ZEBBUG RANGERS 0

BIRKIRKARA 4

Grech 1, Liliu 43; Eliandro 65; Ledesma 75;

Birkirkara's Brazilian trio of Liliu, Eliandro and Ledesma combined beautifully this afternoon to inspire the Stripes to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Zebbug Rangers.

The game had barely started when Leighton Grech scored the quickest Premier League goal so far this season after just 58 seconds. The Stripes attacked straight from the kick-off and the nippy midfielder, totally unmarked after bursting through from midfield slotted home from Paul Fenech’s through pass.

Enlivened by the early opener, Birkirkara threatened to pull further ahead after three minutes. The modus operandi was always the same as Zach Muscat found Fenech unmarked behind Zebbug’s back-four but the latter’s shot finished a whisker away from goal.

Zebbug ran a high risk of suffering a second goal three minutes from half-time when Liliu looked a certainty to score but Fabricio saved the shot. The Rangers’ failure to heed the alarm signals was punished by the Brazilian striker few moments later.

Grech was very much at the core of another swift break that saw the winger roaring forward on the right flank before he swung over a cross into the box and Liliu planted a header past Fabricio into the net.

On the hour, Zebbug finally showed signs of making a belated reaction when Muscat scythed down Mathias Muchardi the newcomers’ most enterprising player to end their first significant foray inside the Birkirkara area. From the ensuing free-kick, Mauricio Britto stung Justin Haber’s hands with a rasping shot.

Zebbug’s rally did not last long though with Birkirkara regaining the upperhand as the second half panned out. In the 65th minute, Birkirkara slotted in goal no3 when Eliandro sidestepped his marker before shooting past onrushing Fabricio.

Jesmond Zammit’s troops were out for the count and ten minutes later Ledesma converted a penalty after Yessous Camilleri hauled down Eliandro in the box.