Birkirkara 2
Haruna 45, 90;
Qormi 0

The 2-0 scoreline might suggest that Birkirkara enjoyed a straightforward win but it was anything but.

On another frustrating afternoon for the misfiring Stripes, the only positives for coach Paul Zammit were the improved performance of Nigerian striker Shola Shodiya Haruna and goalkeeper Justin Haber’s reassuring display.

Indeed, were it not for these two players, Birkirkara would probably have lost as Qormi created a hatful of scoring opportunities, especially in the second half, but wayward finishing and Haber’s defiance shattered their chances of taking something from the match.

While Qormi, who have now gone seven matches without a win, were left to rue their inability to make the most of their chances, Birkirkara were indebted to Haruna as the Nigerian struck at the end of both halves to spare his team’s blushes.

Zammit will have been relieved to receive the all-clear to field goalkeeper Haber, Zach Muscat and Haruna as the trio had been ranked doubtful.

With Paul Fenech and Ryan Scicluna ruled out with suspension, Matheus Bissi, back in the mix after serving a one-match ban, was assigned screening duties in front of the back three with Edmond Agius flanked captain Gareth Sciberras taking up the other two central positions in Zammit’s 3-1-4-2 approach.

Rafael Ledesma was also missing as the Brazilian failed to recover from injury.

Qormi’s defensive resources were boosted by the return of Mauricio Mazzetti, Zoran Levnaic and Bjorn Bondin.

The absence of Anderson, who has been given permission to return to Brazil for family reasons, paved the way for Bjorn Bondin to play alongside Nigerian Albert Bruce in central midfield as coach Josef Mansueto opted for 4-2-3-1.

Temile miscued his shot after a one-two with Alfred Effiong and, at the other end, Haruna headed over from Agius’s corner after 15 minutes.

Neither side was able to impose itself on the game for much of the opening 20 minutes with the result that scoring chances were a rarity.

Ryan Camenzuli, pushing forward on the left, tried to surprise Matthew Farrugia with a dipping cross-shot but the Qormi goalkeeper was well-positioned to save.

It was then Qormi’s turn to threaten as, on 25 minutes, Temile guided a pass to Effiong who tried to shake off Zach Muscat. The Nigerian’s initial attempt was blocked by the Birkirkara defender and, from the rebound, Effiong rifled wide.

Haruna and Liliu, the two Birkirkara forwards, were finding it hard to make headway in attack as Mazzetti and Levnaic were defending well.

Birkirkara’s Edward Herrera was wide with a diagonal effort from an angled position but Qormi were the more creative side in attack.

This was evident on 31 minutes when Pisani lofted the ball in the path of Temile whose cross-shot was parried away by Haber with Muscat clearing the ball before Effiong could connect.

The first flowing move by Birkirkara yielded a gilt-edged chance seven minutes from half-time as Liliu, drifting wide to good effect, created space before laying the ball back to Haruna who was unmarked in the six-yard box.

The Nigerian looked odds-on to score but his firm drive was repelled by the sliding Mazzetti.

Birkirkara gained ground thanks to the improved movement of their midfielders and the strikers, with Liliu often dropping deep to play a more active part in the build-up and Haruna looked to have finally grasped the demands of the target man’s role.

Haruna was unlucky not to score as his angled header cannoned off the crossbar after Bissi had nodded the ball into the Nigerian’s path from Agius’s corner.

Qormi were let off the hook but not for long as, on the brink of half-time, Birkirkara broke the deadlock.

It was Haruna who rose to meet Herrera’s cross with the ball hitting 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 cut in from the right but his shot was too central to trouble Haber.

Pisani also found space to drift infield from the right wing but his rising shot was saved by Haber.

Qormi continued to cause Birkirkara problems on that right flank and on one occasion, Pisani 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 squandered a glorious chance to equalise.

Latching on to a long ball, Joseph Chetcuti controlled before flicking the ball to Effiong but the latter’s grounder was tame and wide.

The Qormi players could not believe their luck when Temile glided into the box to come one-on-one with Haber. The Birkirkara goalkeeper managed to keep out the first shot but the ball fell kindly to Temile who somehow contrived to hit the woodwork from point blank.

The ball landed in the six-yard box as Temile tried to get a touch but the Birkirkara defenders cleared.

Pegged back for much of the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Birkirkara went close to a second goal but Liliu headed wide from Agius’s free-kick.

Ryan Micallef, who had just come on for Chetcuti, had a low shot stopped by Haber as Qormi piled up the pressure.

Haber denied Qormi again when keeping out Temile’s cross-shot from an angled free-kick.The Birkirkara goalkeeper needed medical attention after throwing himself in the way of Effiong’s follow-on shot.

Mazzetti, an immovable figure in Qormi’s defence, almost made an impact at the other end but headed wide from Pisani’s corner.

In a rare attack, Birkirkara almost struck the killer blow but Kurt Zammit, who had replaced Herrera, hit wide with only Farrugia to beat.

The Qormi keeper then palmed away Agius’s corner before Haruna drove wide from the distance.

A minute from time, Haber was prominent again, effecting a spectacular save to smother away Pisani’s half-volley.

Birkirkara sealed their win on the stroke of time. Put through by Zammit, Haruna’s first attempt was beaten away by Farrugia but he made no mistake from the rebound.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-7.5, N. Vukanac-5.5, Liliu-5.5 (75 Eliandro), M. Bissi-5, S.S. Haruna-6.5 (90 A. Borg), G. Sciberras-5.5, A. Mendoza-5, Z. Muscat-5.5, E. Agius-5, R. Camenzuli-5, E. Herrera-5.5 (74 K. Zammit-6.5).

Qormi
M. Farrugia-5.5, A. Bruce-6, B. Bondin-6 (85 C. Farrugia), M. Mazzetti-8, J. Chetcuti-6 (65 R. Micallef-6.5), A. Effiong-4, F. Temile-6.5, E. Vella-6.5, Z. Levnaic-6.5, D. Pisani-7, J. Bondin-6.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Levnaic; Vella; Vukanac.

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

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