Marsaxlokk 1

Birkirkara 1

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, M. Licari, C. Magro, N. Dos Santos Gomes (S.Tellus), K. Mamo, J. Pace, S. Bajada, C. Frendo, K. Sammut, C. Nwoko, W. Soares Gomes (G. Sciberras)

Birkirkara: D. Simon, M. A. Bonnici, L. Galea, P. Monye (R. Briffa) (R. Mifsud), R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione (E. Yanchev), E. Barbara, M. Galea, K. Scicluna, J. P. Mifsud Triganza

Referee : J. Attard Asst.refs : K. Borg, A. Camilleri, 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: W. Soares Gomes, J. P. Mifsud Triganza

Yellow cards: W. Soares Gomes

Player of the match: Kevin Sammut (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. K. Sammut 2. M. A. Bonnici 3. C. Magro

The colourful and noisy Birkirkara supporters filled the enclosure and a good part of the Millenium stand at Ta’ Qali yesterday to celebrate their team’s championship win but returned home somewhat disappointed. They needed to win this game to clinch the title with two games remaining.

They only got one point, after a hard-earned one-all draw, and thus were forced to put their celebrations on hold as their lead was trimmed to six points.

Marsaxlokk were without the suspended Wellman and Carlo Mamo as well as Schembri but had Jamie Pace and Nuno Dos Santos Gomes back in the side. Kevin Mamo was given a start on the left flank.

They put a decent challenge to the leaders, with their great tactical discipline. The industry of Sammut and Pace in midfield, the forays of Bajada and Frendo on the flanks, as well as the composure of Mamo, Licari, Magro and substitute Tellus in defence made it hard for Birkirkara to impose their superiority.

In fact the south seasiders succeeded in strangling life out of Birkirkara’s attacking options as they hassled and harried their opponents into a plethora of errors.

An early lead boosted their aims and they were close to pulling a surprise victory but Birkirkara obtained a deserved equaliser upon the hour.

Both sides were forced to effect some early substitutions in the first half because of injury. Dos Santos Gomes made way for Tellus towards the half hour while Monye also had to leave the pitch after 37 minutes, substituted by Briffa as Camenzuli retreated in defence.

Marsaxlokk could not have had a better start when after only four minutes play they forged ahead. Wendell Soares Gomes raced in for Bajada’s long cross from the left and beat the Birkirkara keeper Simon hands down with a low diagonal drive.

That goal sparked a fierce response from Birkirkara who threw caution to the wind with an attacking display.

But only after 22 minutes did they look really menacing when a Camenzuli free-kick was squeezed by the Marsaxlokk wall and the ball trickled into Barbara’s path but plucky keeper Debono blocked with his foot.

Hardly five minutes later, following another insidious Camenzuli free-kick from the left, the ball fell to the unattended Calascione whose shot went narrowly wide.

That heralded Birkirkara’s best spell in the first half. Keeper Debono could only palm out a high ball into Galea’s feet but the latter’s goal bound effort was headed into safety by Mamo, standing on the line.

And just before the break, the Marsaxlokk keeper had to come off his line to smother the danger as Mifsud Triganza chased a long ball inside the penalty area.

The second half was marred by many niggling fouls as Marsaxlokk held on to their slender lead and Birkirkara looked visibly frustrated as they kept probing for an equaliser.

On 51 minutes, Debono saved well a Mifsud Triganza grounder.

Soares Gomes carved an opening in the Stripes’ defence but skied the ball. On the other end Mifsud Triganza also missed the target with a low drive.

Birkirkara managed to equalise on 63 minutes. A Camenzuli free-kick from the right was shot in by Mifsud Triganza, knocking the ball against an opponent before crossing the line.

Despite almost half an hour of playing time remained, both sides looked happy to settle for a draw as they failed to increase their efforts. Birkirakara introduced Yanchev while Marsaxlokk put in Sciberras for Soares Gomes.

With Marsaxlokk still composed at the back, Birkirkara were unable to breach their opponents’ blanket defence one more time. The closest they went was a Camenzuli shot thumping against the post in the late minutes but Marsaxlokk did not deserve to lose, leaving Birkirkara in search of yet another point from their two remaining fixtures against Hibernians and Sliema Wanderers.