Birkirkara 2
Galea 81; Cilia 118
Valletta 3
Scerri 40; Temile 113; Okonkwo 120
(aet; 90 mins – 1-1)
The onus of lifting the curtains on the new football season aptly fell on Birkirkara, the defending champions, and Valletta, the FA Trophy holders.
A lack of match sharpness and the sweltering heat were two obstacles these two heavyweights had to overcome if they were going to give their fans an early-season treat as well as improving their prospects of capturing the BOV Super Cup.
This first duel between two of the fiercest rivals in Maltese football took time to ignite but the rivalry and competitive streak of the two teams enlivened the proceedings to the extent that extra-time was needed to decide the issue.
In an extraordinary finale, Valletta, who had been the better team for long stretches only to be pegged back by the never-say-die Stripes, had the last laugh thanks to debutant Joseph Okonwko who struck the winner at the death after Trevor Cilia had earlier tied the score at 2-2.
The unrelenting drama in the final minutes of regular time and in the second half of extra-time defined the showdown between two teams that are again tipped to take leading roles in the fight for honours.
It was a pity that this pulsating curtain-raiser was marred by a post-match skirmish involving some Birkirkara players and a few Valletta officials and fans in the VIP zone. Several people got involved in the scuffles before the police moved in to calm the situation. At the time of writing no arrests had yet been made by the police.
As the tension abated, attention returned to the area where a bemused Norman Darmanin Demajo, the Malta FA president, and BOV’s Tonio Depasquale were waiting to present the Super Cup trophy to the Valletta clan.
The customary goading between the die-hard fans of Birkirkara and Valletta had started well before kick-off. Undeterred by the scorching heat, several supporters of these two popular clubs headed for the National Stadium, although the overall attendance for the curtain-raiser of the 2010/11 domestic season left something to be desired.
New Argentine signing Emiliano Lattes was one of three foreigners in Birkirkara’s starting XI, the other two being Brazilian goalkeeper Ezequiel Lovizon and Serbian defender Nikola Vukanac.
Paul Zammit, the Birkirkara coach, had to make do without midfielders Rowen Muscat, Alan Tabone and Andrew Decesare while Terrence Vella, plucked on loan from Gudja United, was named among the substitutes.
Fresh from sealing a season-long switch from Dingli Swallows to Valletta, Okonkwo was awarded a berth in Jesmond Zerafa’s 18-man squad. Zerafa named three foreigners in his initial XI, namely Brazilians Ramon and Denni and Nigerian winger Omonigo Temile.
Kenneth Scicluna, Steve Bezzina and Edmond Agius were the notable absentees for Valletta yesterday.
Terrence Scerri formed a two-pronged attack with Ian Zammit in a 4-4-2 formation while Birkirkara stuck with 4-3-3.
It was Birkirkara who fashioned the first scoring chance around the 20th-minute mark. Having intercepted a wayward pass in midfield, Paul Fenech released Michael Galea who charged forward before slipping an excellent through-ball to Cilia. The speedy winger had managed to sneak behind the back-tracking City defence but he was denied by Valletta goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.
Refreshingly, the two teams began to show signs of attacking life. Midway through the first half, Denni darted past Patrick Borg and fired an angled shot that Lovizon pushed away for a corner.
Valletta threatened again close to the half-hour mark when Roderick Briffa picked out Pace in the inside-left channel. The City midfielder nudged the ball past Buhagiar and sped into the box before hitting a strong grounder that was neutralised by Lovizon.
The Citizens began to impose themselves on the game as the first half progressed. Seven minutes from half-time, the erstwhile quiet Lattes attempted a speculative shot that almost surprised Hogg but the City goalkeeper reacted quickly to touch the ball around his near post.
In their next foray into Birkirkara’s half, Valletta broke the stalemate. Denni played a key role in Valletta’s opener as his lofted through-ball found Scerri unmarked and the towering striker lobbed Lovizon.
The score almost became 2-0 when Denni again combined with Scerri who made headway in the Birkirkara box but his shot was off target.
Birkirkara began the second half in lively mode, pummelling Valletta’s defence with a succession of teasing crosses but Hogg stood firm.
A good move by Valletta opened up Birkirkara’s rearguard as Temile directed a fine pass to Scerri whose run into the box had eluded his opponents. Scerri pondered his options and elected to cross towards Denni at the far post but Borg anticipated the Brazilian. The loose ball fell to Briffa whose first-time strike took a deflection and rolled agonisingly wide.
Lovizon was found wanting when Scerri, running onto another floated pass, powered past the Birkirkara goalkeeper. The Valletta striker centred for Denni but the latter’s acrobatic flick flew wide.
With 20 minutes remaining, Lovizon kept his team in contention when he pulled off a quickfire double-save to stop Pace’s thunderous drive and Scerri’s follow-on effort.
All roads seemed to lead to Lovizon’s goal at this stage as Falzon sped towards the by-line and dragged the ball back to Agius who hit over. Shortly afterwards, Valletta thought they had sealed the issue when Temile freed Denni in the box but Lovizon arced backward and just managed to get a hand to the Brazilian’s goalbound attempt.
Temile then set off on a sizzling run that took him into the Birkirkara box but his rising shot was deflected over the bar. Okonkwo then came on for Scerri but attention was quickly taken away from the City newcomers as Birkirkara equalised against the run of play. Their goal owed everything to Galea whose low shot eluded Hogg, much to the delight of the Birkirkara fans.
Having dominated their opponents for most of the second half, Valletta looked stunned. Okonkwo threatened to restore their one-goal lead five minutes from time but his grounder was kept out by Lovizon.
As the stalemate prevailed, the game went to extra-time. On 98 minutes, Temile set up Okonwko who charged into the box but his cut-back was belted away by Borg.
Early in the second half, Falzon fashioned a free-kick that drifted wide of the near post before sights were drawn to a kitten that crawled on to the pitch, forcing referee Alan Mario Sant to pause the match. The game resumed after Lovizon grabbed the kitten and placed it behind an advertising board.
Valletta went ahead on 113 minutes, Temile beating Lovizon with a first-time volley after the Birkirkara defenders had partially cleared Sammut’s corner.
Birkirkara threatened to make it 2-2 but Buhagiar’s shot was blocked. At the other end, Temile burst clear of the Stripes’ defence and flicked past Lovizon but the ball flashed past the far post.
The Stripes suffered another blow for Karl Pulo was sent off for a second bookable offence five minutes from the end. They survived a scare when Okonkwo’s grounder came off the foot of a post.
In the dying stages, Birkirkara stunned their rivals when Cilia darted into the box and fired a volley past Hogg. Cue pandemonium among the jubilant Birkirkara fans, most of whom had already started to walk towards the exit.
The drama was not over yet as, in the last minute, Valletta struck the winner, Okonkwo guiding his header past the flailing Lovizon following a cross from Briffa.
Birkirkara
E. Lovizon, T. Cilia, P. Borg, P. Fenech, N. Vukanac, T. Paris (’77 K. Fenech), E. Lattes (’67 K. Pulo), S. Bajada, J. Zerafa (’96 R. Scicluna), M. Galea, A. Buhagiar.
Valletta
A. Hogg, S. Borg, R. Briffa, J. Caruana, Ramon, G. Agius (’93 K. Sammut), J. Pace, I. Zammit (’59 D. Falzon), Denni, O. Temile, T. Scerri (’80 J. Okonkwo).
Referee Alan Mario Sant.
Yellow cards Buhagiar; Briffa; Cilia; Pulo.
Red card Pulo (B) 115.