Balzan Youths 0
Birkirkara 5
Pereira 24 pen; Scicluna 32; Mifsud Triganza 45; Shodiya 56; Avila-Perez 77;
Birkirkara responded in spectacular fashion to Floriana’s victory against Sliema by reclaiming the third spot in the standings with a goal-laden performance against Balzan Youths.
The Stripes inflicted total humiliation on their neighbours Balzan who were outclassed in all parts of the pitch. Paul Zammit’s march towards European football next season thus continues as Birkirkara won five of their last seven league matches.
Balzan were without coach Ivan Zammit who was still serving suspension and the team was led in the dug-out by his assistant Joe Borg. He dropped Matthew Camilleri to the bench and gave the nod to Fredrick Zammit to guard the team’s goal.
Defender Roderick Farrugia was replaced by Glenn Bonello but there was still a selection surprise with Pedrinho excluded even from Balzan substitutes’ bench.
However, it was Paul Zammit, his Birkirkara counterpart, who sprung the biggest surprise, keeping Shawn Bajada on the bench as he sent his team out in a re-modelled 4-2-3-1 with Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza as the attacking fulcrum in front of Jorge da Silva, Ryan Scicluna and Shola Shodiya who returned from suspension.
On the other hand, Rowen Muscat, replacing the injured Paul Fenech, and Gareth Sciberras picked up the two deep positions in front of the defence.
Within the first five minutes, Jorge was handed an opportunity when Nikola Tasic lost possession as he slipped, and the Brazilian showed great composure to wrong-foot Yessous Camilleri to steer a low shot which Tabone saved with difficulty.
Shodiya and Jorge became increasingly influential, switching flanks to expose Balzan’s unfamiliar three-man defence in a 3-5-2.
In fact, on 13 minutes, the Brazilian made light of his giant frame with some fancy footwork on the right flank to cut inside and making room for a shot but the Balzan keeper pushed his effort to a corner.
The Stripes wasted no other time in striking the first blow against their neighbours when they were awarded a penalty in the 24th minute.
Rodrigo Pereira curled his free-kick into Balzan’s defensive wall but the referee immediately pointed to the spot after Jamie Pace was deemed to have stuck out a hand to block his effort.
The Brazilian defender took over the role from first-choice penalty-taker Mifsud Triganza to drill his shot past Tabone.
Birkirkara doubled their lead past the half hour, Tabone pushed Jorge’s corner into the path of Ryan Scicluna who unleashed a low drive past the goalkeeper.
On the stroke of half-time, Birkirkara further extended their lead when Mifsud Triganza showed his goalscoring instincts with a composed finish after beating the offside trap to slide the ball past Tabone.
In the 56th minute, the game was as good as over as a contest when Shodiya added the fourth.
Jorge was the creator for the striker with the pass that gave Nigerian the opportunity to send a flamboyant finish beyond the hapless Tabone.
There was only one team on the pitch now as Birkirkara threatened to sweep their demoralised opponents off the park with their quick attacking forays in a one-way flow.
It barely seemed possible for matters to get worse for Balzan but the agony increased when Joseph Zerafa directed the ball upfield in the direction of the unmarked Moises Avila-Perez who drilled the ball home after 77 minutes.
Balzan Youths
F. Tabone-4, G. Bonello-5 (62 B. Bondin-5), Y. Camilleri-5, B. Guga-5, R. Forace-5, L. Micallef-4.5 (84 N. Zammit) J.Pace-6, D. Grima-6, M. Ciantar-5 (73 M. Borg), M. Deanov-6, N.Tasic-5.
Birkirkara
R. Gauci-6 (64 K. Magri-5), A. Buhagiar-6 (61 A. Tabone-5), Vukanac-6.5 (74 M. Availa-Perez-6), J. Zerafa-6.5, R. Scicluna-7.5, R. Muscat-6, G. Sciberras-6, R. Pereira-7, Jorge-8, J. Mifsud Triganza-6. S. Shodiya-7.
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: Pace, Avila-Perez
BOV player of the match: Jorge Santos Silva (Birkirkara).
Attendance: 702.