SILVIO VELLA

By virtue of this draw, Birkirkara's five-point lead over Sliema Wanderers is unassailable this morning. They are the new league champions, having still to play two more matches.

The few but noisy Birkirkara fans, including the club's committee members and coach Azzopardi, present at Ta' Qali, but who followed the match with keen interest, started early celebrations yesterday afternoon after dethroned champions Sliema Wanderers could only manage a draw against Msida St Joseph.

Sliema needed to win to keep their slim hopes alive but Msida offered a stern challenge in this entertaining match of see-saw fortunes.

While Msida kept the same eleven who started the match against Hibernians the previous week, Sliema made some changes to the side who beat Valletta. Dilello and Chetcuti were both back in defence, bereft of the suspended Debono, while Brincat played for 50 minutes. Giglio and Bogdanovic were both missing and Lombardi also got a start.

Sliema's explosive start earned them an early penalty after only two minutes, albeit the decision was debatable as Lombardi fell over Zongo's legs when trying to clear the ball inside the area. Ivan Woods tucked his third goal from the spot. Soon after, a Doncic headed effort went tantalisingly wide and midway through the half a Woods effort on Turner's pass finished narrowly off target.

Msida started to venture more often into enemy territory by the half hour as Sliema took a laid back approach.

After Zongo's effort was turned into a corner by keeper Akanji, Nwoke arrived fractionally late on Zongo's cross.

Sliema funneled one of their dangerous breaks through Woods and Doncic, the latter's low cross was cleared by Mifsud before Brincat could connect.

Five minutes before the interval, Ibrahim Babatunde connected well on Cachia's free-kick from the left and beat Akanji with a glancing header to restore equilibrium.

That lasted only until 12 minutes into the second half, that is, when Msida forged ahead. Daniel Nwoke's fast pace enabled him to beat Dilello's challenge as he turned and fired an arrow-like shot at the top corner.

Sliema were suddenly back-pedalling as the match took a dramatic shift in the Saints' favour, with the Wanderers' defence often looking out of sorts against the fast pace of Msida's three foreign strikers.

But the wounded Sliema still found the courage to hit back. Woods, their best player, clipped a wicked free-kick against the bar on 65 minutes only to resolve a melee that ensued inside the Msida area five minutes later and again draw level.

But the thrills were far from over. Msida regained the lead on 73 minutes. Babatunde beat the Sliema offside trap as he chased a long ball forward, played it square to the unmarked Daniel Nwoke to steer it into an empty net.

Sliema rallied back for a second time after Woods twice had headed efforts cleared off the line by Msida's defender Mifsud.

Five minutes from time, the Wanderers salvaged a point and some pride, denying Msida victory, when Mauro Dilello headed in Farrugia's cross from the right.

But that was not enough to prevent Birkirkara from being confirmed champions, enabling them to celebrate in full force against Hibernians this afternoon.

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Msida SJ: O. Borg, J. Mifsud, M. Pullicino, T. Farrugia, C. Sciberras (S. Grima), D. Cachia, P. Fenech, L. Micallef, I. Babatunde, D. Nwoke, O. Zongo (D. Theuma)

Sliema W: M. Akanji, J. Brincat (J. Farrugia), A. Muscat, M. Dilello, B. Said, L. Lombardi, N. Turner, D. Doncic, R. Bajada, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods

Referee: L. Sammut Asst. refs: P. Agius, A. Camilleri 4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers: I. Woods (2) 1 pen, I. Babatunde, D. Nwoke (2), M. Dilello

Yellow cards: L. Lombardi, A. Muscat, O. Borg

Player of the match: Ibrahim Babatunde (Msida SJ)

TMI top three: 1. D. Nwoke 2. I. Woods 3. D. Cachia