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

Marsaxlokk: R. Debono, C. Mamo, W. Camenzuli, R. Conceicao, C. Magro, J. Pace, T. Templeman, C. Frendo (P. Pullicino), K. Sammut, J. Alcorse, A. Madzar

Referee: A. Casha asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Apap 4th official: K. Azzopardi

Scorers: C. Frendo, A. Tabone pen, J.P. Mifsud Triganza

Yellow cards: A. Madzar, R. Conceicao, T. Templeman, J.P. Mifsud Triganza

Player of the match: Cleaven Frendo (Marsaxlokk)

TMI top three: 1. E. Yanchev 2. K. Sammut 3. G. Mallia

A late goal by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza gave Birkirkara a dramatic victory and put an end to Marsaxlokk’s unbeaten run of eight league matches yesterday.

It was the champions’ first defeat this year as they now surrender their primacy to Valletta.

For the in-form Stripes, this was the second major test within a week, following the previous one-all draw with Valletta, conceded in the dying minutes. This time, Birkirkara themselves left it late to overcome a goal deficit as Cleaven Frendo had put the champions ahead with a spectacular goal on the stroke of halftime.

To their credit, Birkirkara were not demorilised and rallied well in the second half, with a sturdy defence behind them, and after drawing level through a Tabone penalty, clinched their win with a dramatic late goal to keep up their challenge.

A notable absentee in the Birkirkara side was forward Davy Amed Sylla, but coach Buttigieg reinstated Emil Yanchev, who together with Hartvig in defence, was detailed to mitigate Alcorse and Madzar’s s aerial threats. George Mallia and Mifsud Triganza were given starts.

Marsaxlokk, who were an unchanged side from the previous game against Sliema, started the first half with the wind behind their backs, but despite some good wing play by Sammut, they hardly found open spaces inside Birkirkara’s area, especially because Fenech and Ciantar provided good cover in front of the Stripes’ back four. When Madzar knocked the ball down to Frendo on the edge of the area, the latter shot off target.

For long stretches, both sides were giving away possession too cheaply, perhaps hampered by the strong wind.

Birkirkara’s build-up play was a pleasure to watch, but their final pass and finishing left much to be desired.

Marsaxlokk, who overall carried little threat, went close with a Madzar header, on Mamo’s cross, straight into keeper Borg’s hands. And as halftime beckoned, Cleaven Frendo, who had been moving menacingly in pursuit of openings, ran down the right flank and fired an unstoppable shot straight at the top right hand corner of the far post to give Marsaxlokk a one-goal cushion.

Birkirkara needed to show more urgency after the interval. Bajada shot wide from a distance after he had earlier arrived late on a Mifsud Triganza inviting low cross.

On 53 minutes, Frendo whipped a cross which Madzar headed wide and Birkirkara put in Antoine Zahra for Ciantar.

Soon after, Mifsud Triganza went past Camenzuli inside the area but with only the keeper to beat, put his effort narrowly wide of the post.

On the other end, Borg stretched himself to save Alcorse’s low drive as Marsaxlokk remained dangerous on the breaks.

Birkirkara tried hard to presssurise their opponents but were erratic in their finishing both from open play and from set pieces. Coach Talbot put in the hard working Pullicino in midfield instead of Frendo past the hour.

On 70 minutes, Fenech picked a Marsaxlokk clearance from edge of area, and noticing the keeper slightly off his line, he thumped his shot against the bar. As the ball rebounded in play and a mix-up ensued inside the area, Mallia fell under Camenzuli’s challenge and the referee awarded Birkirkara the penalty. Alan Tabone beat keeper Debono with a low shot from the spot to level matters.

Marsaxlokk tried to make a reaction. Pullicino went inside the area but Alcorse failed to control his inviting pass as Borg was caught off balance.

One minute from normal time, Stripes’ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza went past Camenzuli inside the area and slotted the ball low between the keeper and the near post, for his sixth goal of the season, to clinch a dramatic victory.