Valletta 2
Zammit 12; G. Agius 47
Marsaxlokk 2
Alcorse 45; Pereira 88

Brazilian striker Marcelo Pereira was the toast of Birkirkara last night as his first goal in a Marsaxlokk shirt handed the Euro Challenge Cup to the Stripes.

Having completed their commitments on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Marsaxlokk, Birkirkara were banking on a favour from the Blues in the shape of a draw or a win over Valletta in yesterday's final match.

Valletta, who played for an hour with 10 men after the dismissal of Luke Dimech, had the cup in their sights as they led Marsaxlokk 2-1 with only two minutes of normal time left but Pereira struck at the death to make it 2-2, much to Birkirkara's delight who ended the tournament on top of the standings with four points.

After the match, MFA president Joe Mifsud presented the trophies to Birkirkara players Shaun Bajada and Joseph Zerafa.

Cameroon forward Priso Doding, signed from Msida on Thursday, was among the substitutes named by Valletta coach Paul Zammit. Jamie Pace and Cleaven Frendo had to wait for their chance to face their former Marsaxlokk team-mates as the two Malta internationals were not included in Zammit's starting formation. Their place in the team went to David Camilleri and Edmond Agius.

Brian Talbot, the Marsaxlokk coach, made three alterations from the team that lost 1-0 to Birkirkara as Christian Cassar, Clive Brincat and Arnold Buttigieg were awarded starting roles.

Valletta were the brighter side in the opening 10 minutes, Stefan Giglio locating the target with a rising effort but Saviour Darmanin tipped the ball over. Two minutes later, the Citizens opened the scoring, Ian Zammit hitting the target with a fierce drive from just inside the area from Dyson Falzon's cross.

The Citizens' early supremacy owed to their superior fitness and the accuracy of their passing. Midway through the first half, the champions would have doubled their lead but for a fine save by Darmanin who managed to push Falzon's dipper onto the crossbar. Within seconds, Falzon, latching onto a pass from Agius, was racing past Darmanin but he mishit his shot.

Valletta's early optimism suffered a blow a minute past the half-hour mark when Dimech was dismissed by referee Adrian Casha after he allegedly spat in the direction of the opposing fans.

Just when it looked as if Valletta were going to preserve their lead until half-time, Marsaxlokk equalised. Kevin Sammut capitalised on a mistake by Edmond Agius outside the box and passed to Cassar. The latter switched the ball to Alcorse who fired past Andrew Hogg.

It was a setback for the Citizens but barely two minutes of the second half had passed when the Whites regained the lead. Receiving a pass just outside the area, Gilbert Agius spun and a drilled a low shot into the far corner of the net.

Marsaxlokk might have levelled almost instantly when Pereira outpaced the hesitant Steve Bezzina but the Brazilian fired wide.

Six minutes into the second half, Hogg repelled a dangerous free-kick by Cassar.

For all the talk about this tournament being a 'friendly' event, the fierce commitment displayed by the two teams suggested otherwise. On the hour, Agius engineered an opening for the 10-man Citizens as he drifted to the right before whipping over a cross for Zammit whose header was cleared away by Brincat.

A brilliant move by Valletta deserved to produce a goal as Bezzina, making a strong run down the left, exchanged passes with Agius who picked out Cleaven Frendo, a second-half substitute, but the latter's strike was deflected to a corner.

Eleven minutes from the end, Hogg kept Valletta's lead intact with a point-blank save from Alcorse.

Only two minutes of normal time remained when Marsaxlokk levelled. Carlo Mamo's cross from the left sailed towards the goalmouth where Pereira's first-time effort from close range gave Hogg no chance.

Valletta
A. Hogg, J. Grioli, L. Dimech, J. Mifsud, S. Bezzina, D. Camilleri, E. Agius ('71 C. Frendo), S. Giglio, I. Zammit ('82 C. Mattocks), D. Falzon ('64 J. Pace), G. Agius.

Marsaxlokk
S. Darmanin ('66 R. Gauci), A. Buttigieg, C. Brincat, W. Camenzuli, C. Mamo, G. Sciberras ('46 M. Barbara), T. Templeman, K. Sammut, C. Cassar, M. Pereira, J. Alcorse ('81 G. Mizzi).

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Yellow Cards: Brincat; Camilleri; Mifsud; G. Agius; Zammit; Alcorse; Templeman; Cassar; Sammut; Pereira.

Red Card: Dimech 31.