Shola Haruna Shodiya (right) boots the ball upfield. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi

Balzan 1
Grima 54;
Birkirkara 2
Fenech 41, Shola 78;

Birkirkara chalked up their sixth consecutive league win and kept up the pace with co-leaders Hibernians at the top of the standings after beating Balzan by the odd goal in three.

After taking a point off Valletta and beating Vittoriosa Stars in recent weeks, Balzan were expe-cted to give the Stripes another stern test following the controversial first-round defeat to the champions.

Yesterday, Jesmond Zerafa’s side maintain their rich vein of form as Birkirkara had to work overtime to down their opponents.

There was an element of luck about the Stripes’ opener but the winner was all down to Haruna Shola Shodiya’s sheer brilliance, who lifted Birkirkara’s spirits.

Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit sprung several surprises in his starting line-up, omitting Jhonnattan and Edward Herrera and deploying Ryan Scicluna on the left flank in an adventurous 4-4-2 cum 4-2-4 formation.

Terence Vella and Frank Temile, the two central forwards, were under orders to drop deep as Scicluna and Shola pushed down the wings in a bid to expose chinks in Balzan’s defensive armour.

Jose Luis Armario Negrin was the lone striker in Balzan’s 4-1-4-1 module.

Chances were scarce in a cagey first half as Balzan’s five-man midfield followed orders to the book to keep the Stripes at bay.

Balzan did not defend en masse and tried hard to keep possession, at times, managing to emerge from their half confidently with the ball.

Twenty-one minutes into the game, Negrin made good progress on the right wing. However, with only the goalkeeper to beat he was dispossessed by the efficient Justin Haber.

An indirect free-kick awarded to Birkirkara for a back-pass infringement, helped the Stripes to their first glimpse at their opponents’ goal on 23 minutes but Nikola Vukanac failed to find his range.

A few moments later, Vella rose high at the far post to meet Fenech’s free-kick with a looping header that arched over keeper Michael Falzon but Mendoza, at the other end, posted his header against the woodwork.

Birkirkara found themselves 1-0 up in bizarre circumstances just before half-time.

Scicluna’s free-kick appeared to wrong-foot Falzon who collided with the backtracking Steve Bezzina and their hesitancy was punished by Shola. He pounced on the loose ball before serving Fenech who headed the ball into an empty net.

Birkirkara looked more like their old selves at the start of the second half, when Scicluna tested Falzon with a low drive. But Balzan survived and hit back in style.

Their formation included four Birkirkara old boys and two of those started the action that led to the equaliser. Rodrigo Pereira exchanged passes with Joselito who showed great skills to avoid his marker before setting up Negrin. The latter escaped down the left and found Dylan Grima waiting to fire home from close-range.

At this point, Zammit reverted to old tactics, introducing Jhonnattan and Herrera for Scicluna and Zach Muscat respectively.

Birkirkara still toiled to breach Balzan’s defensive lines but they almost enjoyed another slice of good luck when Andrew Scicluna almost committed an own-goal as his bad clearance hit the bar.

Balzan tried to catch the Bir-kirkara defence off guard when Negrin exploited acres of open space on the left flank before dragging his effort just off the far post.

But Birkirkara struck the winner 12 minutes from time.

A flowing move initiated by Temile on the left saw the Nigerian flicking the ball for Vella who made all the spadework for Shola to smash the ball home from the edge of the box with an unstoppable inswinger.

Balzan pushed forward in the last few minutes but they were unable to deny the champions from victory.

Balzan
M. Falzon-4.5, J. Grioli-6, A. Scicluna-6, R. Pereira-6, S. Bezzina-6, F. Vignaroli-6, L. Sciberras-6 (83 R. Darmanin), D. Grima-7, L. Micallef-7, Joselito-7 (73 E. Beu), J.L. Amario Negrin-7.5.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-6, Z. Muscat-5 (63 E. Herrera-5), A. Mendoza-6, N. Vukanac-6, P. Fenech-7.5, J. Zerafa-6, F. Temile-6 (79 D. Zerafa), R. Muscat-7, S. Haruna Shodiya-7, T. Vella-6, R. Scicluna-6 (63 Jhonnattan-5).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Zerafa, Scicluna, Pereira, Negrin, Beu.

BOV Player of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).