Sliema W.: M. Akanji, B. Said, B. Nisevic (E. Barbara) , M. Scerri, A. Rocha da Silva (J. Vella), R. Bajada, M. Bartolo, J. Chetcuti, I. Woods, I. Ciantar (O. Anonam), R. Briffa.

Birkirkara: O. Borg, T. Paris, P. Fenech, A. Tabone, M. Anastasi (L. Lombardi), R. Hartvig, S. Bajada, J. Zerafa, DA Sylla (JP Mifsud Triganza), A. Ciantar (A. Zahra), E. Yanchev.

Referee: A.. Zammit. asst refs: C. Micallef, P. Agius 4th official: J. Attard

Scorers: Sylla 2, I. Woods, JP Mifsud Triganza

Yellow cards: J. Chetcuti, A. Zahra, E. Barbara

Red card: E. Yanchev

Player of the match: D.A Sylla (Birkirkara)

TMI top three: R. Hartvig; 2. R. da Silva; 3. DA Sylla

A 10-man Birkirkara side dealt Sliema a stunning blow to their hopes of winning this season’s title when John Buttigieg’s boys ran out winners by three goals to one.

It was a big morale booster for the Stripes who have now moved ahead of the same Sliema in the standings, in third place.

And it was also a deserved win considering the circumstances. In fact, they had to play with 10 men for a whole 60 minutes and after the 40th minute, they also had to forfeit their top striker Davy Sylla, later named Man of the Match, who cried out injured.

On the other hand, Sliema disappointed their few followers and although they enjoyed possession for long stretches, they could not get to grips with the situation, especially after missing a first half penalty.

The Blues will certainly have to play much better if they are to figure among the title contenders till the very end.

Birkirkara and Sliema fielded depleted formations yesterday. The Stripes missed the absence of Michael Galea, George Mallia and Lino Galea, at least, while Sliema had Alex Muscat missing while national team striker Etienne Barbara started the match on the substitutes’ bench.

The first half was entertaining with Sliema enjoying more possession but with Birkirkara always dangerous in their fewer counter-attacks with Sylla being their dangerman.

He was the great protagonist, scoring the two goals that gave the Stripes a healthy cushion in the first half, but when he was injured, Buttigieg’s boys found it much more difficult to penetrate the Blues’ defence.

In the second half, Sliema were back in contention after they pulled back a goal early but they found the Stripes a very hard nut to crack.

Inspired by giant Hartvig at the back – he was really outstanding yesterday – the Stripes fought gallantly and never gave away an inch.

Sliema had the edge in the opening stages and on five minutes, it was Woods who tested Borg with a grounder, but the Stripes goalie saved with ease.

The Stripes soon were on target, however. It was the ninth minute when from a Tabone low cross, Akanji could not control the ball and Sylla was on hand to blast the ball home from close in.

Omar Borg then twice came to the Stripes’ rescue, first saving on a defender’s backpass which favoured Ivan Woods. Then he dived on a cross by Ciantar to save and thwart Woods once again.

Sylla advanced unhindered on a long Zerafa pass, but Nisevic recovered on time to clear in extremis to corner. But the Stripes were not to be denied. From Anastasi’s looping cross, Akanji missed his sortie and Sylla made the most of the occasion as he kicked the ball into the net.

On the 30th minute, Zammit pointed to the dreaded spot when Roderick Bajada was floored in the area by Yanchev. Birkirkara protested hotly and Bulgarian defender Yanchev was also shown the red card – a very harsh decision by the official. But Sliema failed to take advantage as Borg covered himself with glory, turning the ball onto the upright from Woods shot, with the ball being cleared to safety.

Birkirkara suffered a setback to their hopes when on 40 minutes, Sylla was injured and had to be substituted.

Only two minutes of the second half had elapsed when Sliema pulled one back. Andre Rocha da Silva set Ivan Woods in the area and the latter easily beat Borg from three metres.

Sliema pressed hard and Birkirkara had to defend for long stretches. On 65 minutes, Barbara was given a clear opportunity by Da Silva, but he skied the ball from an ideal position.

Two minutes later, Roderick Briffa was unlucky to see his header hitting the upright and an Ivan Woods effort from a Barbara cross also went just wide, but on the 90th minute, Birkirkara sealed the issue

It was Bajada who entered the Blues area on the left. His cross went to Mifsud Triganza who dribbled his immediate opponent to beat Akanji with ease.