan Spiteri.

Birkirkara goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo was forced to deal with a tricky Falzon effort as early as the second minute. The Ħamrun winger had cut in from the left but his diagonal strike was pushed away by Bartolo.

The Stripes looked to have received a boost when they were awarded a penalty after Karl Magro tripped Ibrahim Babatunde inside the box. Referee Andre Arciola cautioned the Spartans defender but Borg lifted Ħamrun’s spirits as he beat away Rowen Muscat’s spot-kick.

Ħamrun’s reprieve was temporary though as Birkirkara opened the scoring on 12 minutes, Babatunde side-footing the ball home after his surge had spread panic in the Spartans box.

A refreshingly open encounter produced a second goal, the Spartans snatching an instant equaliser as Falzon’s angled drive stunned Bartolo who was beaten at the near post.

The early exchanges suggested that the Spartans were up for the challenge but Birkirkara regained the lead on 20 minutes.

Babatunde laid the groundwork as he floated the ball towards Trevor Cilia whose first-time volley had the better of Borg.

Danger again beckoned the Spartans when Lattes’s cross soared above Borg and landed near the far post but Magro anticipated Babatunde.

Birkirkara’s speedy incursions stretched the slow-moving Spartans in the early stages. Cilia went close to a second goal but his shot was cleared away by Steve Bonnici. Lattes was first to the loose ball but his effort dropped wide.

Cilia had another two chances to increase his side’s advantage but on both occasions, his shots lacked precision.

The complexion of the game was unchanged as Birkirkara remained the brisker side going forward. Four minutes from half-time, Angus Buhagiar made a powerful run through the middle before serving Cilia who swivelled in the box but his shot was high and wide.

Birkirkara’s failure to take their chances came back to haunt them early in the second half. Hesitant defending by Zerafa gifted the Spartans a rare opening and Pereira duly capitalised as he raced to a Grima pass and rifled past Bartolo.

With the Stripes’ gossamer back-four showing signs of uneasiness, Falzon threatened to put the Spartans ahead but his dipping cross-cum-shot was pushed over by Bartolo.

Unlike the first half, Birkirkara found it hard to reassert their dominance after conceding a goal.

With 19 minutes remaining, Karl Pulo, who had just replaced Cilia, reacted swiftly to reach the ball at the far post but Borg came out to block the winger’s effort.

Galea then spurned an inviting chance to put Birkirkara in the driving seat when he failed to connect with Pulo’s assist in the six-yard box.

Birkirkara hurled more men forward but Borg continued to frustrate the Stripes when palming Lattes’s dangerous effort onto his near post.

The Spartans almost snatched a winner when they broke on the counter as Pereira freed substitute Daniel Zerafa but the latter’s piledriver was repelled by Bartolo.

Birkirkara’s woes were further compounded when Paul Fenech was sent off after a foul on Nikolai Chipev earned him a second caution.

Still, the Stripes could have won it when Lattes’s measured cross sailed towards the unmarked Babatunde but the latter’s header produced another top-notch save from Borg.

Birkirkara
M. Bartolo-5, T. Cilia-6 (66 K. Pulo-6), R. Muscat-5, A. Agius-6, E. Lattes-5.5, J. Zerafa-5, P. Fenech, A. Decesare-5 (82 T. Vella), I. Babatunde-6.5, M. Galea-6 (86 R. Kumbrevicius), A. Buhagiar-6.

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-8, M. Grima-6.5, R. Fenech-6, R. Mangion-5.5, K. Magro-5 (32 A. Attard-5.5, 75 D. Zerafa), M. Pereira-6.5, D. Falzon-6.5, G. Spiteri-6, N. Chipev-6 (90 C. Debattista), D. Camilleri-6.5, S. Bonnici-6.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Yellow cards: Magro; Grima; P. Fenech; J. Zerafa; D. Zerafa; Bartolo.

Missed penalty: Muscat (B) 10.

Red card: P. Fenech (B) 90.

BOV player of the match: Omar Borg (Ħamrun Spartans).