Valletta 0
Birkirkara 2
Ledesma 32; Liliu 65;
By Paul Zammit’s admission, Birkirkara have blown hot and cold this season but they served up some sizzling fare yesterday.
Facing Valletta, their serial nemesis who denied them a second consecutive Premier League title last season, Birkirkara came through a tottering start to seize control of this clash with a powerful showing that made the stumbling champions look like an ordinary side.
Coming from shock defeats in their last outings, Zammit and Gilbert Agius, his Valletta counterpart, made some tactical adjustments to improve their teams’ chances of emerging on top from this important match.
In Zammit’s case, the modification was a minor one as he simply reverted to 3-5-2, a system most of his players are familiar with, but Agius’s decision to switch to a three-man defence represented a somewhat drastic change as Valletta have rarely played with three at back in the last three seasons.
The tactical battle was clearly won by Zammit as Birkirkara grew in confidence as the game wore on while Valletta, after a somewhat promising start, descended into chaos.
The stuttering champions were out-thought and outrun by Birkir-kara who, in captain Paul Fenech, had the game’s stand-out player. Fenech, Ryan Scicluna and Matheus Bissi bossed midfield and it was here where the game was won as Hugo Faria, City’s defensive midfielder, often was outnumbered.
In truth, Agius flooded his team with midfield players but the likes of Ryan Fenech, Roderick Briffa and Hamza Barry looked more inclined to attack, in the process leaving many gaps in midfield.
Valletta were also too feeble in attack as Lateef Elford-Elliyu, who had replaced the injured Alex Terra early in the first half, struggled to make an impact.
By contrast, Birkirkara were able to rely on Rafael Ledesma whose deft movement and excellent delivery tormented his opponents.
Victory for Birkirkara moved them to within four points of leaders Hibs, who dropped their first points of the season in a 1-1 draw with Tarxien on Saturday.
While Birkirkara’s display dispelled concerns about their ability to challenge for the title, Valletta are now in a full-blown crisis after slumping to their fourth defeat in eight games.
Agius is clearly still finding his feet after taking on one of the toughest jobs in Maltese football but his task is not being aided by the team’s top players who again failed to step up to the plate yesterday. Everyone expects more from some of the country’s leading footballers.
Alejandro Mendoza was drafted back into Birkirkara’s line-up as Zammit tried to shore up a defence that looked vulnerable in the 3-1 upset to Tarxien. Mendoza’s inclusion signalled a return to a three-man rearguard with Edward Herrera and the returning Ryan Camenzuli on the flanks.
Midfielder Edmond Agius was the one making way for Camenzuli as Bissi kept his place as Birkirkara’s midfield enforcer.
Agius, the Valletta coach, rang the changes after the 2-1 shock to Pietà, making no fewer than four alterations. In defence, the champions were buoyed by the return of Steve Borg and Jonathan Caruana, Faria was also back after a bout of flu kept him out of the Pietà defeat and there was also a recall for Shaun Bajada.
Changes were not restricted to personnel as Agius switched to 3-4-3 with Briffa and Barry operating just behind Terra.
The two teams put their rivalry aside before kick-off as they got together for a group photo to show their support for UEFA’s campaign against racism and discrimination.
Inside the opening two minutes, Nicky Vella, the Valletta goalkeeper, fisted away Ledesma’s corner.
Briffa headed wide after Terra had avoided a goal-kick by retrieving Bajada’s overhit cross on the byline.
When Borg, galloping forward from his right-back role, veered infield, a promising opening beckoned for Valletta. He guided a through-ball to Terra whose effort came off the side-netting.
Birkirkara lacked fluidity. Fenech tried to lift his team as his surging run took him to the edge of the box but his shot was wayward.
The Stripes were now showing signs of life. Ledesma had a low effort stopped by Vella. There was a scare for Valletta when Ledesma’s cross sparked a goalmouth melee but Mendoza’s close-range effort was blocked.
Elford-Alliyu came on for the limping Terra midway into the first half. The impression that Birkirkara were settling into their usual rhythm was confirmed on 32 minutes when they seized the lead.
A prolonged move through the middle unnerved the City defence who conceded a free-kick just outside the box. Ledesma’s well-struck free-kick, hit towards the far corner, roared past the diving Vella.
Valletta looked clueless from a tactical perspective. Their players were overrun by their opponents, especially in midfield, and their repeated attempts to swap positions only added to the confusion.
The champions would have fallen further behind on the cusp of half-time but for the woodwork.
Herrera cut in from the right and his cross-shot was pushed out by Vella but the ball flew towards Camenzuli who hit the crossbar.
Agius must have had a go at his players at half-time but he stuck with the same 11.
Zammit did the same.
On 52 minutes, Ryan Fenech headed away Ledesma’s cross from another corner. Haber then made himself big to beat away Barry’s corner as Valletta rallied.
Elford-Alliyu drove high from outside the box after receiving from Briffa who was more effective in a more withdrawn midfield position.
But, Valletta’s comeback hopes were effectively extinguished on 65 minutes.
A quick passing move unpicked their slow-moving defence as Paul Fenech flicked the ball towards the racing Scicluna who was clean through. As Vella rushed out of goal, Scicluna squared to Liliu who tapped the ball home.
The champions were on the ropes as Birkirkara remained in ascendancy. Ledesma volleyed wide from Camenzuli’s pull-back before making way for Haruna whose introduction was greeted with rapturous applause from the Birkirkara fans.
With Valletta unable to make a reaction, the Stripes breezed through the remaining minutes to secure their second win over their rivals this season following their 2-1 victory in the Super Cup.
Valletta
N. Vella-4, J. Caruana-5, S. Borg-5, R. Camilleri-5, R. Fenech-5 (64 A. Nafti-4), H. Faria-5, R. Briffa-5 (79 I. Zammit), H. Barry-5, S. Bajada-5, A. Terra (22 L. Elford-Alliyu-4), L. Dimech-5.5.
Birkirkara
J. Haber-6, M. Bissi-6.5, Liliu-6.5 (90 L. Grech), N. Vukanac-7, A. Mendoza-6.5, R. Ledesma-7.5 (74 S. Haruna), P. Fenech-8, Z. Muscat-6.5, R. Scicluna-7.5, E. Herrera-6.5, R. Camenzuli-6.5 (80 E. Agius).
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann.
Yellow cards: Dimech; P. Fenech; Faria
BOV player of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara).
Attendance: 2,583.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Hibernians | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 22 |
| Birkirkara | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 18 |
| Balzan | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 11 | 15 |
| Mosta | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 13 |
| Sliema W. | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Tarxien R. | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 11 |
| Valletta | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 7 | 10 |
| Qormi | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
| Floriana | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 7 |
| Pietà H. | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 5 |
| Naxxar L. | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 15 | 4 |
| Żebbuġ R. | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 24 | 3 |