Birkirkara-Sliema W. 0-2
Before yesterday's match eight points seperated the two teams in the standings. This morning Birkirkara are trailing leaders Sliema Wanderers by an embarassing 11, which, although not unassailable, put the Stripes' title chances in jeopardy even after the gap is halved.
Birkirkara lost this much awaited encounter against Sliema Wanderers, for the first time this season, thus failing to capitalise on the chance to cut the deficit and keep up the chase.They conceded two soft goals in crucial moments and never looked capable of recovering. With some of their players performing below par, Birkirkara were hardly ever a match for their opponents despite their ample share of possession. Their biuld-ups lacked precision and their finishing was found wanting. They were at pains to keep their shape.
Undoubtedly, Birkirkara were not up to their best for the occasion.
But yesterday's main weapon for Sliema's success was their watertight defence which rarely gave away an inch, under the superb supervision of Brian Said and Darren Debono. Their work rate in midfield, through Truner, Giglio and Woods, which was by far better than their opponents', was also a telling factor. The striking partnesrship of Doncic and Anonam also contributed to Birkirkara's downfall.
Injuries deprived both teams from some of their key players like Briffa, Zahra and Nwoko for Birkirkara and Laferla, Mangion and Mattocks for Sliema. However that did not undermine the sides' strength to much extent.
The Wanderers were boosted by the return of both Chetcuti and Giglio and with Anonam filling the third foreign berth in their side, Lobos Pernis had to settle for the substitutes' bench.
The match was up to a vivacious start as befits the teams' lofty status in the local game, although the early exchanges were competitive rather than cohesive.
The Sliema keeper Akanji was the first to be put on test, forced to tip over the bar into a corner Michael Galea's rasping rising shot.
But Sliema soon took the lead on 14 minutes when the Birkirkara keeper Haber fumbled Giglio's free-kick from the left, when challenged by Woods, and Danilo Doncic was on hand to shoot the loose ball into an unattended goal.
Birkirkara were forced to react but Sliema threatened further in deadball situations with the wind at their back. Brincat's first free-kick went tantalisingly wide. His second was capably dealt by Haber.
On 26 minutes Doncic chased a through ball but shot too hastily off target.
With Birkirkara's rearguard looking astonishingly unconvincing, Woods was allowed to unleash Doncic on the edge of the area but the Sliema striker's shot was blocked by Haber on the half hour. Shortly afterwards, Doncic missed the target after a deft one-two with Anonam.
Shorn of the required cohesion and hampered by a series of misplaced passes, Birkirkara only went close shortly before the break, but Michael Galea's cross from the byeline on the right, with the grounded Akanji out of place, found no support and the chance went begging as Muscat headed out into safety.
The Stripes showed a more aggressive start to the second half. Yet, against a watertight Sliema defence, their scoring options were limited to shots from a distance. Camenzuli, Doda and Ciantar all proved inaccuarte.Lino Galea's resourceful run on the left flank took him past Muscat but Akanji intercepted the cross.
Towards the hour Birkirkara coach Azzopardi played his trump card, putting in striker Mifsud Triganza for the ineffective Doda.
The move backfired.Already Sliema looked increasingly menacing when Anonam went past three opponents on the right, his cross was headed by Doncic but Haber saved on the goal line.
On 64 minutes, Birkirkara were undone by a sloppy goal. After conceding Muscat's corner kick, Stefan Giglio's tame grounder from outside the area beat Haber, who might have been deceived by Woods' effort to connect.
Birkirkara, sufferring such a bitter blow, failed to recover. They created some half chances through Mallia and Michael Galea, which however they were unable to convert into goals against a resolute Sliema rearguard. And as if to confirm their off-day in front of goal, Mifsud Triganza lofted the ball well over the bar when well served by Michael Galea.
Birkirkara: J. Haber, M.A. Bonnici, L. Galea, P. Monye, W. Camenzuli, H. Doda (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), M. Galea, L. Dronca, G. Mallia, E. Barbara, A. Ciantar
Sliema W: M. Akanji, J. Brincat, A. Muscat, B. Said, D. Debono, N. Turner (L. Lombardi), D. Doncic, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, O. Anonam (L. Pernis), S. Giglio
Referee: A. Casha Asst. Refs: C. Micallef, P. Agius 4th Official: J. Attard
Scorers: D. Doncic, S. Giglio
Yellow cards: S. Giglio, M.A. Bonnici
Player of the match: Brian Said (Sliema)
TMI top three:1. B. Said, 2. N. Turner, 3. W. Camenzuli