Stripes seal top-six spot

Tarxien Rainbows 1
Bueno 81;
Birkirkara 3
Jorge 3; Bajada 40, 48;

Birkirkara can breathe more easily now.

Dragged into the now customary fierce fight for Championship Pool places after struggling to recover from a turbulent start, the Stripes yesterday attained the mundane, but nonetheless important, objective of a top-six finish.

A 3-1 victory over Tarxien banished fears of a make-or-break clash with Ħamrun as Birkirkara opened an unassailable four-point lead over sixth-placed Balzan Youths with both teams having one match left before the end of the first phase.

The pressure had been on Birkirkara to show what they are made of after a chastening 4-1 rout to Valletta but they were up for it.

An early goal set the tone for a match in which Birkirkara’s astute movement, on and off the ball, and their ability to deliver crisp passes in tight spaces undid the efforts of the battling Tarxien.

Man-of-the-match Shawn Bajada typified Birkirkara’s performance as he provided the assist for the opening goal before helping himself to a brace thanks to his knack to read situations before his slow-moving opponents.

Although Tarxien are fighting for dear life at the bottom of the table, they took to the field in high spirits yesterday after their successful protest against the result of their match with Marsaxlokk handed them three points instead of the one they had picked on the field following a 2-2 draw.

Gareth Sciberras, a colossus in Birkirkara’s midfield, was handed the captain’s armband as skipper Paul Fenech was left out. The onus of flanking Sciberras in the centre of midfield fell to Ryan Scicluna as Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit kept faith with 4-2-1-3.

There were two changes in the Tarxien line-up as Mark Tanti and Stefan Giglio were back in the frame. Justin Grioli was out as he was serving the first of a two-match ban while Orosco Anonam was among the substitutes as was striker Daniel Mariano Bueno.

Birkirkara tore out of the blocks, storming ahead inside the third minute.

Bajada threaded an excellent throughball to Jorge whose progression down the left had gone unchecked by the Rainbows defenders. The Brazilian forward darted into the box and flicked the ball past keeper Nicky Vella.

The Stripes’ early breakthrough rattled Tarxien but the Blues gradually began to find their feet.

Ricardo Costa, Tarxien’s central forward, was responsible for creating the first notable chance for Patrick Curmi’s team as the Brazilian drifted past Angus Buhagiar but his drive was blocked by goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

Further evidence of Tarxien’s progress came on 15 minutes when a cute interchange between Mayasi and Ricardo Costa ended with the Congo-born striker racing unimpeded into the box but his finish was fractionally off target.

At the other end, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was also wide with a diagonal shot from outside the box.

The opening exchanges remained brisk as both teams displayed a refreshing desire to attack.

Buhagiar did well to push the ball away from Adrian Carabott while Costa blasted over as Giglio headed Tanti’s free-kick into his path.

Birkirkara’s mobile trio of Shola Haruna, Mifsud Triganza and Jorge kept Tarxien on constant alert. Jorge cut inside left-back Carlo Mamo and squared for Mifsud Triganza but he made a hash of controlling the ball.

Tarxien’s afternoon looked to have taken a turn for the worse when, on 28 minutes, they had a penalty against them after Lee Galea was adjudged to have hauled down Mifsud Triganza in the box.

Haruna stepped up to take the penalty but his effort, driven hard but towards the centre, was saved by Vella.

Tarxien’s relief was palpable but five minutes from half-time, the Blues further fell behind. Haruna laid the ball into the path of Bajada who prodded past Vella from close in.

With his team 2-0 down, Curmi brought on the more experienced Bueno and Anonam for Pulo and Carabott but poor defending quashed any hopes the Rainbows may have had of turning the game around.

Within three minutes of the start of the second half, Joseph Zerafa released Mifsud Triganza who outmuscled the hesitant Galea and aimed a square pass towards Bajada who poked home at the far post.

Birkirkara’s third goal killed the game as a contest and it was not before the 65th minute that Tarxien produced a meaningful attack.

After swapping passes with Tanti, Ricardo Costa ran across the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful grounder which Gauci turned around his near post.

Zammit was forced into his first substitution 16 minutes from time as Haruna was stretchered off after suffering an injury.

Nine minutes from time, Tarxien gained a glimmer of hope as Bueno headed past Gauci after meeting a fine cross from Ricardo, one of the Rainbows’ better performers.

Birkirkara had a good chance to re-establish their three-goal cushion as substitute Ryan Camenzuli created space for a shot but his effort was blocked by Vella.

Tarxien Rainbows
N. Vella-6, C. Mamo-5, Everton-5.5, S. Giglio-5.5, A. Carabott-5 (46 O. Anonam-5), Ricardo-7, J. Mayasi-6.5, K. Pulo-5 (46 D.M. Bueno-6), M. Tanti-5, R. Mintoff-5, L. Galea-5.

Birkirkara
R. Gauci-7, R. Scicluna-6.5, J. Zerafa-7, N. Vukanac-6, S. Bajada-8, G. Sciberras-8, R. Pereira-6.5, A. Buhagiar-5.5, S. Haruna-6.5 (74 M. Avila-Perez), Jorge-7 (86 M. Camilleri), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6.5 (80 R. Camenzuli).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Yellow cards: Pereira; Giglio; Sciberras.

Missed penalty: Haruna (B) 28.

BOV player of the match: Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara).