Birkirkara’s adventure in the Intertoto competition is as good as over after suffering a heavy 3-0 home defeat by seven-time Slovenian champions, NK Maribor, in the first leg yesterday.

Even before kick-off, Birkirkara were already facing a tall order after taking the field with an understrength side, bereft of their three foreigners, who were released by the club, as well as Etienne Barbara, William Camenzuli, Mark Anthony Bonnici and Clint Micallef, all dropped by coach Buttigieg and transfer listed.

Birkirkara’s starting line-up included the returning Bernard Paris in goal, Thomas Paris as right full-back and Alan Tabone partnering Michael Galea in attack.

For the first 20 minutes Birkirkara looked the better side and managed to create a goalscoring opportunity but failed to take the lead.

It was only in the late stages of the first half, that Maribor started to look really menacing and they forged ahead just before the break to double that lead shortly after the restart.

With Birkirkara’s hopes severely dented, Maribor showed technical superiority in the second half, holding to possession, and added their third goal in the dying minutes, after spurning other scoring opportunities.

Hard as they tried, Birkirkara rarely troubled the opposing defence, with most of their attacks starting from the flanks, through Roderick Briffa on the right and George Mallia on the left. Tabone worked hard in midfield but was often outpowered against stronger opponents, while Galea was starved of service up front.

After only seven minutes, from a Briffa corner from the right, Scicluna’s firm header forced keeper Pridigar to stretch himself and save. Birkirkara continued to move the ball neatly between them holding to possession as they were chased by their opponents in unbearable hot climatic conditions at Kordin ground.

Midway through the half Maribor threatened with a Tomazic chip from the edge of the area which keeper Paris did well to turn into a corner over the bar.

On the half hour, Paris rushed out to block Makriev, put through inside the area by Tomazic and on 37 minutes, they fluffed an easy chance as Pregelj advanced dangerously, played the ball wide to Pekic, whose low cross was fractionally missed by Makriev, alone in front of goal.

The Maribor striker atoned for that miss three minutes later when he beat Paris from close range as the Birkirkara defence failed to clear the ball inside their area.

Just before half time, Maribor could have doubled their lead as Makriev again ran through the Birkirkara defence, beat the onrushing keeper but deliberated too long and his goal bound effort was deflected into a corner by Thomas Paris.

Hardly two minutes into the second half Birkirkara conceded a second goal. Substitute Mezga created the opening, played the ball wide on the left for Pekic to cross low for the unmarked Makriev to slot the ball in.

As Maribor opted for a more cautious approach, Birkirkara were struggling to penetrate their defence.

Michael Galea shot wide when chasing Tabone’s pass. Then substitute Anastasi steered the ball in Tabone’s path but the latter’s finishing was completely off target.

Birkirkara went close to bridging the gap five minutes from time. Mallia played a deft one-two with Galea but was denied by Cipot’s timely tackle into a corner.

Pekic, who became Maribor’s main striker after Makriev’s substitution and had missed a couple of chances earlier in the half, made no mistake with three minutes remaining as he finished off Mezga’s through ball with a clinical strike after rounding keeper Paris, to complete Maribor’s

mission.