Melita 0
Birkirkara 3
Camenzuli 33; Sciberras 50, 65;

Birkirkara temporarily moved ahead of Valletta at the top of the Premier League standings yester-day after coasting past Melita in a one-sided affair.

The Stripes headed into this encounter against the league newcomers knowing that a win would see them top of the table for the first time in several months and there weren’t any doubts whether Paul Zammit’s side would collect their second successive win in an impressive outing at the expense of modest opponents.

Although it was a commanding performance from Birkirkara, who took control from the outset as they pegged Melita inside their own half, the points were only secured when Gareth Sciberras scored two goals early in the second half to put his team on their way to a comfortable victory.

Patxi Salinas, the Melita coach, was forced to watch the match from the stands after receiving a one-match toucline ban in midweek.

Melita’s starting line-up included only one change from last week’s 2-2 draw against Floriana with Luke Sammut preferred to Luke Micallef.

Spanish mentor Salinas stuck to a 4-3-3 tactical configuration with Josè Armaro Negrin forming a three-pronged attack alongside Julian Galea and defender-turned-striker Jovan Vukanic.

An interesting spectator at the stadium yesterday was Julio Salinas Fernández.

The former Barcelona striker was making a surprise visit to his younger brother, Patxi, on the latter’s birthday.

Sciberras, back from sus-pension, was awarded a first-team berth at the expense of Ryan Scicluna while Nigerian-born goalkeeper Ini Atkpan deputised for Reuben Gauci who was demoted to the bench.

It seems that Zammit has now discarded his 4-3-3 formation and switched to a 4-1-3-1-1 with Rowen Muscat detailed to provide extra cover to the defence and Paul Fenech, Sciberras and Ryan Camenzuli forming the three in front of Jhonnattann playing in the famed no.10 position behind Jean-Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

The opening exchanges were balanced although Birkirkara, with Fenech and Sciberras working hard to gain a foothold in midfield, were the more adventurous side.

Up front, the running of Brazilian striker Jhonnattann and Mifsud Triganza kept Melita’s four-man defence on its toes for most of the match.

But scoring chances were at a premium. On eight minutes Mifsud Triganza drifted infield from the flank and squared the ball for Jhonnattann but his low drive skimmed the base of the upright.

Seven minutes later, Sammut failed to make a meaningful connection with Vukanic’s inviting ball, much to the frustration of the Melita bench.

It was not long before the Stripes reclaimed the initiative and took the lead just after the half-hour mark.

Jhonnattann advanced on the left before dragging a dangerous cross into the penalty area for Camenzuli who scored with a low, angled shot.

That goal was a setback for Melita but they regained composure and threatened after 39 minutes. Striker Galea drifted the ball into the path of Ivan Tufegdzic who headed to Manuel Sierra Camacho, only for the Spaniard to shoot just wide.

Birkirkara were clearly the better side, however, and they doubled their lead after 50 minutes through Sciberras.

He fired a rasping shot under the body of the onrushing Matthew Sapiano after being released by Mifsud Triganza.

Then, Mifsud Triganza, receiving a pass from Jhonnattann deep into the Melita’s half, turned superbly past Sapiano but hit rather weakly with an open goal at his mercy.

Melita effected a double sub-stitution midway through the second half, Andrew Caruana Scicluna and Luke Micallef replacing Matthew Borg and Michael Valenzia respectively.

Yet, it was Sciberras who piled more misery on the Amateurs.

Zach Muscat escaped down the right flank before releasing the Birkirkara captain. His right foot is lethal but Sciberras preferred to switch the ball to the left before delivering an exquisite lob above the keeper and into the net on 65 minutes.

Clearly, Melita were having trouble to contain Jhonnattann’s marauding runs from midfield.

On one occasion, the Brazilian bore down on goal again through the middle before releasing Fenech whose shot was saved by Sapiano after running into a rather tight angle.

The Stripes will be happy with their lofty position in the standings as the second round of the championship got underway yes-terday.

They are now one point ahead of Valletta but the champions, who have a match in hand, could regain the top position today if they beat Tarxien Rainbows at the Hibs Stadium.

Melita
M. Sapiano-5, G. Gribbon-5, I. Tufegdzic-5.5 (72 R. Alhinho-5), M. Sierra Camacho-6, M. Borg-5 (57 A. Caruana Scicluna-4), J. Vukanic-6, N. Rizzo-5, J. Galea-5, L. Sammut-5, J. Armaro Negrin-5, M. Valenzia-5 (56 L. Micallef-5).

Birkirkara
I. Atkpan-5, Z. Muscat-6.5, J. Zerafa-5, N. Vukanac-5, R. Camenzuli-6.5 (71 R. Scicluna-5), R. Muscat-6, A. Mendoza Corujo-7, G. Sciberras-8 (84 B. Attard), P. Fenech-7, Jhonnattann-7, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (79 K. Zammit).

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards: Gribbon, Zerafa, Borg, Vukanic, Camenzuli, Negrin.

BOV player of the match: Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara).

Standings