Birkirkara 6
Haruna 5, 14, 40; Jhonnattann 10; Camenzuli 25; Bissi 69;
Sliema Wanderers 0

The message from Birkirkara was loud and clear.

While title rivals Valletta needed 77 minutes to rake up five goals in their demolition of Mosta, it took Birkirkara only 40 minutes to match that total as the champions produced an outstanding display to dismantle Sliema Wanderers.

As the goals flowed in almost uninterruptedly in a shockingly one-sided first half, there was no escaping the feeling that Stripes were driven on by a desire to show Valletta that they were capable not only of handling with the pressure in the title run-in but also to equal and eclipse their scoring exploits, however eye-catching these may be.

Indeed, Valletta looked like they have laid down a marker after their five-goal mauling of Mosta but, rubbishing suggestions that they may falter under the pressure, Birkirkara actually seemed galvanised by it.

Roared on by their fans, the Stripes tore out of the blocks, blowing this wretched Sliema side away with an exhilarating display of attacking football.

Shola Haruna’s well-taken opener inside the opening five minutes set the tone for this lop-sided encounter. One of the most influential players in Birkirkara’s title march this season, Haruna was again the catalyst of this success after capping a man-of-the-match display with a hat-trick.

His forceful running allied with the intelligent movement of strike-partner Jhonnattann reduced the out-of-sorts Sliema players to chasing shadows. Jhonnattann also put his name on the scoresheet but, on a wonderful evening for the Birkirkara fans, the pick of the goals was Ryan Camenzuli’s humdinger that all but ended the game as a contest after just 25 minutes.

This was always going to be a tough test for Sliema Wanderers who were missing four players through suspension but they were still fancied to give Birkirkara a good run for their money as they have done frequently in the last two seasons.

Such expectations failed to materialise as the Blues had an abysmal game. They were vulnerable in defence, always second to the ball and affording too much space to the rampant Birkirkara forwards who duly punished Sliema’s hesitancy.

With two points separating Birkirkara and Valletta, and only two games left, the likelihood that their final-day showdown will decide the title issue has certainly increased after the weekend’s results.

Paul Zammit’s options had been stretched by the absence of a host of players who are nursing injuries. Captain Gareth Sciberras, Spanish defender Alejandro Mendoza, and Daniel Zerafa were all missing while left-back Joseph Zerafa completed a two-match suspension.

In defence, Matheus Bissi again deputised for Mendoza while Rowen Muscat filled in for Sciberras in midfield.

The champions lined up in their customary 3-5-2 formation with Haruna and Jhonnattann leading the forward line and Ryan Scicluna handed probing duties behind the front duo.

Sliema Wanderers were bedevilled by the suspension of four players, namely Paltemio Barbetti, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Admir Vladavic and Beppe Muscat.

Coach Alfonso Greco awarded a recall to Mark Scerri, who recovered from a nagging injury, Kane Farrugia and Trevor Cilia while Italian winger Alex Podda earned a rare start.

The changes in the Sliema line-up were not restricted to personnel as Greco reinvented Alex Muscat as a central midfielder, sharing grafting duties with Scerri as John Mintoff reverted to right-back.

Before kick-off, the two sets of players held up placards bearing the message ‘Give racism the red card’ as part of an anti-racism awareness campaign organised by the Malta Football Players Association.

Birkirkara took less than five minutes to break the stalemate.

The Blues pressed the panic button at the back, failing to deal with Jhonnattann’s set-piece cross and, amid the ensuing melee, Haruna swivelled before ramming the ball into the net.

Haruna’s opener invited the vocal Birkirkara fans to further raise the volume, knowing the importance of this match for their team’s title bid.

Barely four minutes passed and Birkirkara went 2-0.

Having repelled a promising Sliema attack in which Farrugia appeared to have suffered an injury, Birkirkara broke quickly on the counter as Haruna accelerated through the middle before slipping an excellent through-ball to Jhonnattann who beat Glenn Zammit with a composed finish.

The erstwhile untroubled Justin Haber effected a routine save from Muchardi’s long-range shot.

Moments later, Muchardi supplied an intelligent ball to Cilia who surged into the box but his rising effort was stopped by Haber.

But, Birkirkara were simply irresistible in attack while Sliema were at sixes and sevens at the back.

The gaping holes between defence and midfield were again exploited by Birkirkara as Scicluna passed to the unmarked Haruna who sidefooted past Zammit.

The deluge of goals continued on 25 minutes but the fourth was truly special.

Jhonnattann’s corner was cleared but only as far as Camenzuli who wrapped his left foot around the ball to unleash a stunning shot that ripped past Zammit and into the net.

Definitely a candidate for the goal of the season.

Surely, Birkirkara’s rampant start banished any doubts about the outcome of what may have been initially regarded as a tricky match.

Sliema’s predicament increased five minutes from time. Jhonnattann began the move, picking out the advancing Scicluna with a measured pass and the latter guided the ball to Haruna who just evaded the offside trap before flicking past the hapless Zammit.

The Blues’ pathetic showing prompted a fan in the VIP zone to shout ‘Oħorgu minn hemm (Get out of there)’ at the Sliema players.

With the points sewn up, Birkirkara seemed content to administer their lead at the start of the second half.

Sliema were unable to muster the energy and willpower to stage a reaction but on the hour, they had a good chance to score a consolation goal. They were awarded a penalty after Nikola Vukanac was adjudged to have pushed the erstwhile anonymous Ohawuchi in the box. The Nigerian strode towards the spot but, to add to his and Sliema’s misery, his central strike was pawed away by Haber.

It was Birkirkara who hit goal no.6 with 21 minutes left, Bissi directing a bullet header past Zammit after meeting Jhonnattann’s corner.

The game meandered in the remaining minutes as Birkirkara never relinquished their grip on the game. They may have added to their lead but substitute Kurt Zammit miscued his effort from Camenzuli’s cross.

In stoppage time, Birkirkara again surged forward on the counter but Frank Temile, on as a substitute, was denied by Zammit who kept out his fierce strike.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-6.5, Z, Muscat-6.5, N. Vukanac-6.5, M. Bissi-6.5, R. Camenzuli-7, R. Muscat-6, P. Fenech-6 (46 K. Zammit-6), R. Scicluna-6.5, E. Herrera-6 (61 A. Borg-6), S.S. Haruna-8.5, Jhonnattann-7 (72 F. Temile).

Sliema Wanderers
G. Zammit-3, A. Muscat-3, J. Borg-3, K. Farrugia-3 (44 G. Aquilina-4), J. Mintoff-4, M. Scerri-4, S. Ohawuchi-4, A. Podda-4 (58 I. Woods-4), T. Cilia-4 (76 A. Xuereb), M. Muchardi-4, S. Bianciardi-4.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Yellow cards: Jhonnattann, Ohawuchi, Xuereb.

Missed penalty: Ohawuchi (SW) 60

BOV player of the match: Shola Haruna (Birkirkara).

Attendance: 1,514.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	30	24	3	3	72	22	47
Valletta	30	22	5	3	71	21	45
Hibernians	30	18	4	8	75	44	35
Mosta	30	14	5	11	55	56	28
Sliema	30	13	9	8	51	41	27
Balzan	30	9	5	16	35	54	18
Qormi	30	10	4	16	49	56	26
Floriana	30	12	5	13	46	47	24
Naxxar Lions	30	10	6	14	37	52	23
Tarxien	30	8	6	16	40	52	22
Vittoriosa	30	8	6	16	38	63	21
Rabat Ajax	30	1	4	25	21	82	4