Mqabba 2
Mamic 51, 76;
Birkirkara 2
Avila 16; Pereira 74;
Mqabba are a breath of fresh air. Caution is usually the name of the game for newly-promoted sides, especially when squaring up to one of the big guns, but Mqabba are different.
Coming from a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Marsaxlokk, Mqabba showed that their maiden success in this season’s Premier League was no fluke as they twice hit back from a goal down to earn a merited point in a 2-2 draw with the more-quoted Birkirkara.
Bojan Mamic stole the headlines as the Serbian forward capped another fine performance with a brace but Mqabba and their coach Clive Mizzi deserve collective credit for another fearless and bright showing that laid bare Birkirkara’s limitations in defence and midfield.
While Mqabba’s bold efforts belied their status as likely relegation contenders, Birkirkara failed to justify their lofty credentials after another below-par display that did little to improve their chances of returning to winning ways after the 3-0 defeat to Hibs.
That upset induced Birkirkara coach Patrick Curmi to make two changes to his starting formation as Andrew Decesare, back from suspension, and Ryan Scicluna were preferred to Terence Vella and Alan Tabone.
John Paul Muscat stepped into the boots of the suspended Thiago Mazzittelli for Mqabba.
The Stripes created a dangerous attack straight from kick-off. Trevor Cilia surged clear on the left before crossing for the advancing Leighton Grech who lifted his shot over the bar.
In their first foray into Bir-kirkara’s half, Mqabba also came close to taking an early lead but Mamic’s strike was deflected away for a corner. Birkirkara keeper Jorge Mora missed Pierre Grima’s inswinger but Branislav Timotic headed wide.
Mqabba never hesitated to push forward. They should have opened the scoring when Muscat picked out Claudio Calleja but his effort was blocked by Mora.
The tit-for-tat pattern continued as Birkirkara hit the jackpot in their next attack. Latching on a through-ball from Decesare, Avila Perez sprinted into the box and stroked the ball past Kris Calleja.
More scoring chances followed. Muscat blasted against the side-netting but it was Birkirkara who almost doubled their lead on 21 minutes.
Calleja palmed away a dangerous cross-shot from Cilia but the loose ball fell to Angus Buhagiar who put in a cross from Grech.
The Malta U-21 winger squared to Avila who fired over.
Mqabba refused to lie down. They stuck to their positive approach, their sprightly movement and crisp passing posing problems to the Birkirkara defence.
Marko Potezica was close to an equaliser as his long-range drive took a deflection but Mora somehow managed to stop the ball with his legs. Moments later, Muscat sent his shot over the bar at the end of a fine Mqabba move.
The blue-shirted players gained a deserved equaliser six minutes into the second half.
Andrew Scicluna’s long ball into the area troubled the Birkirkara defence as Mamic exchanged passes with Muscat before hitting past Mora.
Mamic engineered another excellent move as he left two defenders in his wake before sending in a low cross for Calleja whose effort was blocked by Decesare.
It took Birkirkara a while to rediscover a semblance of fluency as Mqabba had been the better side for much of the opening 25 minutes of the second period.
Grech took it upon himself to try and spur Birkirkara to greater efforts but his surging runs were all neutralised by the Mqabba defence.
But the misfiring Stripes suddenly sprang to life. They regained the lead when Avila Perez headed Grech’s free-kick across the face of goal and Rodrigo Pereira outjumped Calleja to nod the ball home 16 minutes from time.
But, the Stripes’ joy was shortlived as Mqabba levelled two minutes later. Profiting from a mix-up in the Birkirkara defence, Mamic retrieved possession and strode clear before placing his shot past Mora.
Calleja thwarted Birkirkara when punching away a volley by substitute Terence Vella following a cross from Buhagiar.
With two minutes remaining, Mamic made way for Ryan Sammut after the Serbian striker picked up a knock but Mqabba held on to their point.
Mqabba: K. Calleja-6, P. Grima-6.5, M. Potezica-7, A. Scicluna-6, B. Timotic-7, D. Azzopardi-6 (75 J. Paris), C. Calleja-6.5, J.P. Muscat-6.5 (58 M. Briffa-6), M. Bonnici-6, C. Micallef-6, B. Mamic-8.5 (88 R. Sammut).
Birkirkara: J. Mora-5.5, R. Scicluna-5.5 (71 A. Tabone-5), R. Pereira-6, G. Sciberras-6, P. Fenech-5, T. Cilia-5, A. Decesare-6, M. Avila Perez-7, L. Grech-6.5 (77 T. Vella), J. Zerafa-5, A. Buhagiar-5.
Referee: Mario Apap.
Yellow cards: Buhagiar; Briffa; Sammut.
BOV player of the match: Bojan Mamic (Mqabba).