West Ham United 1
Tomkins 89;
Birkirkara 0

It was billed mission impossible but Birkirkara came very close to achieving the unexpected last night.

The gutsy Stripes held firm for 89 minutes, repelling waves of attacks as the restless West Ham players pressed for that elusive goal which ultimately came on the cusp of time thanks to James Tomkins.

Relief coursed through the Boleyn Ground as the 33,000 West Ham fans finally had something to cheer about but the Birkirkara players left the pitch with their dignity intact and their reputation enhanced.

No wonder, the boisterous Birkirkara fans, who never stopped backing their team despite being heavily outnumbered, were overjoyed at the final whistle.

They had witnessed another gutsy, disciplined display by their players who fought for every ball and harried their opponents, never dropping their heads despite West Ham’s stranglehold on possession.

Goalkeeper Justin Haber typified Birkirkara’s resolve, the Malta shot-stopper turning the clock back with a superb performance.

In front of him, defenders Mauricio Mazzetti and Nikola Vukanac were unflappable, breaking down West Ham attacks and encouraging their team-mates throughout.

Zach Muscat had a tough time on the right as West Ham pressed forward on the flanks but he still put in a strong shift as did Joseph Zerafa on the left.

In the middle, Rowen Muscat was a towering figure, running tirelessly to shackle the West Ham players as well as trying to create attacking moves.

Captain Paul Fenech also worked hard, making some vital interceptions before coming off, presumably due to injury. His replacement, Kurt Zammit, acquitted himself as did Edmond Agius, who had replaced Edin Murga, while Ryan Camenzuli, starting on the left of midfield, also put in a great effort.

Fabrizio Miccoli cut a lonely figure but he was at the heart of Birkirkara’s best move that saw Liliu shooting wide of the far post.

All in all, West Ham deserved their win after dominating possession but Birkirkara gave an excellent account of themselves to make it a memorable week for Maltese football after Hibs’ 2-1 home win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League.

The Londoners remain hot favourites to advance but the 1-0 scoreline should lift Birkirkara's optimism ahead of next Thursday's second leg at the National Stadium.

Bilic had hoped to wrap up qualification at home as he didn’t relish losing three days of training for their trip to Malta but he will now probably think twice before finalising his plans for the second leg.

The 150-odd buzzing Birkirkara fans had arrived at the Boleyn Stadium early. Clad in their club’s red and yellow cards, they hung their banners before unfurling a large flag as the two teams entered the pitch.

Haber was certified fit to start in goal after recovering from a thigh injury sustained in the first-leg match against Armenia’s Ulisses FC.

His inclusion represented the only change from last week’s 3-1 victory in Yerevan.

On the eve of the game, Giovanni Tedesco remarked that tactics were of secondary importance in games like this. His team selection was in keeping with his attacking principles as the Sicily-born coach fielded three forwards in Miccoli, Liliu and Murga.

Tedesco opted for a 4-1-4-1-cum-4-3-3 gameplan with Miccoli the central figure in attack and Liliu and Murga supporting from the wings.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic retained only four players from last week’s 1-0 away win over Andorra’s Lusitans as captain Kevin Nolan, midfielder Mark Noble, striker Mauro Zarate and Spanish keeper Adrian were handed starting roles.

The game was less than two minutes old when West Ham appealed for a penalty after Modibo Maiga went down at the merest hint of a challenge from right-back Zach Muscat but Austrian referee Markus Hameter was unimpressed.

Birkirkara looked compact in the early stages despite West Ham’s superior possession.

The hosts manufactured a good chance after 11 minutes when Maiga dragged in a teasing cross from the right and the ball landed invitingly at the feet of Morgan Amalfitano at the far post. The French winger was unmarked but he curled his shot over the bar.

West Ham would have scored on 20 minutes but for a magnificent Haber save. Aaron Cresswell was the provider with a swerving free-kick from the right, Tomkins redirected the ball towards Maiga whose header was parried away by Haber.

A dangerous Cresswell free-kick whizzed wide of the far post on 25 minutes.

Birkirkara survived another scare when, from a quick breakaway initiated by Matt Jarvis, the ball was played through to Maiga whose low shot was slightly deflected by Zach Muscat and pushed on to the post by the excellent Haber.

