Birkirkara-Valletta 0-3

Birkirkara: A. Bledzewski, P. Monye (A. Spiteri), R. Sammut, W. Camenzuli, E. Barbara, R. Briffa, D. Larrosa (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), K. Scicluna, J. Zerafa (J. Holland), G. Mallia, A. Ciantar

Valletta: S. Darmanin, J. Bondin, B. Nisevic, M. Grima, R. Forace, U. Edafe, D. Camilleri, D. Falzon, G. Agius, R. Siberie (J. Grioli), I. Zammit (S. Bezzina)

Referee: A. Zammit Asst.refs: P. Agius, M. Debono 4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorer: U. Edafe, I. Zammit, D. Falzon

Yellow card: S. Darmanin, J. Holland, A. Spiteri

Player of the match: Gilbert Agius (Valletta)

TMI top three: 1. D. Falzon 2. G. Agius 3. I. Zammit

Birkirkara have yet to beat Valletta this season. Two weeks after the 3-1 defeat they were again convincingly beaten by resilient Valletta who maintain the title challenge, joining Sliema Wanderers in second place.

The superior Citizens, with more tactical variations, had their work finished early after a two-goal lead by the half hour.

For a long time the champions were a distant second best in all aspects of the game as they were devoid of belief. The eight points by which they trail Marsaxlokk this morning is not an insignificant deficit. To advance higher in the standings, there must be some urgency, some killer instinct.

Injuries and suspensions deprived Birkirkara of Lino Galea, Calascione and Michael Galea. Bonnici, Holland and Mifsud Truganza did not feature in their starting line-up either. Of some consolation was the return of Barbara after injury.

Valletta effected only one change – Falzon started instead of Fenech.

An early lead after only three minutes play put the Citizens firmly in command. Uzeh Edafe headed in Camilleri’s free-kick from the right and celebrated with a series of summersaults.

Falzon’s diagonal low drive was narrowly wide.

With Birkirkara looking woefully short of class and conviction, there seemed to be a certain inevitability about Valletta’s second goal.

That came on 28 minutes. Agius started the move from midfield, and after going past two opponents played the ball wide to Falzon, whose cross was well met by Ian Zammit to beat keeper Bledzewski with his second attempt after the Birkirkara custodian had parried the first shot.

As the half wore on, Valletta kept up the initiative and the Stripes’ rearguard always looked embarrassed whenever the Citizens moved forward. Valletta almost toyed with their opponents, exploiting space on the flanks with surging runs by Falzon and Zammit on the left and the right respectively. Birkirkara were lucky to be only two goals down by halftime.

Birkirkara did not improve in the second half, despite having effected all their three substitutions by the half hour. With Agius creating space for Valletta and Falzon probing for weaknesses with his marauding runs from the left and Riberie and Zammit moving menacingly in pursuit of openings, the pressure was sure to tell on Birkirkara, whose first real threat came on the hour when Briffa’s effort rebounded off the post.

Until then Valletta had gone close twice. Riberie advanced in open space but his shot was footed out by Bledzewski. The Birkirkara keeper needed to dive to his left to hold out Falzon’s blistering first timer on Agius’ long cross.

Outplayed and outmuscled, Birkirkara’s woes increased in the late stages as first their coach Stephen Azzoprdi was sent off the bench and then they succumbed to a third goal, courtesy of Dyson Falzon’s clever chip via the underside of the bar.

The Birkirkara players were booed off the field by their disgruntled supporters who had also to be kept under control by the police force at the end.