BIRKIRKARA-2, VITTORIOSA STARS-0
Brazilian striker Jhonnattann scored a brace to guide champions Birkirkara to a 2-0 victory over Vittoriosa Stars.
Jhonnattan's quickfire double in the first half ensured that Birkirkara extended their unbeaten run to six games as the Stripes leapfrogged Valletta into second place but the latter have a game in hand.
Vittoriosa Stars produced a commendable performance but they paid a high price after conceding two goals in less than two minutes.
It was Vittoriosa who made the better start. On six minutes, Oscar Guerrero's free-kick took a slight deflection but his shot was blocked by Justin Haber, the Birkirkara goalkeeper.
Vittoriosa's sprightly start brought early bookings for Birkirkara midfielder Daniel Zerafa and Zach Muscat for fouls just outside the box.
Another free-kick, taken by Marcio Teruel, bounced just wide of the far post after taking a deflection.
On 20 minutes, Birkirkara recorded their first attempt at goal as Edward Herrera's central shot was saved by Sean Cini.
After Haber made an easy save to stop Teruel's central shot, Birkirkara struck midway into the first half.
Herrera made a typically surging run on the right before drifting into the box from the right. He passed to Jhonnattann whose first-time shot beat Cini.
Birkirkara made it 2-0 barely a minute later, Jhonnattann poaching home from close range after Cini failed to hold Shola Haruna's shot.
The champions' two-goal burst jolted Vittoriosa's early momentum.
It was late in the first half that the Cottonera side came back to life.
Six minutes from half-time, Teruel supplied an excellent through-ball to Guerrero who sprinted into the area and drifted wide in an attempt to evade Haber but his final effort was pushed away by the Birkirkara goalkeeper.
On the stoke of half-time, Vittoriosa came close to pulling one back.
Alejandro Mendoza gave away a free-kick just outside the box after blocking Pereira's pass with a hand. Teruel's free-kick appeared to come off Birkirkara's wall before Haber touched the ball away for a corner.
Seven minutes into the second half, Cini, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper, denied Birkirkara a third goal when fisting away Jhonnattann's strong drive.
Temile should have made it 3-0 for Birkirkara but mishit his header from Vella's measured cross.
At the other end, Vittoriosa's Clive Brincat headed against the crossbar from Malcolm Buttigieg's free-kick.
The woodwork alsovdenied Birkirkara a third goal as Ryan Camenzuli's curlervcame off the crossbar.
A minute from time, the Stripes should have increased their advantage when Jhonnattann, pouncing on a mistake in the Vittoriosa defence, ran unimpeded but the Brazilian chose to pass to Kurt Zammit, a second-half substitute, instead of shooting. Zammit's central attempt was blocked by a defender.
Jhonnattann was named BOV player of the match.