Pembroke Athleta 1
Martz 45;
Birkirkara 4
Mazzetti 11; Plut 16, 65; Muscat 50;
Subdued displays in the stalemate against Tarxien and defeat to Valletta had turned up the heat on Birkirkara coach Giovanni Tedesco.
But the Italian refused to baulk. Instead, he reinvigorated his pack by giving Zach Muscat and Vito Plut their chance to shine while recalling a key player in midfield – Emerson Marcelina.
Fabrizio Miccoli did not put his name on the scoresheet yesterday but he was involved in three goals for the Stripes.
He was a point of reference for the team and deservedly won the Player of the Match accolade.
Hardly a minute had elapsed when Miccoli darted into the Pembroke penalty area and fired a shot that narrowly missed the target.
It was an early scare for Winston Muscat’s men who realised they were in for a tough afternoon at the Hamrun ground.
On 11 minutes Birkirkara broke the deadlock. Miccoli fed Mauricio Mazzetti who swivelled to hit the ball into the low corner of the net.
Then, just after the first quarter, the Stripes doubled their account.
Liliu played a neat one-two with Vito Plut before breezing past his marker but Matthew Farrugia, the Pembroke goalkeeper, blocked his effort. The rebound landed at the feet of Plut who stabbed the ball home.
Birkirkara were surging forward at ease and Pembroke were clearly struggling to contain their opponents.
However, the Premier League newcomers pulled a goal back with a swift move just before half-time. Austin Martz controlled the ball on the edge of the area and he beat keeper Justin Haber with a firm grounder.
The goal came at the right moment for Pembroke and Birkirkara knew they had to act quickly to prevent an unlikely comeback from their modest opponents after the break.
In fact, the Stripes took to the pitch in determined fashion after the interval and were soon 3-1 ahead.
Miccoli’s free-kick was too hot for goalkeeper Farrugia to handle and Zach Muscat, who had surged unchecked inside the box, planted the rebound past the Pembroke goalkeeper.
On 65 minutes, Miccoli pulled off a magic touch to serve Liliu before Plut applied the finishing touch to the Brazilian’s far-flung cross from the left.
Pembroke’s capitulation was complete.
Birkirkara
J. Haber-6, E. Herrera-5.5 (60 E. Agius-5.5), N. Vukanac-6, M. Mazzetti Latini-6.5, Liliu-7, F. Miccoli-7.5, R. Camenzuli-5.5 (76 J. Zerafa), V. Plut-7, Z. Muscat-6.5, Marcelina-6 (72 G. Sciberras), P. Fenech-6.
Pembroke Athleta
M. Farrugia-6, Z. Levnaic-6, A. Cini-5 (79 M. Attard), O. Bugeja-5, L. Cutajar-5, P. Barbetti-6.5, G. Villalobos-5 (71 S. Arab), K. O’Brien-6, G. Bardsley-6.5, A. Martz-5.5, A. Laudisi-5 (84 P.P. Sammut).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Yellow cards: Miccoli, Laudisi.
BOV player of the match: Fabrizio Miccoli (Birkirkara).