A 3-0 success over Pietá Hotspurs was John Arne Riise's first exploit at Birkirkara, achieved with tactical acumen and vast reserves of spirit.
The Stripes did get the early goal they wanted. Maurizio Vella sent Matthew Guillaumier free on the right. The angle was very acute but the midfielder hit low into the corner behind goalkeeper Nicholas Vella.
Seconds after the restart, Gabriel Mensah was denied by Kristijan Naumovski in the Birkirkara goal.
Past the hour mark, Uchenna Calistus hit low towards goal with the ball missing the past by a whisker.
Gradually Pieta’ promise fizzled out and after 65 minutes, some lovely triangulation down the inside left by Vella and Johann Bezzina worked an opening in the box for substitute Jorginho who power through the middle before slotting the ball past Vella.
Nine minutes from time, from a corner by substitute Clayton Failla, on his debut with Birkirkara, Danilo Chapoval rose highest to flick his header over Vella.