BIRKIRKARA-2, QORMI-0
Shola Shodiya Haruna scored a brace as Birkirkara returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Qormi.
Haruna was on target in the dying stages of both halves to rescue Birkirkara who were below-par for most of the game.
Qormi had several scoring chances, especially in the second half, but their finishing was poor and when they did get a shot at goal, Birkirkara goalkeeper Justin Haber stood in their way.
In the early stages, Frank Temile fired wide after swapping passes with Alfred Effiong and, at the other end, Birkirkara's Shola Haruna headed over from Agius's corner after 15 minutes.
Ryan Camenzuli, going forward on the left, tried to surprise Matthew Farrugia with a dipping cross-shot but the Qormi goalkeeper blocked.
It was then Qormi's turn to create a chance as, on 25 minutes, Temile provided a perfect pass to Effiong who rifled high after his initial shot was blocked by Zach Muscat.
Birkirkara's Edward Herrera was wide with a diagonal effort from an angled position but Qormi were playing the better football at this stage.
This was evident on 31 minutes when Pisani flicked the ball in the path of Temile whose cross-shot was pushed away by Haber with Muscat clearing the ball before Effiong could connect.
The first notable move by Birkirkara produced a glorious chance seven minutes from half-time as Liliu, drifting to the left, created space before cutting the ball back to Haruna who was unmarked in the six-yard box.
The Nigerian looked certain to score but his firm drive was blocked by the sliding Mazzetti.
It was all Birkirkara now as their players pressed forward in numbers,
Haruna was unlucky not to open the scoring as his angled header came off the crossbar after Bissi had nodded the ball into the Nigerian's path from Agius's corner.
It was a close shave for Qormi but, in their next attack, Birkirkara went ahead.
It was Haruna who rose at the near post to meet Herrera's cross with the ball flashing against the inside of the far post before dropping into the net.
Just over 30 seconds from the start of the second half had passed when Temile veered infield from the right but his shot was too central to unnerve Haber.
Pisani also found space on the right wing but his rising shot was saved by Haber.
Pisani then released Temile who held off his marker but his cross from inside the box was headed away by Muscat.
Eight minutes into the second half, Qormi missed a great chance to equalise.
Running on to a long ball, Chetcuti controlled before flicking the ball to Effiong but the latter's grounder was wide.
The Qormi players could not believe their luck when Temile sprinted into the box to come one-on-one with Haber. The Birkirkara goalkeeper managed to keep out the first shot but the ball dropped to Temile who somehow contrived to rattle the woodwork from point blank.
Forced to defend for much of the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Birkirkara went close to a second goal but Liliu nodded wide from Agius's free-kick.
With 18 minutes remaining, Haber came to Birkirkara's rescue as he kept out Temile's cross-shot from a free-kick.
Mazzetti, who had a great game in Qormi's defence, almost levelled but his header from Pisani's corner was wide.
In a rare attack, Birkirkara almost administered the killer touch but Kurt Zammit, who had replaced Herrera, hit wide with only Farrugia to beat.
The Qormi goalkeeper then pushed away Agius's corner before Haruna rifled wide from the distance.
A minute from time, Haber was prominent again when parrying away Pisani's half-volley.
Birkirkara sealed their win on the stroke of time. Put through by Zammit, Haruna's first attempt was kept out by Farrugia but the Nigerian made no mistake from the rebound.
Haruna was named BOV player of the match.