Birkirkara 1
Avila-Perez 88;
Valletta 4
Denni 3; Zongo 15; Caruana 68; Effiong 90;

The chilly but dry weather was ideal for football. That, and the prospect of a gripping duel between rivals Valletta and Birkirkara, wooed a sizeable crowd to the National Stadium.

Energised by their vibrant display in the 4-0 rout of Balzan, Birkirkara were fancied to offer a stern challenge to the Citizens in a bid to lock up a top-six place.

Indeed, this fixture shaped up as an acid test for Valletta who, despite leading the title race for a number of months, had failed to capture their best form amid scepticism about their recruitment of a host of foreign players over the past five weeks.

Hibs had further augmented the pressure on the Citizens after their 2-1 win over Mosta moved them within a point of the summit but the Whites responded with a performance of true champions.

With Roderick Briffa excelling in an advanced midfield role, Valletta were in command from the off as two early goals set them en route to a convincing victory over a Birkirkara team who were distinctly second best on the day.

New signing Aleksandr Cekulajevs had been expected to make his debut for Valletta but the Latvian striker was not risked as the champions are still awaiting the MFA’s approval for his registration.

Italian defender Andrea Scozzese was among the substitutes.

Valletta’s starting XI showed two changes from the 5-2 win over Marsaxlokk as Burkinabe defender Saidou Mady Panandetigiuri and Roderick Bajada were handed first-team roles. Up front, Michael Mifsud was Valletta’s attacking pivot with Ousseni Zongo and Denni tearing up the wings.

The availability of Nikola Vukanac moved Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit into changing his centre-back pairing as the Serbian , who rejoined the Stripes last week, partnered Rodrigo Pereira.

Paul Fenech and Gareth Sciberras marshalled Birkirkara’s midfield behind Shaun Bajada and the front trio of Jorge, Shola Haruna and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza.

The Citizens were off to a flying start. Hardly three minutes from the initial whistle had elapsed when Mifsud made a diagonal run before hitting a low shot that was deflected into the path of Denni whose ghosting run had escaped the attentions of the Birkirkara defenders.

The Brazilian forward dispatched a low shot past Reuben Gauci to send the City fans into raptures.

Birkirkara’s first action of note came after five minutes when Haruna released Mifsud Triganza who fired high and wide.

Valletta remained the brisker side. Their superiority produced a second goal on 15 minutes when Briffa’s run into the box from the left exposed Birkirkara’s defensive frailties. The midfielder’s cross-shot was partially blocked by Vukanac but Zongo hammered home from the rebound.

The Stripes were up against it but they came close to pulling one back as Haruna’s humdinger crashed against the crossbar. Minutes later, Bajada also tried his luck from the distance but his effort sailed high.

Needing a goal to haul themselves back into contention, Birkirkara began to enjoy more possession but their forays foundered on the solid Valletta defence.

A minute past the half-hour, a long-range free-kick by Bajada flew into the hands of Hogg.

With their team 2-0 down, the Birkirkara fans were desperate for a tonic and they almost got one on 36 minutes when Zerafa set off on a run before freeing Mifsud Triganza whose curling effort was palmed away for a corner by Hogg. Shortly afterwards, Vukanac headed towards Hogg from Jorge’s cross.

The early stages of the second half offered little in the way of creative football. That was until 12 minutes into the second period when City conjured up a brilliant move.

Panandetigiuri bombed forward down the right flank before passing to Mifsud who crossed towards the far post. Denni lifted the ball to evade his marker and directed a low shot that was touched away by Gauci. The ball squirmed into the path of Zongo whose volley was pushed over the bar by Gauci after the Stripes defenders had cleared his first attempt.

Reprieved, Birkirkara got the ball up to Mifsud Triganza who shrugged off Jonathan Caruana but stumbled to the turf after being challenged from behind. “Penalty” screamed the Birkirkara fans but referee Fyodor Zammit saw nothing wrong.

At the other end, Birkirkara also survived a scare when Zongo’s ferocious shot rattled the crossbar.

Zammit introduced another striker, Spaniard Moises Avila-Perez who replaced defender Pereira.

Yet, it was Valletta who added a third midway into the second half. Having intercepted a Birkirkara attack deep in his own half, Caruana galloped forward to receive Denni’s return pass before beating Gauci with a perfectly-executed lob.

Three goals down, Birkirkara looked down and out. Bajada tried to infuse life into the Stripes but his free-kick hit the side-netting.

Valletta switched to cruise control. Six minutes from time, Jorge’s drive from the distance was saved in two attempts by the alert Hogg.

Birkirkara managed a consolation two minutes from time, Avila-Perez beating Hogg with a rising shot after receiving from Ryan Scicluna.

Valletta’s riposte was immediate. Gilbert Agius, who had replaced Mifsud, swung in a perfect cross from a free-kick and the unmarked Alfred Effiong, who had come in for Zongo, headed home.

Birkirkara
R. Gauci-5, N. Vukanac-5, J. Zerafa-6, G. Sciberras-5, S. Bajada-5.5 (79 R. Camenzuli), R. Pereira-5 (65 M. Avila-Perez-6), P. Fenech-5.5, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (70 R. Scicluna), S. Haruna-6.5, A. Buhagiar-5, Jorge-5.5.

Valletta
A. Hogg-6.5, J. Caruana-7, S. Borg-7, S.M. Panandetigiuri-7.5, I. Azzopardi-7, R. Bajada-6.5 (60 W. Barbosa-6), R. Briffa-8, E. Agius-6.5, O. Zongo-8 (86 A. Effiong), Denni-7, M. Mifsud-6.5 (89 G. Agius).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Bajada; Zongo; Vukanac; Haruna.

BOV player of the match: Ousseni Zongo (Valletta).

Attendance: 2,610.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Valletta	20	16	3	1	49	16	51
Hibernians	20	14	5	1	49	15	47
Floriana	20	12	4	4	33	18	40
Sliema	20	6	11	3	29	23	29
Birkirkara	20	9	2	9	28	27	29
Balzan	20	8	4	8	27	32	28
Qormi	20	8	2	10	33	33	26
Mqabba	20	5	5	0	24	34	20
Mosta	20	5	5	10	20	33	20
Tarxien	20	4	4	12	25	42	16
Ħamrun	20	4	4	12	24	47	16
Marsaxlokk	20	3	3	14	24	45	12