Valletta-B’Kara 3-6
Birkirkara: S. Darmanin (J. Haber), M. A. Bonnici, P. Monye, R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli (K. Scicluna), H. Doda, C. Nwoko (M. Galea), E. Barbara, L. Dronca, G. Mallia, A. Ciantar.
Valletta: M. Montfort, J. Bondin, K. Cassar, B. Nisevic, R. Forace (K. Bonnici), M. Galea (C. Camilleri), K. Fenech (A. Debono), M. Penchev, C. Oretan, I. Zammit, G. Agius
Referee: J. Attard Asst refs: P. Agius, A. Camilleri 4th official: A. Casha
Scorers: G. Mallia, H. Doda (2), B. Nisevic (2), G. Agius, L. Dronca (pen), E. Barbara (2)
Yellow cards: K. Cassar, K. Scicluna, J. Bondin
Player of match: G. Agius (Valletta)
TMI top three: 1. M. Penchev 2. G. Mallia 3. G. Agius
Birkirkara won an enthralling match yesterday beating rivals Valletta and Hibernians for the runners-up spot. This victory assured Birkirkara of European participation next season, whatever the outcome in the FA Trophy.
In fact, with Sliema in the Champions League, Birkirkara are already in the UEFA Cup. If Sliema win the Trophy, it will be either Marsaxlokk or Msida St Joseph, as the finalists, who will be the second team in the UEFA. But if Birkirkara win the Trophy, it will be the third placed team in the League to play in the UEFA Cup. That team will be decided today after the Sliema-Hibs match. Hibs need a point to finish third, one ahead of Valletta.
Valletta's bold efforts, which saw them draw level after going two goals down by the first ten minutes, proved futile at the end as they were demolished by three late goals. Their season ended in anti-climax as their final position in the standings might see them out of the top three.
Birkirkara were off to a perfect start. With hardly two minutes on the clock, they won the first corner, kicked by Camenzuli from the left, and George Mallia created space to shoot low past keeper Montfort amidst a bunch of legs.
Valletta's defence, already handicapped by the absence of the suspended Massimo Grima, struggled to keep out Birkirkara's early flurry.
And on ten minutes, Valletta took long to clear a Barbara low cross from the right. Nwoko flicked the ball towards the unmarked Haruna Doda who fired it in past the helpless Montfort.
Birkirkara's onslaught continued as Bonnici had a shot deflected into a corner by Bondin and Montfort was twice called into action to keep out Birkirkara's goal bound efforts.
Valletta responded midway through the half and to deadly effect too.
On 24 minutes Penchev sent a sailing free-kick from nearly half pitch on the right and Branco Nisevic's looping header beat keeper Darmanin at the far post.
Four minutes later, Gilbert Agius' corner kick from the left, aided by the strong wind, was not cleared by Camenzuli and the ball ended over the goal line, probably taking some slight deflection off some Valletta player.
But Birkirkara's response was equally effective. On the half hour, Haruna Doda again beat Montfort with a glancing header at the top corner on Camenzuli's free-kick.
Although play was subdued for the rest of the half, chances came thick and fast for Valletta until the break. An Agius shot was saved by Darmanin in two attempts, Penchev and Zammit both spurned presentable opportunities.
The second half was not lacking in excitement, especially after Valletta restored equilibrium five minutes after the re-start.
A venomous Agius corner kick from the left was punched out short by Darmanin and Branco Nisevic shot in Valletta's equaliser from close range.
Haber immediately took Darmanin's place between the posts for Birkirkara and on the hour, Camenzuli was also substituted by Scicluna.
With 20 minutes remaining, and both teams tied at 3-3, it was still anybody's game.But on 74 minutes, Birkirkara were awarded a penalty when, hardly two minutes after he had gone in as substitute, Michael Galea was upended by Nisevic just inside the area. Lucien Dronca made no mistake from the spot.
And five minutes from time, Birkirkara put the cherry on the cake with another goal as Mallia's low cross shot from the right cut the entire Valletta rearguard for Etienne Barbara to toe-poke the ball. And in added time Barbara's second strike added to Valletta's humiliation to the delight of Birkirkara's colourful and noisy fans.