TARXIEN RAINBOWS 0

BIRKIRKARA FC 2

Vukanac 50, Montebello 87

Birkirkara earned a hard-fought victory over Tarxien Rainbows as two goals in the second half resolved again the issue in the Stripes' favour.

This victory has put John Arne Riise’s team on 36 points, a platform which should prove useful for the Stripes to keep their hopes of clinching a European football berth at the end of the season.

The match was nothing to write about, especially in the first half when action on either goalmouth was few and far between.

The only ripple in the first half came from an overhead kick by Luke Montebello who was stopped by Maverick Buhagiar.

The deadlock was broken on 50 minutes when Birkirkara’s readiness to play direct football paid dividends. A long punt forward by Bezzina caused confusion in the Rainbows defence and Nikola Vukanac, steered a header past Buhagiar.

Past the hour mark, Kristijan Naumovski was called to pull off a stupendous save, tipping away Jacson de Paixao’s header, served by Siraj Arab.

On 78 minutes, Naumovski denied Tarxien a second time, with a last-ditch intervention to dispossess substitute Michele Paolucci. Moments later, Jacson was ordered off following two bookable offences in quick succession.

With a goal and a man-up Birkirkara held a firm grip on proceedings and went two goals up. A curling free-kick by Bezzina dropped in the goalmouth where Luke Montebello chested the ball before stretching his right foot to strolke the ball past Buhagiar.

Paul Mbong, 17, son of the late Essien Mbong and brother of Hibernians winger Joseph Mbong made his Premier league debut as a late substitute.

Birkirkara's Johann Bezzina was named BOV Player of the Match.