Dingli Swallows 2
Birżebbuġa SP 1
Dingli Swallows defeated Birżebbuġa St Peter’s to secure their Division One status on the final day of the season. Borislav Giorev’s team took full advantage of relegation rivals St Patrick’s slip to finish three points clear of the relegation zone.
The Swallows started the game in lively mode and threatened first inside the first three minutes. Daniel Cilia made a good run before unleashing a low drive just wide.
Dingli’s pressure ensured Birżebbuġa struggled to get out of their own territory as the one-way traffic continued on 25 minutes when Carlos Porcari’s free-kick was blocked by the wall but it fell kindly to the Brazilian again before driving a fierce shot that Ivan Casha, the Birżebbuġa goalkeeper, could only tip over the bar.
It looked only a matter of time before Dingli got in front and they forged ahead on the half hour mark when referee Clayton Pisani pointed to the spot after Dennis Baldacchino clumsily clashed with Cilia. From the ensuing penalty, Porcari buried the ball behind Casha via the foot of the post.
The few Swallows supporters on the stands had plenty to cheer as news filtered through that rivals St Patrick were losing to Lija, finding themselves within touching distance of survival.
Six minutes later, Dingli could have doubled their lead but Casha made an excellent save to deny Leontiev Konda.
Cilia doubled Dingli’s lead in the 56th minute through a freakish goalmouth scramble when Cilia slipped as he planted his standing foot to tap-in a cross by Porcari. However, the striker touched the ball just enough to elude the goalkeeper and push it over the line.
After 70 minutes, Porcari stung Casha’s fingers with a shot from an acute angle. Two minutes later, only a sharp reflex save by the Birżebbuġa keeper stopped Konda from scoring with a header.
It was not before the 89th minute that Birżebbuġa had the first glimpse of goal when Kevin Borg’s free-kick was deflected by the wall.
From the ensuing corner, Borg found some room on the right flank, ran with menace at the Dingli defence and won a penalty as he was felled by Alex Portelli.
Glenn Tanti made no mistake by sending the Dingli goalkeeper the wrong way to set-up a nervy finale for the Swallows.
The final whistle saw a nervous wait but the news of the St Patrick result eventually reached the Swallows in the dressing rooms and celebrations could start.
Dingli: J. Farrugia, F. Owusu, R. Micallef, A. Portelli, L. Konda, K. Formosa (K. Asciak), E. Farrugia, C. Porcari, R. Vella (K. Fenech), D. Cilia (J. Sapiano), C.Azzopardi.
Birżebbuġa: I. Casha (F. Attard), K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino (A. Cutajar), D. Baldacchino, R. Peplow, A. Dalli (C. Frendo), G. Tanti, K. Borg, P.Camilleri, K. Muscat, M. Sciortino.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Man of the match: Carlos Porcari (Dingli).