Balzan Youths 0
Birkirkara 4
Haruna 13; Mifsud Triganza 43; Jorge 70; Camilleri 90;

Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit exchanged high fives with Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza as the latter left the pitch after being substituted 17 minutes from time.

Signed from Sliema Wanderers to boost the Stripes’ misfiring attack, Mifsud Triganza did just that yesterday as he capped a lively debut performance with a goal and also had a hand in the team’s opener.

Mifsud Triganza’s terrific impact and a sprightly all-round performance from the entire team, especially in attack where Jorge and Shola Haruna also had a good match, eased the pressure on Zammit who had grown exasperated by his players’ struggles to close out matches for want of a cutting edge.

Talk of a Birkirkara crisis loomed over this critical match against fellow top-six challengers Balzan Youths who started the day one point ahead of their opponents in fifth place.

Yesterday, Ivan Zammit’s troops were outfought and outclassed by the Stripes who have now made a giant step towards gaining a place in the Championship Pool as they are fourth on 29 points, six ahead of the seventh-placed Qormi with only three games to go before the end of the first phase.

Mifsud Triganza took up the central attacking role in a 4-2-3-1 module that featured three attacking midfielders in Shaun Bajada, Jorge and the returning Haruna.

Moises Avila-Perez, troubled by a back injury, started on the bench, Rowen Muscat was sidelined with an ankle problem and Ryan Scicluna was serving a one-match ban.

Jonathan Francica and Bledjon Guga were restored to Balzan’s starting XI after serving their one-match ban. Balzan started with Anthony Eviparker leading the line and Pedrinho and Martin Deanov granted freedom to roam in search of openings.

Inside the opening two minutes, Balzan keeper Matthew Camilleri fisted away a dangerous corner by Shaun Bajada.

It was all Birkirkara in the initial exchanges, Angus Buhagiar swung in a teasing cross from the right but Bajada’s effort was too central to trouble the well-positioned Camilleri.

The Stripes’ brisk start produced a breakthrough on 13 minutes. Mifsud Triganza orchestrated the move as the former Sliema forward unhinged the Balzan defence with a bursting run in the inside-left channel before guiding a perfect crossfield pass to Haruna who scored with a clinical finish.

It was not before the 23rd minute that Balzan fashioned their first chance. Deanov charged into the box after exchanging passes with Eviparker but the Bulgarian-born midfielder blasted over.

Balzan had been second best for much of the opening 25 minutes but they began to ask more questions of the Birkirkara defence as the minutes trickled by, helped in no small measure by the running of Eviparker and the clever movement of Deanov.

With seven minutes of the first half remaining, Birkirkara had a golden chance to double their lead when Jorge, profiting from a mistake by the unsteady Balzan defenders, bore down on goal through the middle before switching the ball to Mifsud Triganza but the latter’s weak effort was deflected away for a corner by Camilleri.

Bajada’s flag-kick was only partially repelled by Balzan as Evi-parker’s miscued kick fell invitingly to Jorge but the Brazilian sent his shot over the bar.

Balzan were let off the hook but the reprieve was temporary. Their difficulties to contain Birkirkara’s speedy forays down the wings were laid bare as the pacy Jorge got behind the Stripes’ defence on the right and centred for Mifsud Triganza who prodded home.

Two enforced substitutions – Bjorn Bondin and Miguel Ciantar came in for Roderick Farrugia and Francica – didn’t help Balzan’s cause as the coach was forced into a tactical rejig not once but twice.

The second half had only just started when Balzan’s Nikola Tasic headed over from Clifton Ciantar’s cross.

Ten minutes into the second half, Jorge, one of Birkirkara’s most effective players, dashed into the box after pressing by the Stripes had again hustled Balzan out of possession.

Camilleri got a hand to Jorge’s low shot but the ball rolled towards the far post where Mifsud Triganza applied the finishing touch only for the ‘goal’ to be ruled out for offside.

On another occasion, Mifsud Triganza, oozing confidence, tried to lob Camilleri from long range but the Balzan goalkeeper saved.

The game was as good as over when Birkirkara made it 3-0 on 70 minutes.

Not for the first time, Balzan were found wanting at the back, their defenders standing off as Haruna accelerated into the box and laid the ball for Jorge whose low drive was fumbled by Camilleri.

Pedrinho’s venomous free-kick was off target for Balzan but it was Birkirkara who remained the more dangerous side.

Bajada put in a dangerous cross into the goalmouth but Avila-Perez, who had replaced Mifsud Triganza, was intercepted by Camilleri.

Balzan’s defensive woes continued as Jorge rounded Camilleri but his angled shot was cleared off the line by Ciantar.

On the stroke of time, Birkirkara added a fourth goal, substitute Michael Camilleri guiding Bajada’s set-piece cross from the left past Camilleri.

Balzan Youths
M. Camilleri-4, R. Farrugia-5 (25 B. Bondin-4), C. Ciantar-5, B. Guga-5, Y. Camilleri-5, J. Francica-5.5 (41 M. Ciantar-4), D. Grima-4, N. Tasic-5, Pedrinho-4, M. Deanov-5, A. Eviparker-5 (72 L. Micallef-5).

Birkirkara
R. Gauci-5, R. Pereira-6.5, G. Sciberras-6.5, J. Zerafa-7, S. Bajada-7, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-7.5 (73 M. Avila-Perez), Jorge-7.5, P. Fenech-6.5 (90 F. Zammit), S. Haruna-6.5 (84 M. Camilleri), R. Camenzuli-6.5, A. Buhagiar-6.5.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Yellow cards: Francica; Buhagiar; Ciantar; Pedrinho; Camenzuli; Fenech.

BOV player of the match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (Birkirkara).

Attendances: 826.