Lucky Omeruo, of Tarxien Rainbows, defends possession from Ryan Scicluna as Birkirkara team-mate Ryan Camenzuli looks on. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Birkirkara 1
Camenzuli 48;
Tarxien Rainbows 0

Birkirkara boast a plethora of experienced players but it is one of the squad’s younger elements who is making an impact this season.

Ryan Camenzuli was a unanimous choice for the player of the match accolade after the Malta Under-21 winger, already capped twice at senior level, produced a brisk performance to inspire Birkirkara to a hard-earned win over Tarxien.

Like the rest of his team-mates, Camenzuli hit his stride after the change of ends, scoring the winning goal with a rasping drive and engineering Birkirkara’s best chances with his slick movement on the wings.

While Camenzuli deservedly earned the plaudits, Birkirkara’s second-half revival also owed to the introduction of Frank Temile as the Nigerian initiated the move that led to the goal and generally made a very positive contribution.

Having thrown away a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw against Naxxar, Birkirkara were visibly delighted and relieved to clear this tricky hurdle as the win took them within two points of top spot.

Before kick-off, Birkirkara captain Gareth Sciberras presented flowers to Alex Alves Paixao as a sign of respect after the Tarxien right-back’s brother was killed in Brazil last weekend.

The sparse crowd then joined the two teams and match officials in observing a minute’s silence.

Paixao took his usual place on the right of Tarxien’s defence in which Daniel Zerafa replaced the suspended Ebiabowei Baker.

Tarxien coach Jacques Scerri again favoured a 4-2-3-1 module with Luke Montebello the lone striker.

Rowen Muscat had to make do with a place on the bench as Tedesco deployed Emerson Marcelina and Sciberras in front of defence. Midfielder Paul Fenech was missing through injury. It was 4-3-3 from Tedesco with Liliu and Camenzuli playing either side of Vito Plut.

It was not before the 11th minute that either side fashioned a notable chance. Liliu adjusted his body to meet a cross from the left but his half-volley was wide.

A typically insidious corner from Ayrton Azzopardi wreaked havoc in the Birkirkara box before Plut cleared. Azzopardi whipped in another cross but goalkeeper Justin Haber fisted the ball away.

Tarxien’s pressing and ability to get the ball to their wide players unsettled Birkirkara. On one occasion, Azzopardi sidestepped his marker before putting in a fine pass to Montebello but he lifted his shot over the bar.

Azzopardi was proving a handful for the yellow-shirted defenders with his neat turns and footwork. On 28 minutes, Azzopardi was wide with a free-kick after he was hauled down by Joseph Zerafa.

Not to be outshone, Camenzuli also demonstrated his deadball prowess as his corner soared towards goal but keeper Andrea Cassar tipped the ball over the bar.

The Birkirkara players were furious when Zerafa’s cross appeared to glance off Bruno’s arm but referee Trustin Farrugia Cann allowed play to continue. Tempers threatened to boil over as the agitated Tedesco was livid on the touchline.

At half-time, the Stripes coach withdrew the erratic Marcelina and brought on Temile.

The move paid instant dividends. Barely three minutes from the restart had passed when Temile sped forward before passing to Liliu who swiftly switched the ball to his left where Camenzuli’s well-struck drive had the better of Cassar.

Tarxien might have equalised as Montebello flicked the ball past the on-rushing Haber but his tame effort was intercepted by Mauricio Mazzetti.

Paixao produced a scorcher from the distance but the shot was marginally high.

With Temile and Camenzuli on the wings and Liliu moving closer to Plut in the centre, Birkirkara carried more of a threat.

On 64 minutes, Camenzuli’s inswinger eluded the Tarxien defenders but Liliu made a hash of controlling the ball.

Unimpressed with his team’s attacking thrust, Scerri made a double substitution, throwing on Danilo and Anderson for Montebello and Lucky Omeruo.

The game petered out as Tarxien’s reaction was sterile.

Camenzuli dragged in another menacing free-kick but the Rainbows defenders cleared. Four minutes from time, Rowen Muscat, who had come on for Ryan Scicluna, had a shot deflected away for a corner after another Camenzuli-inspired move.

In stoppage time, Tarxien’s Zerafa was relieved to see the ball roll wide after he had dashed back to cut out Rowen Muscat’s cross.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-6, Z. Muscat-6, M. Mazzetti-6.5, N. Vukanac-6, J. Zerafa-6, E. Marcelina-4 (46 F. Temile-6.5), G. Sciberras-6.5, R. Scicluna-6 (73 R. Muscat), R. Camenzuli-7.5, Liliu-6 (82 E. Agius), V. Plut-5.

Tarxien Rainbows
A. Cassar-5.5, Bruno-6 (45 M. Tabone-5.5), T. Caruana-6, B. Muscat-5, A. Azzopardi-6.5, L. Omeruo-4 (72 Anderson-4), C. Hevia Menendez-6.5, L. Montebello-5.5 (72 Danilo-5), D. Zerafa-6, A. Paixao-6, J. Pedro-5.5.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Camenzuli; Marcelina; Liliu; Menendez; Scicluna; B. Muscat.

BOV player of the match: Ryan Camenzuli (Birkirkara).