Melita: M. Sapiano, G. Gribbon, I. Tufegdzic (R. Alhino), M. Camacho, M. Borg (A. Caruana Scicluna), J. Vukanic, N. Rizzo, J. Galea, L. Sammut, H. Negrin, M. Valenzia (L. Micallef)
Birkirkara: I. Atkpan, Z. Muscat, J. Zerafa, N. Vukanac, R. Camenzuli (R. Scicluna), R. Muscat, A. Mendoza, G. Sciberras (B. Attard), P. Fenech, Jhonnattan, J.P. Mifsud Triganza(K. Zammit)
Referee: G. Tonna
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, A. Grech
4th official: A.M. Sant
Scorers: R. Camenzuli 34, G. Sciberras 50, 65
Yellow cards: G. Gribbon, J. Zerafa, M. Borg, J. Vukanic, R. Camenzuli, H. Negrin
Player of the match: G. Sciberras (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. G. Sciberras 2. J.P. Mifsud Triganza 3. M. Camacho
Gareth Sciberras returned from suspension to propel Birkirkara at the top of the BOV Premier League standings, at least for the next 24 hours, that is, until Valletta play Tarxien Rainbows this afternoon.
Sciberras scored two second half goals to add to Ryan Camenzuli’s first half lead against Melita and make sure of Birkirkara’s eighth league win.In all fairness, there was never any doubt about where the points would end up. Edward Herrera was still serving his second-match out. Atkpan replaced the regular Matthew Sapiano in goal and had a rather inoperative afternoon. Sciberras, together with Fenech and Rowen Muscat were again tireless workers in midfield and feeding the fornt runners Mifsud Triganza and Jhonnattan
Melita were unable to repeat their energetic performance as against Floriana the week before, and although they were an unchanged side yesterday, they looked only a pale shadow of the side that fought gamely to a 2-2 draw against the Greens. Hose Armano Negrin in a particular, was a peripheral figure as Melita failed miserably in attack.
Coach Patxi Salinas was banned from sitting on the Melita bench yesterday. His more renowned brother Julio, the former Barcelona and Spain international, was an interested spectator in the VIP area at the Victor Tedesco Stadium for the match.
The early exchanges were competitive rather than cohesive. Jhonnattan’s low shot on Mifsud Triganza’s cross ended tantalisingly wide with Sammut failing to connect on Vukanic’s testing cross on the other end as the ball bounced freely in front of the Birkirkara goal.
Melita tried to harass their opponents, stifling them as soon as they went over the halfway line. Birkirkara were limited to shots from outside the area with Mifsud Triganza’s shot landing safely in Sapiano’s hands and a Jhonnattan free kick going over.
Birkirkara forged ahead on 34 minutes. Jhonnattan played a short pass to Ryan Camenzuli who beat the Melita keeper with a low diagonal drive from inside the area on the left.
Birkirkara were clearly superior once they had taken the lead.
Although Melita’s response came five minutes later from a corner kick on the right, and headed towards the middle by Tufegdzic, Camacho failed to finish off.
The second half belonged entirely to Birkirkara and to Gareth Sciberras in particular as he buried fragile opponents with two goals within 15 minutes.
On 50 minutes the Malta international midfielder ran inside the Melita area from the left, on Mifsud Triganza’s pass, to beat the onrushing keeper with a low drive, steering the ball between the keeper’s legs.
And after Mifsud Triganza failed to finish it off two minutes later, as he advanced past three opponents, goalkeeper included, but lofted the ball, Gareth Sciberras took it upon himself to score his side’s third on 65 minutes. He hooked Zach Muscat’s high ball with his left foot, flicked it on his left and beat keeper Sapiano with a rising shot.
That secured the points for the Stripes, who still created half chances to increase their goal margin. A Jhonnattan shot was saved by keeper Sapiano and then Fenech put his effort off target. Jhonnattan hit the side netting after playing one-two with Fenech, as Melita, already resigned to their fate, survived further derision.