Ten minutes from half-time, Birkirkara captain Fenech threw his body in the way of Jarvis’s grounder after Haber had fisted away a cross from the right.

As was to be expected, the hosts enjoyed vast swathes of possession but Birkirkara generally coped well with their opponents’ pressure.

Haber continued to distinguish himself as he punched away Zarate’s free-kick.

Tedesco moved to stiffen his midfield by introducing the combative Agius for Murga with Camenzuli switching to the left.

Three minutes later, the Italian was forced into his second substitution as Fenech limped off injured.

He was replaced by youngster Zammit.

As he had done on many occasions in the opening half, Haber pawed away a cross-cum-shot, this time by Zarate.

The Birkirkara goalkeeper then stopped Jarvis’s grounder.

In a rare attack, Miccoli switched the ball to Camenzuli but his cross towards Liliu was cut out.

Tedesco had just switched to 3-5-2 when Birkirkara had a great chance to score. The move was started by Zerafa who advanced through the middle before flicking the ball to Rowen Muscat who passed to Miccoli.

The stocky Italian promptly brought Liliu into play on the right. The Brazilian cut into the box but his diagonal shot rolled past the far post.

The minutes ticked by but West Ham continued to find it difficult to break down Birkirkara.

As the game drifted into the last three minutes, West Ham forced a series of corners.

From one of these, on the stroke of time, they scored as Zarate’s cross eluded a sea of players and Tomkins, left unguarded at the far post, cushioned the ball into the net.

West Ham pressed for more but Haber denied them a second when keeping out Jarvis’s low strike.

Match reaction

Paul Fenech (Birkirkara captain): “All the players were enthusiastic ahead of this game and optimistic that we could gain a positive result despite the strength of the opposition.

“We are disappointed to have conceded a late goal but pleased with our performance.

“I believe that the days when Maltese teams conceded heavily in European competition are gone.”

West Ham
Adrian, W. Reid, A. Cresswell, K. Nolan (79 D. Poyet), J. Tomkins, M. Jarvis, M. Zarate, M. Noble, J. O'Brien, M. Maiga (70 E. Lee), M. Amalfitano (59 M. Samuelson).

Birkirkara
J. Haber, M. Mazzetti, R. Camenzuli, P. Fenech (49 K. Zammit), F. Miccoli, N. Vukanac, E. Murga (46 E. Agius), Liliu (66 V. Plut), J. Zerafa, Z. Muscat, R. Muscat.

Referee: Markus Hameter (Austria).

Yellow cards: Zach Muscat; O'Brien; Cresswell; Reid.

Attendance: 33,048.

Second qualifying round

Yesterday’s results

AIK Stockholm vs FC Shirak	2-0
Apollon vs Traku FK	4-0
Beroe vs Brondby	0-1
Charleroi vs Beitar Jerusalem	5-1
Cherno More vs D. Minsk	1-1
Dacia Chisinau vs Zilina	1-2
FC Copenhagen vs Newtown	2-0
FC Vaduz vs Nomme JK Kalju	3-1
Ferencvaros vs Zeljeznicar	0-1
Hafnarfjordur vs Inter Baku	1-2
FK Cukaricki vs FK Qabala	1-0
FK Jelgava vs Rabotnicki	1-0
H. Beer Sheva vs FC Thun	1-1
HNK Rijeka vs Aberdeen	0-3
Inverness vs FC Astra Giurgiu	0-1
J. Białystok vs Omonia Nicosia	0-0
Kairat Almaty vs Alashkert FC	3-0
Koper vs Hajduk Split	3-2
KR Reykjavik vs Rosenborg	0-1
Kukesi vs Mladost Podgorica	0-1
Legia Warsaw vs Botosani	1-0
M. Boleslav vs Stromsgodset	1-2
L. Zagreb vs PAOK	2-1
S. Rovers vs Odd Ballklubb	0-2
S. Soligorsk vs Wolfsberger	0-1
Skonto Riga vs Debrecen	2-2
Slask Wroclaw vs Goteborg	0-0
Slovan Bratislava vs UCD	1-0
Spartak Trnava vs Linfield	2-1
Randers FC vs Elfsborg	0-0
Trabzonspor vs Differdange	1-0
Vojvodina vs FK Spartaks	3-0
West Ham vs Birkirkara	1-0

Second legs: July 23.