Birkirkara 2
Vukanac 32; Mifsud Triganza 59
Rabat Ajax 0

A gallant Rabat Ajax side made Premier league leaders Birkirkara sweat yesterday.

On paper, the Stripes were not expected to encounter much trouble to overcome the newly-promoted Magpies, who had only a point two show before yesterday’s match.

But the Magpies showed the right work ethic, tactical discipline and team spirit to prove a hard-nut to crack for the star-studded opponents, showing that even a team with limited resources, can do well in the top flight.

Although the Stripes’ display was far from convincing, the only thing that mattered for them yesterday was to have maintained their pristine opening for their third consecutive victory and they were clearly relieved to have reached their aim at the end of the match.

Injuries deprived Birkirkara of Brazilian striker Joselito as Ryan Scicluna was suspended for yesterday’s game.

Nevertheless, coach Paul Zammit was still able to field a strong line-up as he awarded first-team recalls to Joseph Zerafa and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza with Nikola Vukanac returning following a three-match suspension.

The left-back position seems to be a recurring problem for Rabat as their coach Silvio Vella changed again, withdrew winger David Azzopardi to a more defensive role while midfielder Joseph Caruana was promoted to the starting line-up in a bid to bring a bit of steel to the team.

As expected, it was Birkirkara who made the stronger start.

After seven minutes, Ryan Camenzuli advanced on the left flank before his cross was headed wide by Jhonnattan.

The Stripes continued to monopolise possession without stretching the Magpies rearguard beyond routine work.

On 15 minutes, Jhonnattan, a constant threat with his direct running, flashed a ball across the face of goal but found no takers until Rowen Muscat hit the post from a tight angle.

The defensive-minded Rabat began to find their rhythm midway through the first half with the midfield trio of Adam Smeir, Caruana and Manuel Fuster showing good understanding between them.

On 23 minutes, a flowing move saw the Spaniard switching the ball to Smeir before the nippy striker went down in the area when trying to beat Birkirkara goalkeeper Reuben Gauci but referee Fyodor Zammit booked the Rabat striker for simulation instead of awarding the penalty.

The Stripes were far from their best but Camenzuli was causing all sorts of problems on the left flank, running at Yan Cauchi ruthlessly with terrifying pace.

On 32 minutes, Jhonnattan supplied a square pass from a corner for Vukanac who rose above everyone to head the ball home.

The goal should have been the signal for Birkirkara to get on the front foot but the opposite happened, with Rabat gaining more possession.

The Magpies thought they had equalised when Ryan Micallef directed his shot past Gauci but assistant referee Chris Francalanza raised his flag to signal an offside infringement even though a swarm black-and-white shirted players protested vehemently claiming that the Rabat player was kept on side by Alejandro Mendoza.

The Magpies almost stunned their more-quoted opponents again when two minutes into the second half Smeir conjured a perfectly-hit free-kick that Gauci tipped around the post.

The striped-shirted players went up at the other end and scored again.

The modus operandi was always the same but this time, Jhonnattann sent another precise corner for Mifsud Triganza who tapped in from close-range.

On 65 minutes, the former Hibernians midfielder Edward Herrera was introduced to a standing ovation for his first taste of life as Birkirkara player as Heiner Backhaus had earlier entered the fray to shore-up the Ajax midfield.

Birkirkara were now showing signs of revival as they worked up a head of steam.

Thirteen minutes from time, the impressive Jhonnattann swung in a dangerous free-kick just off the target.

In the dying moments, substitute Shodiya almost added a third for Birkirkara when he broke clear on the right before unleashing a low drive which Rabat goalkeeper Sean Mintoff did well to block.

But that would have been too much for the brave Rabat side.

Birkirkara: R. Gauci-6, A. Mendoza-5, R.Camenzuli-6 (65 E. Herrera-4), G. Sciberras-7, R. Muscat-6, P. Fenech-6, Jhonnattan-7, Z. Muscat-6, J. Zerafa-6 (82 F. Zammit), J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6 (73 S. Haruna), N. Vukanac-6.

Rabat Ajax: S. Mintoff-6, C. Schembri-6.5, I. Carapic-6.5, J. Caruana-7, N. Astrauskas-6.5, A. Smeir-7.5 (82 N. Farrugia), M. Fuster-7 (87 C. Muscat), D. Falzon-6, R. Micallef-6.5, D. Azzopardi-6, Y. Cauchi-5 (53 H. Backhaus-5).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Caruana, Smeir, Muscat, Fenech, Backhaus.

BOV player of the match: Jhonnattan ( Birkirkara).

Qormi add Caruana, Zarate before deadline

Hibs vs Melita (today 6.30pm, National Stadium).

Hibernians will fancy their chances of preserving their perfect record when they take on lowly Melita today.

Michael Woods, the Hibernians coach, is still without striker Jean Paul Farrugia (flu) while Triston Caruana yesterday left for another loan stint at Qormi. The Paolites tried hard this week to find a replacement for the departed Edward Herrera but their efforts proved futile.

Melita, on their part, will have Serb defender Ivan Tufegdzic and French midfielder Maxine Batel available after joining the Amateurs this week. However, injured duo Michael Martin and Ramon Serra Camacho remain sidelined.

Valletta vs Qormi (today 8.30pm, National Stadium).

Michael Mifsud is Valletta’s major doubt as the champions look to maintain their strong start to the league.

Mifsud is recovering from a groin injury and will undergo a late fitness test to see whether he can be included in the squad.

Tonight, Qormi could give debut to new signing Edison Zarate, a Chile midfielder who is the twin brother of Jonathan Zarate, formerly of Pietà Hotspurs. Triston Caruana, however, will have to wait for his first showing as he is still recovering from knee surgery.

The Yellow-Blacks were yesterday in talks with Floriana over a possible swap deal which would have seen Aboubaker Bello Osagie and Matthew Bartolo joining the Greens with Owen Bugeja and Ryan Darmanin moving the other direction but no agreement was reached.

Ħamrun Spartans vs Tarxien (tomorrow 6.30pm, National Stadium).

Clive Mizzi will make his first appearance as Tarxien coach when he leads his new team against Ħamrun.

Mizzi, who replaced Danilo Doncic earlier this week, will be looking to steer the Rainbows to their first league win of the season and is boosted by the availability of new players Roderick Bajada, Andrezinho and David Fenech who joined this week.

Brazilian striker Danilo, who saw red in the 3-2 defeat to Sliema, starts a two-match ban.

Ħamrun, also in search of their first win, have their fair share of injury worries as this week they lost striker Terrence Scerri who has been ruled out for six months with a cruciate knee injury. Defender Roderick Fenech is banned while winger Gianluca Calabretta (ankle) is doubtful.

Richard Brightwell, an English midfielder with a Maltese passport, could make his Spartans debut this weekend after completing his transfer before the deadline.

Balzan vs Floriana (tomorrow 8.30pm, National Stadium).

A tight match is in prospect between these two Championship Pool hopefuls still without a win after two outings.

Balzan coach Ivan Zammit will make his return to the dug-out after completing a three-match touchline ban. Balzan have added forward Christian Caruana to their squad this week but the former Floriana striker is unlikely to feature due to a niggling foot injury.

Ryan Darmanin was another player who could have joined Balzan from Floriana yesterday but the Greens decided to retain his services at the 11th hour even though Christian Cassar had his contract rescinded as the club is seeking to ease its financial worries.

Mark Wright, the Floriana coach, must check the fitness of English duo Aman Verma and Aaron Brown, both nursing injuries.