Birkirkara 0
Balzan 1
Mifsud Triganza 35;

Birkirkara’s league season ended as it started. A 1-0 defeat to Balzan, the same team that had inflicted the first loss in a procession of below par performances last September, brought a disappointing end to an opaque campaign.

On their part, Balzan put some colourful touches to a memorable campaign in which they qualified for European football for the first time.

The only positive feature of Birkirkara’s outing yesterday was that despite the defeat they kept the third spot, one point above Balzan.

Given the paltry interest in yesterday's encounter, one expected wholesale changes in the starting formations of Birkirkara and Balzan but the reshuffle was not as drastic as many might had predicted.

Oliver Spiteri effected three changes from the team that lost to Valletta last week.

Lydon Micallef, Jean Mifsud Triganza and Luke Sciberras were drafted back into the starting formation at the expense of Terence Agius, Justin Grioli and Ryan Darmanin, all relegated to the bench.

The exclusion of Justin Haber, Edward Herrera, Zach Muscat, Rafael Ledesma and Paul Fenech did not prevent the team piloted by Paul Zammit from moving forward with purpose.

The Stripes outfit included Kurt Zammit who made fleeting appearances for the team this season while Liliu was back in the starting formation after recovering full fitness following a long lay-off.

These two players combined well after 18 minutes but the Brazilian shot high over the bar.

On 33 minutes, Mifsud Triganza profited from the slack defending of his opponents but his long-range lob finished over.

But two minutes later, the former Birkirkara striker made no mistake as he showed great skill to lift a cheeky lob over the onrushing Mirza Hamzabegovic from a tight angle after being served by Micallef.

This goal helped the Reds striker to reach a personal milestone by scoring his 117th league goal.

Four minutes from half-time, a good Stripes move set up Liliu but his firm drive brought a one-hand save from Steve Sultana.

The tide kept drifting towards the Stripes’ half after the break with Micallef also doing useful work on the left flank.

On 56 minutes, the winger was blocked by Matheus Bissi as he was about to dart into the box. Micallef floated the ball back in the goalmouth but Mifsud Triganza’s effort was cleared away.

Heeding the alarm signals, Birkirkara moved in earnest to try and regain the initiative.

Ledesma was brought on to re-ignite their sterile forward line.

Birkirkara twice threatened to equalise but Edmond Agius’s scrambled shot was blocked by Hamzabegovic and then Ryan Camenzuli’s shot flashed wide.

The fare was quite lively as the Stripes tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to redress the imbalance.

Liliu remained in the thick of action and after 77 minutes, Sultana performed another smart save to tip the Brazilian’s effort over the bar as Balzan held on for the win.

Birkirkara
M. Hamzabegovic-5, M. Bissi-6 (60 R. Ledesma-5), N. Vukanac-5, M. Mazzetti Latini-6, J. Zerafa-5, E. Agius-5, Liliu-6.5, K. Zammit-5 (83 A. Borg), R. Muscat-5.5 (67 E. Herrera-5), R. Camenzuli-6, R. Scicluna-6.

Balzan
S. Sultana-7, E. Bilbao Zarate-5.5, D. Grima-5, E. Serrano-6, L. Sciberras-6 (65 J. Grioli-5), S. Bezzina-5.5, S. Arab-6 (82 G. McKay) I. Guobadia-6 (46 T. Agius-5), C. Brincat-6, J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6, L. Micallef-7.5.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Scicluna, T. Agius, E. Agius, Mazzetti, Sultana.

BOV player of the match: Lydon Micallef (Balzan).

Standings