Birkirkara-Msida SJ 2-1
Birkirkara: J. Haber, MA Bonnici, L. Galea, P. Monye (A. Ciantar), R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, H. Doda (E. Barbara), M. Galea, C. Nwoko, L. Dronca, G. Mallia.
Msida SJ: O. Borg, C. Micallef, D. Theuma, M. Boni, J. Mifsud, K. Sammut, R. Bajada, P. Fenech, D. Cachia, J. Zammit, D. Nwoke.
Referee: Marco Borg Asst refs: C. Micallef, K. Borg, 4th official: L. Sammut
Scorers: L. Galea, M. Boni, M. Galea
Yellow cards: J. Zammit, L. Galea, M. Boni.
Red card: J. Zammit.
Birkirkara’s dominance in the competition in the last four years continued yesterday evening at Ta’Qali as they beat a gallant Msida St Joseph side by two goals to one to register their third win in four years.
The victory gave Hibs a berth in next year’s UEFA Cup while Valletta will play in the UEFA Intertoto Cup.
It was a positive ending for the Stripes after their missing out on the Championship to Sliema Wanderers. Their victory yesterday was their sixth in succession and it also extended their unbeaten streak to 16 matches.
At the end, one could not but sympathise with Msida who played their hearts out despite having to play in 10 men for the final 35 minutes with Johan Zammit being sent off for an elbowing incident.
In the first half, Birkirkara enjoyed the lion’s share of the play, but Msida were well organised at the back and calm under the Stripes’pressure, rarely giving their superior opponents any chance to penetrate into their area.
Msida played a tactically perfect game, but as was expected, they were very cautious in their approach, relying mainly on their defence where Theuma and Boni were above all the others and operating in counter-attacks where Nwoke and Zammit were dangerous whenever they had the ball at their feet.
Birkirkara were somewhat poor in the first half. Despite their dominance in midfield, they rarely created real opportunities as Doda, Galea and Nwoko were well under control. In the second half, Birkirkara quickly found the goal they wanted and with Johan Zammit earning a red card soon after, it became easier for the Stripes to control the situation and they started using the flanks much better than in the first half.
Yet, after missing a number of chances, they risked heavily when Msida hit back to equalise with just eight minutes remaining. However, a goal soon after by Michael Galea set their minds at rest although they still contrived to miss more chances which would have enabled them to assure themselves of victory.
One must commend Msida’s great effort. They were the underdogs, but certainly they gave a good account of themselves. I really admired them for their efforts in the second half when they were reduced to 10 men. They never stopped trying.
A spectacular festive atmosphere greeted both sets of players as they appeared on the field of play. The respective yellow/red and white/red colours of both sides was in evidence in the Enclosure. It was the right tonic for an entertaining final.
But in the first half, the match fell far below expectations and, at times, it was monotonous, as it failed to enthuse the large crowd present.
After four minutes, a fine combination between Monye, Nwoko and Doda ended with the latter firing his effort well over the bar. Two minutes later, Doda weaved his way past two defenders, but then hit wide.
Msida’s first effort arrived on 22 minutes, but Nwoke’s shot was well over the bar.
At the other end, Nwoko served Galea on the edge of the area, but the striker’s effort was just wide of the target.
On 34 minutes, Birkirkara three corners in succession. From Camenzuli’s third, a fine header by Monye went just wide. Three minutes later, the Stripes were unlucky not to open the scoring. From a Lino Galea cross, Chucks Nwoko’s header hit the upright with Borg beaten.
On 43 minutes, Msida threatened seriously to take the lead when Nwoke received the ball on the edge of the area and let loose a fine shot that went inches wide of Haber’s right post.
At the interval, the scoresheet was still blank.
Soon after the changeover, it was Omar Borg who denied Mark Anthony Bonnici saving his hard, low shot in the far angle. And as the Stripes insisted, Borg had to rush out of his charge to dive at Doda’s feet.
On 51 minutes. Birkirkara finally took the lead. A Mark Anthony Bonnici cross caused havoc in the Msida area and the ball ran loose to Lino Galea, who hit low past a helpless Borg.
A minute later, the Stripes were sitting pretty as referee Marco Borg showed a red card to Johan Zammit after the flagging of assistant referee Charles Micallef, as the Msida striker was seen elbowing William Camenzuli.
Borg again had to rush out of his charge to clear before Barbara and Galea could do the damage, while on 71 minutes, a Galea effort was blocked to an abortive corner by an Msida defender.
On 75 minutes, substitute Barbara went through on the left. His shot hit the upright and then rebounded off Nwoko agonisingly wide of the target.
Despite playing in 10 men, Msida kept trying and on 79 minutes, Dino Cachia forced Justin Haber into a fine flying save and on 82 minutes, Msida’s efforts were rewarded when off a Daniel Theuma freekick, it was Manuel Boni who rose above friend and foe to head into the net.
Immediately after Birkirkara again took the lead with a splendid goal. Barbara put Mallia through on the left. The latter’s cross saw Nwoko feinting allowing the ball to go to the unmarked Michael Galea who hit home from close in.
On 86 minutes, Ciantar hit Birkirkara’s third upright and two minutes from the end, Lino Galea could have obtained the assurance, but hit wide from an ideal position.
The match ended with a Camenzuli bombshell from a freekick which Borg brilliantly turned to corner.
Mr Borg’s final whistle soon arrived. MFA President Dr Joseph Mifsud, then presented the famous Trophy to Birkirkara captain Michael Galea.
It heralded the start of celebrations by the very large number of Birkirkara fans at Ta’ Qali and later on in front of their premises in Valley Road.
Div.II/III KO
Clyde Grech scored a last gasp penalty in extra time yesterday to give Qormi a 1-0 win over Mellieha in the final of the Second/Third Division KO.
The match, after 90 minutes, had ended in a goalless draw.