Antoine Zahra... important goal for Birkirkara against Valletta.

When Birkirkara met Valletta on December 22, 1996 for their second league encounter of the season, the Stripes had an axe to grind.

Birkirkara had not beaten Valletta in their previous 21 meetings. One had to delve into the records back to 1975 to find the Stripes’ last victory over Valletta.

Birkirkara desperately wanted to stop this negative run not only to correct the records but also to leap-frog Valletta in the league table.

Things, however, looked rather bleak for the Stripes because at that moment, the Citizens were riding on the crest of a wave.

That season, Valletta had already won the Euro Cup and the Super Five tournament and at that particular moment they were enjoying a splendid run of ten unbeaten league matches in which they won 28 out of a possible 30 points.

Things looked even bleaker for Birkirkara when one took into consideration the fact that the week before the big match they were bundled out of the FA Trophy by First Division Żurrieq.

It was, therefore, a very confident Valletta that faced Birkirkara on that sunny December afternoon in front of a huge crowd at the National Stadium.

The game had a lively start and by the third minute, Michael Cutajar had already tested Reggie Cini with a fierce shot. However, the City goalkeeper was up to the challenge.

On seven minutes Danilo Doncic advanced alone on the right but his shot passed just wide of the Birkirkara upright.

Two minutes later, Antoine Zahra tried his luck with a superb effort from 25 metres out but the ball sailed dangerously over Cini’s goal.

After this somewhat fiery start the rhythm eased up a bit but on 26 minutes Gilbert Agius dribbled round Jonathan Magri Overend only to see his shot skimming the upright.

Valletta followed that up with three quick counter-attacks. Ivan Zammit twice had shots going inches wide of the target and Joe Camilleri saw his effort turned to a corner by Stripes keeper Musbah Shangeb.

The second half started with Chucks Nwoko bringing the best out of Cini.

Birkirkara persisted and on 70 minutes Nwoko went agonisingly close to opening the score.

The Nigerian beat two defenders but his low shot sped just wide of the target.

Birkirkara were now on top. They pressed the Citizens back into their area and a few minutes later Nwoko missed an excellent opportunity to open the score.

A minute later Zahra lobbed the ball from midfield and caught Cini out of position but the ball skimmed the bar.

The Stripes were unlucky when Nwoko’s header off a cross by Andy Eminyan smacked against the foot of the upright.

Valletta retaliated and at the other end an Ivan Woods sizzler just missed the target.

It seemed that Valletta’s hoodoo over Birkirkara was about to work again but the Stripes were finally rewarded for their efforts.

With a few minutes left for the final whistle, Zahra scored with a shot from an acute angle to send his fans in raptures.

Valletta went all out in search of an equaliser but once they got their advantage Birkirkara were not about to surrender it.

Valletta and Birkirkara were destined to meet again that season in one of the most exciting matches in the modern era of the local game.

That, however, is another story.