Birkirkara 3
Ledesma 42; Liliu 66, Agius 88;
Żebbuġ 1
Britto 23; 

A goal to the good after 23 minutes and displaying confidence in their play, bottom-side Żebbuġ Rangers had looked on their way to register their first victory in this season’s BOV Premier League at the expense of Birkirkara.

Until, then Birkirkara had rarely looked capable of salvaging the match let alone bag all three points.

The Stripes, who were looking to end a turbulent week on a positive note, were clearly under the cosh.

With the jinking Matias Mucchardi orchestrating with authority in midfield alongside Carlo Monti and Mauricio Britto a thorn in Birkirkara’s defence, Żebbuġ seemed a good bet to collect the spoils.

But Birkirkara somehow managed to find the energy to pull level through a Rafael Ledesma’s penalty just before half-time.

His Brazilian compatriot Liliu put the Stripes on track when giving them a 2-1 lead and despite Ledesma missed a second penalty after the interval, Edmond Agius stepped up to add a third goal that somewhat added excessive gloss to Birkirkara’s victory.

Although Birkirkara’s display was far from convincing, the only thing that mattered for them yesterday was to return to winning ways and they were clearly relieved to have reached their aim.

Zammit’s starting XI showed three changes from their shock 4-3 loss to Pietà Hotspurs as Haruna Shola Shodiya, Leighton Grech and Ryan Camenzuli paid the price for a lame showing and were all demoted to the bench.

Eliandro flanked Liliu and Rafael Ledesma in a three-pronged attack with Edward Herrera, back to the fold, pushing up on the right wing.

Ryan Scicluna moved in central midfield alongside Gareth Sciberras and Paul Fenech.

Bojan Mamic was Żebbuġ’s lone forward as Alfonso Grech opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Matthew Bartolo, Monti and Britto handed instructions to break forward whenever the team attacked.

The game was 17 minutes old when Bartolo almost broke the deadlock with an ambitious looping effort which Justin Haber tipped over the bar.

Birkirkara struggled to impose their superiority as they seldom stretched their opponents beyond routine work.

On 23 minutes, the Rangers stunned their more-quoted opponents when Haber pushed away a low drive by Monti, sending the ball into the path of Britto, who had the presence of mind to slot the ball into the net.

Shy the half hour mark, Herrera’s outswinging cross from the right sparked chaos in the Żebbuġ defence with the ball falling into the path of Liliu who saw his effort pushed away by Fabricio.

At the other end, Haber beat away Britto’s well-struck shot.

From the ensuing action, Monti ran across the Birkirkara rearguard before unleashing a fierce shot that was blocked by Haber.

Birkirkara were clearly struggling to make any inroads in the Żebbuġ defence but three minutes from the break they were handed a lifeline.

Matthew Gauci brought Eliandro down in the area and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

Ledesma stepped up to plant the ball past Morales as the Stripes now sensed that they could turn the tide after the break.

Coach Zammit had to pull something out of the bag for the second period. His players had been too static and bereft of attacking ideas in the first part of the game.

A skirmish inside the penalty area after 51 minutes saw Ledesma, who had his back to the goal, hitting an overhead kick that was blocked by Morales.

Birkirkara were now showing signs of revival as they worked up a head of steam. Seven minutes later, Sciberras shot wide off the far post.

In the 66th minute, Liliu’s surge into the box was halted illegally by the sliding Jacob Borg, prompting Trustin Farrugia Cann to order a second penalty for Birkirkara.

Ledesma assumed responsibility again but this time his shot was touched away by Fabricio.

Unperturbed by this miss, Birkirkara kept pressing forward.

Three minutes later, Żebbuġ were found wanting at the back as Ledesma’s delivery from a corner soared into the box where Liliu rose above everyone to direct a looping header over the startled Fabricio and into the far corner of the net.

After 71 minutes, the Rangers served up a reminder of their counter-attacking threat as Monti forced his way before crossing for Britto whose point-blank header drew a top save from Haber.

Birkirkara wrapped up their win two minutes from time. Agius, who had come on for Liliu, slotted the ball past Fabricio.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-7, M. Bissi-5.5, Liliu-6.5 (77 E. Agius), N. Vukanac-5.5, Eliandro-6 (85 K. Zammit), R. Ledesma-6.5 (77 S. Haruna), P. Fenech-6, Z. Muscat-5, R. Scicluna-5, E. Herrera-5, G. Sciberras-6.

Żebbuġ Rangers
Fabricio-7, J. Borg-6, L. Galea-6, Y. Camilleri-6, M. Gauci-6, T. Paris-6, M. Mucchardi-7, C. Monti-7, B.Mamic-5.5, M. Bartolo-7,M.R. Britto-7 (83 J.Nwoba).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Missed penalty: Ledesma (B) 63.

Yellow cards: Vukanac, Scicluna.

BOV player of the match: Fabricio (Żebbuġ Rangers).

Attendance: 895.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Hibernians	13	12	1	0	43	6	37
Valletta	13	8	1	4	30	7	25
Birkirkara	13	8	0	5	24	15	24
Mosta	13	6	1	6	14	26	19
Balzan	13	4	5	4	17	20	17
Floriana	13	4	5	4	19	25	17
Sliema W.	13	4	4	5	12	15	16
Qormi	13	4	4	5	14	20	16
Naxxar L.	13	3	5	5	17	19	14
Tarxien R.	13	2	6	5	14	22	12
Pietà H.	13	3	3	7	12	23	12
Żebbuġ R.	13	0	5	8	14	32	5