Jorge brace sees Stripes through against Reds

Birkirkara 3
Jorge 7, 75; Shodiya 37;
Ħamrun Spartans 1
Ribeiro 66;

Jorge Santos Silva scored twice as Birkirkara strolled to victory over Ħamrun Spartans but failed to leapfrog Sliema Wanderers into fourth place in the Premier League standings ahead of the start of the second phase.

Jorge’s double and Shola Haruna Shodiya’s second goal for the club enabled Birkirkara to complete the first half of the 2011-2012 campaign with 35 points, equal with Sliema.

With points in the Premier League to be halved at the start of the second phase, both Birkirkara and Sliema will start their Championship Pool commitments with 18 points, 10 adrift of leaders Valletta. However, thanks to their superior direct encounter record, the Wanderers will start the Championship Pool at slot no.4.

Despite this, a second consecutive win yesterday gave Birkirkara a timely confidence booster as the real challenge now gathers pace.

Ħamrun’s gameplan appeared to focus tight in defence and worrying about attack secondarily as they lined out in a 4-1-4-1 formation. Daniel Zerafa, who replaced the suspended Lee James Agius, protected the back four as Gaetan Spiteri and Kevin Sammut started on the flanks and Anderson Ribeiro a lone striker up front.

Without Rodrigo Pereira, suspended, Gareth Sciberras switched to central defence to partner Nikola Vukanac for Birkirkara.

Coach Paul Zammit opted for a 4-2-1-3 formation with Shaun Bajada assigned a roving role behind a three-pronged attack led by Shodiya, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza and Jorge.

The format allowed Birkirkara to make wise use of Mifsud Triganza’s shielding prowess against the tight marking of Ronnie Hartvig and maximise Bajada’s run towards goal as he had a clear channel in which to surge.

In fact, after seven minutes, Bajada’s exquisite pass inside the box towards Jorge – who hammered in – opened up the Ħamrun defensive lines and the game, too.

That early Stripes breakthrough rattled the Spartans but the Reds gradually began to find their feet. In fact, on 11 minutes Angus Buhagiar cleared off the line to deny Dene Shields from an equaliser.

Further evidence of the Spartans progress came on the half-hour mark when Spiteri rifled a swerving shot narrowly wide.

That triggered an intense period of pressure from Birkirkara with Jorge going close from just inside the box before Shodiya bundled in the second goal.

Bajada was at the heart of everything in the opening period as he chased, passed well and, more importantly, became his side’s provider again.

On 37 minutes, the Malta midfielder whipped in a cross from the right to Shodiya who beat his marker and placed the ball beyond Omar Borg’s reach.

Within three minutes of the restart, Jorge released Mifsud Triganza but he blazed the ball high over the crossbar.

Ħamrun were back in it on 66 minutes as Ribeiro headed past goalkeeper Reuben Gauci after meeting a cross from Shields to re-open the issue.

Coach Stefan Sultana withdrew the ineffective Gianluca Cala-bretta and roped in Glen Azzo-pardi in a bid to bolster his team’s chances of scoring an equaliser and save the match.

But Jorge remained a constant thorn in the Spartans’ side and on 68 minutes, he stormed down the right flank and forced Borg into a fine save with a powerful drive from an angle.

And seven minutes later, Bir-kirkara re-established their two-goal cushion to practically seal the points.

Matthew Gauci blocked Shodiya’s route on the left flank but left the ball slip to Jorge who kept his cool and beat Borg a second time.

Ħamrun substitute Ryan Spiteri almost put his name on the scoresheet nine minutes from time but his volley crashed against the bar.

However, that hardly bothered the Stripes who rounded up their first phase commitments with a comfortable victory, their 11th from 22 outings.

Birkirkara
R. Gauci-6, R. Scicluna-6.5, J. Zerafa-5.5, N. Vukanac-6, S. Bajada-7.5, G. Sciberras-7, P. Fenech-6.5, A. Buhagiar-5.5, S. Haruna-6.5 (79 R. Muscat), Jorge-7.5 (90 M. Clinch) J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5 (61 M. Avila-Perez-4).

Ħamrun Spartans
O. Borg-5, G. Calabretta-6 (68 G. Azzopardi-5), M. Gauci-5, R. Hartvig-6, M. Grima-6, R. Mangion-5 (75 D. Camilleri), D. Zerafa-5, G. Spiteri-5 (79 R. Spiteri), D. Shields-7, K. Sammut-6, A. Ribeiro-6.5.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Yellow cards: Zerafa, Mangion, Fenech.

BOV player of the match: Jorge Santos Silva (Birkirkara).

Standings

Note: In brackets team points at the start of second phase.