Tarxien Rainbows 1
Jorge 88;
Birkirkara 3
Jhonnattann 45; Haruna 71; D. Zerafa 89;

There is no prize for finishing on top of the standings at the end of the first phase of the BOV Premier League.

But Birkirkara maintained their six-point buffer over their nearest rivals Valletta ahead of this weekend’s showdown.

The Citizens had threw down the gauntlet on Sunday by thrashing Rabat 6-1. But Birkirkara responded to the task with an efficient all-round display to register their 13th consecutive victory.

Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit opted for 4-2-3-1 with Frank Temile, Shola Haruna and Ryan Scicluna supporting lone striker Jhonnattann. Rowen Muscat was missing for the champions.

Ronaille, who is expected to join Birkirkara in a swap loan deal involving Demba Toure this week, was Tarxien’s front man with Jorge roaming behind the Brazilian in a prudent 4-4-1-1 configuration.

The Stripes started brightly but their early efforts were easily dealt with by the Tarxien defence. Their attacking trident was granted licence to interchange upfront with Joseph Zerafa pushing up on the left flank. It wasn’t before the 20th minute that they fashioned a decent chance, Haruna heading wide from Edward Herrera’s cross.

Six minutes later, Jhonnattann reached Haruna’s delivery on the right flank. However, when he pulled the trigger in came Temile who inadvertently blocked the way.

The Stripes were enjoying a greater share of possession but there was always the danger that they could be caught unawares by a Tarxien counter-attack.

Jorge demonstrated his penetrative qualities on 41 minutes when he sensed an opening in the Birkirkara defence before releasing Ronaille whose rising shot was repelled by Justin Haber. From the ensuing corner, Hevia served William Barbosa whose acrobatic scissor-kick was cleared off the line by Alejandro Mendoza.

As the Rainbows hit a purple patch, Birkirkara punished their flat-out approach with a devastating counter-attack.

Tarxien defender Fernando Lopez Alcantara lost his balance when he was about to close down Paul Fenech’s through pass with the consequence that the ball rolled in the Tarxien box. A burst of pace from Jhonnattann saw him through to reach Fenech’s pass before slotting the ball behind the onrushing Nicky Vella, the Tarxien goalkeeper.

Albeit sporadically, Birkirkara tried to play the game as it should be, one-touch on the ground when in possession but a stubborn Tarxien defence held their opponents at arm’s length.

Shy the hour mark, Tarxien issued a reminder of their attacking threat when substitute Josef Mifsud was allowed time and space in the box to head the ball from Jorge’s free-kick wide.

The striped-shirted players went up at the other end and Fenech’s swerving shot caressed the post.

In the 71st minute, the impressive Haruna, whose powerful running was a striking feature all evening, zipped open the Tarxien defence with a mazy run before arrowing a shot into the far corner of the net.

Birkirkara were now in cruise mode. Ten minutes from time, Nikola Vukanac swivelled on the left flank before hitting a grounder on the turn which came off the foot of the post with Vella beaten.

Six minutes later, Temile went close to increasing the lead as he stretched his leg to reach Herrera’s inswinger from the right wing but Vella leapt to his right to push the ball around the post.

Against the run of play, Jorge handed Tarxien a lifeline on 88 minutes. Hevia’s intelligent pass opened up the Birkirkara defence as the ball rolled towards Jorge who drilled his shot past Haber.

Tarxien’s meagre consolation didn’t last long as, moments later, Birkirkara regained their two-goal cushion. The goal came from an unlikely source as substitute Daniel Zerafa controlled the ball before hitting a firm low drive that had the better of the startled Vella.

Tarxien Rainbows
N. Vella-5, M. Caruana-5, F. Lopez-5 (75 M. Ciantar), A. Agius-5.5 (54 K. Pulo-6), L. Martinelli-6, Ronaille-5.5, W. Barbosa-5 (44 J. Mifsud-6), R. Sammut-5, C. Menendez Hevia-6.5, S. Bonnici-6, Jorge-6.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-6.5, J. Zerafa-7, A. Mendoza-6, N. Vukanac-6, Jhonnattann-7 (89 Z. Muscat), G. Sciberras-7, F. Temile-6, R. Scicluna-6 (78 D. Zerafa), S.S. Haruna-6.5 (72 R. Camenzuli), P. Fenech-7, E. Herrera-6.5.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Agius; J. Zerafa; Sciberras; Hevia.

BOV player of the match: Gareth Sciberras (Birkirkara).

Attendance: 796.

Standings