Birkirkara 1
Vukanac 1
MSK Zilina 0
Birkirkara's fairytale in this season's Champions League continued yesterday with one of their best results in the European competition after they edged Slovakia's MSK Zilina 1-0 at the Centenary Stadium.
Birkirkara were off to the best possible start. Nikola Vukanac took just 35 seconds to decide the outcome of the match. But the solitary goal hardly tells the story of a remarkable match.
Slovakia defender Josef Piacek sent Michael Galea crashing to the ground in Birkirkara's first venture towards the MSK Zilina penalty area. The free-kick was awarded in perfect Shaun Bajada territory.
And the Malta midfielder exacted clinical retribution with a delightful left-foot strike that Martin Dubravka found too hot to handle and Vukanac reacted quicker than anyone, going to the near post to neatly deflect the ball across the goalkeeper into the far corner.
That goal should have signalled the opening of the floodgates, not the end of the game, given Birkirkara's topsy-turvy match against FC Santa Coloma, but Paul Zammit's side kept their composure in the face of a fierce late physical assault from their opponents to register a famous victory.
No one was expecting that, as the goal clearly rattled the Slovaks and their back four looked nervous whenever they were called into action.
Birkirkara looked comfortable with the 5-4-1 formation coach Paul Zammit had opted for as he tried to piece together a line-up from a restricted group of players due to a long list of injuries.
They did not defend en masse and tried hard to keep possession at times in their bid to hang on to their lead.
In fact, it was Galea's determi-nation not to relinquish the ball on the edge of the area that led to the opening goal as Zammit's men defended from the front as striker Galea and Alan Tabone muscled and bustled their way around the Slovakians.
MSK Zilina, however failed to find their feet in front of goal.
Jolted by the early setback, the Slovakian champions pushed forward and Issiaka Bello shot powerfully into the body of Esequel Lovison, who was duly served the notice this was to be a hectic evening.
Birkirkara were hampered in their attempts to hang on to their lead by the inability of Galea and Karl Pulo to hold the ball in forward positions, meaning that MSK kept coming forward and, Lovison did well to block a header by Piacek after 32 minutes.
Four minutes later, some hesitation in the Birkirkara defence almost presented with an equaliser but Tomas Majtan shot feebly into the hands of Lovison.
MSK Zilina stepped up a gear after the interval but Paul Fenech was only inches away from doubling Birkirkara's lead with a flashing shot from the edge of the area as Birkirkara did threaten too.
Yet their opponents showed their intent on 59 minutes when Lovison made a double save, first denying Tomas Oravec then Emil Rilke, before Bello's third attempt on goal was deflected wide.
On 67 minutes, Majtan should have done better when he beat the offside trap and bore down on goal but he dragged his effort wide.
Eleven minutes from time, Birkirkara had to soak up more pressure when Angelovic played a one-two with Fotyik and his shot came back off Lovison's post.
MSK were totally dominant but could not find a way through. The unfancied Slovaks did cause panic in added time when Vladimir Leitner floated a poor shot that flew safely within range of Lovison.
Aftermatch Comments
Paul Zammit (Birkirkara coach): "This is a very good result not only for the club but for Maltese football in general. We knew that we were going to face a very good side since the Slovakian league is superior to the BOV Premier League. The early goal eased the pressure off our team and our gifted players were able to hold the ball a bit more.
"We did our job today, we are very happy, tomorrow is another day."
Second qualifying results
Played Yesterday
AC Omonia (Cyprus) vs Renova (Macedonia) 3-0; AIK Solna (Sweden) vs Jeunesse Esch (Luxembourg) 1-0; Birkirkara (Malta) vs MSK Zilina (Slovakia) 1-0; Bohemian (Ireland) vs TNS (Wales) 1-0; D. Zagreb (Croatia) vs FC Koper (Slovenia) 5-1; Inter Baki (Azerbaijan) vs Lech Poznan (Poland) 0-1; Hapoel Tel-Aviv (Israel) vs Zeljeznicar (Bosnia) 5-0; L. Tallinn (Estonia) vs Debreceni (Hungary) 1-1; L. Metalurgs (Latvia) vs S. Praha (Czech Rep.) 0-3; L. Lovech (Bulgaia) vs Rudar (Montenegro) 1-0; Salzburg (Austria) vs HB Torshavn (F. Islands) 5-0.
Today
BATE Borisov (Belarus) vs Hafnarfjordur (Iceland); Ekranas (Lithuania) vs HJK Helsinki (Finland); FK Aktobe (Kazakhstan) vs O. Rustavi (Georgia); Linfield (N. Ireland) vs Rosenborg BK (Norway); Partizan (Serbia) vs Pyunik (Armenia); Sheriff (Moldova) vs D. Tirana (Albania).
Second legs: July 20-21.
Birkirkara: E. Lovison, N. Vukanac ('72 P. Borg), B. Nisevic, J. Zerafa, A. Tabone, A. Decesare ('85 R. Scicluna), A. Buhagiar, P. Fenech, S. Bajada, M. Galea, K. Pulo ('81 A. Scicluna).
MSK Zilina: M. Dubravka, S. Angelovic, P. Mraz, E. Rilke ('60 P. Poliacjek), T. Majtan ('67 D. Fotyik), R. Jez, T. Oravec, J. Piacek, O. Sourek, S. Zosak ('79 V. Leitner), I. Bello.
Referee: Simon Lee Evans (Wales).
Yellow cards: Piacek, Sourek, Pulo, Mraz, Lovison, Buhagiar, Zerafa, Angelovic.