Birkirkara-Naxxar L. 1-0
Birkirkara: J. Haber, A. Mendoza, E. Morais Liliu, N. Vukanac, R. Ledesma (Eliandro), E. Herrera, P. Fenech, Z.Muscat, R. Scicluna (K. Zammit), L. Grech (M. Bissi), R.Camenzuli
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, A. Scicluna, E. Edet, V. Bellia (G. Ribeiro), T. Vella, P. Gueye, D. Falzon, D. Fenech (M. Del Negro), A. Buhagiar (R. Cassar), D. Reano, U. Emenike
Referee: P. Farrugia
Asst. Refs: E. Spiteri, L. Portelli
Additional refs: A. Azzopardi, M. Spiteri
4th official: S. Attard
Scorers: P. Fenech 90+
Yellow cards: P. Fenech, U. Emenike, A. Buhagiar, T. Vella
Player of the match: J. Azzopardi (Naxxar L)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Azzopardi 2. P. Fenech 3. R. Camenzuli
Paul Zammit’s team have started the season as if they mean business, with three wins from as many matches, and it must be ominous for their rivals that they have not fully clicked yet, with players like Joseph Zerafa, Edmond Agius and Gareth Sciberras still out of the team.
Yesterday they showed patience to down a resolute Naxxar Lions side deep into added time, with their midfielder Paul Fenech once again their match winner.
In the process they were still the better team but they hardly played with the menace that is expected from a forward line in the mould of Liliu, Ledesma and Grech. In fact it was mostly when using the width of the pitch, with Ryan Camenzuli and Zach Muscat venturing more forward, that Birkirkara looked mostly dangerous.
Naxxar were entitled to be aggrieved by the way they lost the match in the dying minutes. They looked capable of taking the game to tehir opponents
There were two changes from each side, with Birkirkara giving starts to Alejandro Mendoza and Edward Herrera for Bissi and Eliandro, while Naxxar replaced Pablo Doffo and Gilmar Ribeiro with Victor Bellia and Pape Gueye.
Naxxar started with a good structure. Well drilled at the back and agile in attack, the Lions actually matched the champions for long stretches. They also had their brief moments in the first half with Edet’s headed effort going wide and then a Buhagiar shot, from outside the area, well saved by the grounded keeper Haber.
As expected, Birkirkara enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but struggled to get behind the Naxxar defence. Camenzuli was a constant threat with his delivery of crosses from the left flank but his team mates were unable to capitalise. Herrera failed to connect in the opening minutes. Grech shot wide after 22 minutes and Liliu ballooned his header over the bar shortly before the break.
In the final five minutes of the first period, Naxxar were forced to effect two substitutions as both David Fenech and Angus Buhagiar limped off injured.
Birkirkara pressed hard in the second half, but it was only after the hour that they really went close of breaking the deadlock when Fenech ran through the middle but his low shot was blocked by keeper Azzopardi.
On 64 minutes Scicluna’s goalbound effort took a wicked deflection and nearly caught Azzopardi out of position but the Naxxar custodian recovered in time as he arched backwards to hold out the dipping ball.
Soon after Mendoza headed a Ledesma corner against the upright, with Birkirkara effecting a double substitution on 66 minutes, putting in Bissi and Eliandro.
But Naxxar failed to buckle and held on as Muscat’s inswinging cross was tipped over the bar by the Naxxar keeper into a corner.
The match looked heading for a goalless stalemate but deep into five minutes of added time, keeper Azzopardi palmed out Herrera’s cross from the right, only as far as Paul Fenech who, standing on the edge of the area, hit in a low ball, with hardly much panache, but still good enough to give his side three more points.