Birkirkara 4
Galea 10, 31; Cilia 35, 45+1
FC Santa Coloma 3
L. Urbani 21; Jimenez 45; J. Urbani 85
(Birkirkara win 7-3 on aggregate)
Birkirkara had been lucky to be awarded a 3-0 win without kicking a ball in Andorra last week but there was nothing fortuitous about their victory over FC Santa Coloma in the second leg of their Champions League first qualifying round yesterday.
Taking to the sun-kissed Centenary Stadium pitch with a sense of urgency that belied their status as favourites to reach the next round, Birkirkara roared forward from the word 'go' with Shaun Bajada excelling in an advanced midfield role.
An early goal by Michael Galea all but ended FC Santa Coloma's already slender hopes of overturning their 3-0 deficit and set the tone for a refreshingly open game.
Four-nil up on aggregate and a second round clash with Slovakia's MK Zilina (first leg July 13-14) virtually assured, Birkirkara would have been forgiven had they switched to a more conservative approach but as coach Paul Zammit remarked on the eve of the match, his team had no plans to resort to ultra-defensive tactics.
With nothing to lose, FC Santa Coloma tried to make a contest out of it and even managed to grab an equaliser but Birkirkara kept their cool and duly regained the initiative.
The Stripes threatened to run riot as they moved 3-1 up but the two teams then traded two goals just before half-time.
With qualification secured, Birkirkara eased the tempo in the second half which produced one goal, a consolation for FC Santa Coloma as the tie ended 4-3 in favour of the Malta champions who go through 7-3 on aggregate.
Sylvano Comvalius was absent from Birkirkara's squad. He was unavailable after returning to the Netherlands to be with his wife who is expecting the couple's first baby.
The task of replacing Comvalius was handed to Andrew Decesare as Zammit elected to keep Italian trialist Jacopo Camilli on the bench.
Birkirkara should have opened the scoring as early as the fourth minute when Decesare intercepted a ball on the right and quickly released Bajada who surged clear before putting in a perfect cross for Galea. The Birkirkara captain was unmarked but his shot was repelled by goalkeeper Ricardo Fernandez.
This missed chance was the cue for Birkirkara to take the game to their opponents. Rowen Muscat made good progress through the middle before teeing up Bajada who unleashed a piledriver that forced Fernandez into a fine tipping save.
Bajada's delivery from the corner was again tipped away for a corner by the visitors' keeper. Birkirkara's Gozo-born stalwart marched towards the corner flag and his sweetly-struck cross caused havoc in the box. Nikola Vukanac got a slight touch to the ball but it was Galea who flicked it home into the unguarded net. One-nil to the home team.
Birkirkara should have doubled their advantage when, on 18 minutes, Cilia's cross was met by Galea who glanced the ball towards Decesare who looked odds-on to score but his strike was blocked by a defender.
From the distinct possibility of going 2-0 up, Birkirkara found themselves on level terms. They paid dearly for a mistake in defence as Genis Garcia's harmless pass rolled into the path of the unmarked Leonardo Norberto Urbani who rounded Ezquiel Lovison and deposited the ball into the net.
Undeterred by FC Santa Coloma's equaliser, Birkirkara continued to dictate matters. Their supremacy yielded a second goal on 31 minutes.
Latching on to another excellent lofted pass from Bajada, Galea strode forward and chipped the ball over the advancing Fernandez.
Cilia put his name on the scoresheet close to the 35th minute mark, stroking the ball into the net after receiving from Thomas Paris.
Outclassed and outfought FC Santa Coloma thought they had gained another lifeline when Javier Mariano Urbani profited from Birkirkara's failure to deal with a cross from the left to fire the ball into the net but the 'goal' was chalked off for a foul by his brother Leonardo.
The Andorra champions reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time when Manuel Jimenez's free-kick took a deflection and sailed past the wrong-footed Lovison.
But, Birkirkara restored their two-goal lead soon after thanks to Cilia who was on hand to tap the ball home from close in.
After a goal-strewn first half, scoring chances proved elusive after the restart. Bajada's free-kick flew towards Galea who nodded towards Branko Nisevic but the veteran defender headed wide.
At the other end, substitute Erik Bodjo centred for Javier Mariano Urbani whose tame volley was stopped by Lovison.
As the second half progressed and tiredness set in, the rate of scoring opportunities picked up. Vukanac did well to put his body in the way of Manuel Josep Ayala's shot.
In next to no time, Birkirkara threatened to pull further clear when Cilia pounced on a bad mistake by Fernandez who stumbled as he was about to collect the ball but the Stripes' winger shot over from an angled position.
Lovison then distinguished himself when warding off Jimenez's powerful free-kick.
Five minutes from time, FC Santa Coloma moved to within a goal of Birkirkara. Jimenez's inswinger towards the far post saw Martin's header parried by Lovison but the ball fell to Javier Mariano Urbani who hit home.
Playing today
First qualifying round, second leg: Rudar (Montenegro) vs Tre Fiori (San Marino). Rudar won first leg 3-0.
Birkirkara: E. Lovison, N. Vukanac, B. Nisevic, S. Bajada (75 A. Tabone), A. Decesare, T. Cilia (82 A. Buhagiar), P. Fenech, J. Zerafa (67 K. Pulo), R. Muscat, T. Paris, M. Galea.
FC Santa Coloma: R. Fernandez, F.X. Gil, M.J. Ayala, O. Somejee (77 G. Sanchez), G. Garcia (54 E. Bodjo), L.N. Urbani, M. Jimenez, A. Sanchez, J.M. Urbani, J.F. Martin, D. Ribolleda (46 J.M. Garcia).
Referee: Bobby Madden (Scotland).
Yellow cards: M. Garcia, Sanchez, L. Urbani; Decesare, Vukanac.