Birkirkara 3
Jhonnattan 10, 57, 74;
Floriana 0
Valletta’s loss seems to be Birkirkara’s gain as the Stripes might have pulled off the biggest transfer coup this summer by signing Jhonnattan da Conceicao who is turning out to be a highly-rated forward.
The Brazilian striker, signed by the Citizens for their European commitments, yesterday fired a superb hat-trick as the Stripes underlined their title credentials with a clinical display.
City could now feel that they let Jhonnattan go too quickly.
The Greens are indeed an improved side since coach Mark Wright took over but this encounter proved to be an acid test as they failed to make the grade and match their opponents in an intimidating game that saw Birkirkara firing on all cylinders perhaps for the first time this season, showing their true mettle.
Paul Zammit’s side maintained their pristine opening to collect their fourth successive win in the Premier League.
Their supremacy stemmed from the effective work of a superb Gareth Sciberras and Paul Fenech in midfield as well as the slick movement of Nigerian Shodiya Haruna, who often drifted infield from the right either to retrieve possession or to free up space for his team-mates.
However, the star of the show was nippy Brazilian Jhonnattan.
As Floriana spent most of their energy chasing their opponents, they found it hard to make an impact in attack but to their credit, they never gave up.
Birkirkara’s initial formation showed three alterations to the side that beat Rabat.
Shodiya was drafted back to the starting XI to spearhead a three-pronged attack, Ryan Scicluna was preferred to Rowen Muscat, not 100 per cent fit, and Edward Herrera was handed his full debut, taking the place of Ryan Camenzuli.
Herrera took up the right midfield position alongside the regular duo of Sciberras and Fenech in a 4-3-3 formation.
Likewise, stand-in coach Alan Lewer also made three changes to Floriana with Thomas Paris replacing Brooke Farrugia, Karl Tremarco coming in for Tyrone Farrugia and Trevor Cilia starting ahead of Duncan Pisani.
Cilia was by far Floriana’s most effective player in the opening minutes yesterday as his movement at times proved too much for his direct opponent Joseph Zerafa.
Cilia’s long-range blast seemed to surprise Reuben Gauci, the Stripes’ goalkeeper, who slipped on the goal-line but managed to land on one foot to save the former Birkirkara player’s effort.
However, in midfield, the Greens played second fiddle to Birkirkara who took the lead with their first real venture inside the Floriana half.
From the right flank, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza drove the ball towards the unmarked Jhonnattan. The Floriana defence was caught off guard as the Brazilian had time and space to curl the ball low into the bottom corner of the net.
Birkirkara enjoyed a technical edge over their opponents as their tactical configuration made life difficult for Floriana who were unable to impose their usual robust approach.
On 22 minutes, Cilia’s lob seemed too soft to trouble Gauci and soon after Aman Verma’s free-kick was met by the unmarked Ryan Darmanin but the towering forward’s header was parried by the sprawling Gauci.
Seven minutes later, Floriana suffered a scare when in one of his forays inside the Greens’ territory, Herrera’s ensuing drive was blocked into a corner.
From the flag-kick, Nikola Vukanac rose high but his header ricocheted off the crossbar.
At the start of the second half, Zammit introduced Camenzuli for Mifsud Triganza who had a quiet first half but it was Floriana who went on the offensive.
A free-kick by Verma had its sting removed by the Birkirkara defensive lines.
From the resulting corner, the Verma again floated the ball towards goal but Gauci produced a brilliant one-handed save to thwart Aaron Brown.
But Floriana’s fine play soon vanished into thin air as on 57 minutes their defence was unlocked by a neat three-man move.
Sciberras seized possession near the half-way line and released Jhonnattan who slotted his shot behind Jurgen Borg, the Floriana goalkeeper.
Birkirkara continued to call the tune.
Pouncing on a corner by Jhonnattan after 70 minutes, Vukanac hit just wide as the Stripes, sensing Floriana’s physical and psychological weaknesses, seized control and looked to heap more misery on their fading opponents.
Jhonnattan soon completed his hat-trick with a well-taken free-kick on 74 minutes.
Six minutes from time, the Brazilian turned provider as he sent Herrera through but the former Hibs midfielder shot straight into Borg’s hands.
Birkirkara
R. Gauci-6, A. Mendoza-6, E. Herrera-7 (88 G. McKay), R. Scicluna-6 (71 R. Muscat-6) P. Fenech-7, Jhonnattan-7.5, J. Zerafa-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-5.5 (46 R. Camenzuli-5), S. Haruna-6.5, N. Vuka-nac-7, G. Sciberras-7.5.
Floriana
J. Borg-5, A. Brown-5, O. Bugeja-5.5, K. Tremarco-6, K. Farrugia-5, A. Verma-5 (64 Alinho-5) C. Borg-5, R. Darmanin-5.5, S. Wasiu-6, T. Cilia-6, T. Paris-5.5.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Yellow cards: Verma, Brown, Shodiya.
BOV Player of the match: Jhonnattan da Conceicao (Birkirkara).
Attendance: 938.