BIRKIRKARA 4
HAMRUN SPARTANS 0
Birkirkara: O. Borg, T. Paris (L. Lombardi), P. Fenech, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, M. Anastasi (A. Zahra), R. Hartvig, S. Bajada, J. Zerafa, D.A. Sylla (M. Galea), G. Mallia, E. Yanchev
Hamrun S: S. Sullivan, D. Cucciardi, A. Attard, K. Borg (C. Cacciatolo), Roderick Fenech, S. Meilak, Ryan Fenech, S. Sultana (P. Monye), B. Timotic, G. Spiteri (M. Brincat), A. Effiong
Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst.refs: P. Agius, C. Micallef 4th official: M. Borg
Scorers: J. P. Mifsud Triganza (3) 1 pen, M. Galea
Yellow cards: Roderick Fenech, B. Timotic, T. Paris, A. Effiong
Red card: Roderick Fenech
Player of the match: Paul Fenech (Birkirkara)
TMI top three: 1. P. Fenech 2. J.P. Mifsud Triganza 3. Ryan Fenech
A well taken Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza hat-trick and another goal by substitute Michael Galea, enabled Birkirkara to move into second place, within one point of leaders Valletta, who play third place Marsaxlokk this afternoon.
But the final score line put some excessive gloss on the Stripes’ latest success.
In fact for almost an hour, Birkirkara, bereft of the suspended Alan Tabone in midfield, struggled to go past a well disciplined Hamrun side, until awarded a penalty which opened the flood gates, leading to Hamrun’s downfall. Birkirkara suddenly jerked into shape and scored three more in the last quarter hour to dismantle their dejected opponents, who also had Roderick Fenech sent off ten minutes from time.
And with the strength in depth being among the more obvious differences between the two teams, Hamrun were unable to halt their slump and finished with the appearance of a side resigned to their fate.
The Spartans were again without the injured Mangion and that appeared to leave them severely short of creative options.
Stefan Sultana started the match but his playing time lasted only 26 minutes as he limped off with some pulled muscle and Monye went in as substitute a couple of minutes later in the centre of defence. That changed the Spartans’ tactical set-up as Roderick Fenech advanced in midfield and Spiteri, in turn, took the main striker’s role with Cucciardi in support.
Hamrun’s poise and tactical discipline on the pitch allowed Birkirkara little comfort on the ball, although the Stripes, enjoyed the better share of possession in the first half.
They were hardly productive however after having an Anastasi goal disallowed for offside in the opening five minutes. Sylla’s tame header on a Mifsud Triganza cross landed in Sullivan’s safe hands.
Hamrun threatened with an early Ryan Fenech free kick and then Effiong, playing wide on the left flank, went in well from the byeline and crossed for Spiteri to hoist the ball over the bar.
On 23 minutes Bajada thumped his free kick against the bar. Seven minutes later, on the other side, Ryan Fenech emulated him with another powerful free kick from some 30 metres that was held out by the woodwork.
Birkirkara created another good chance in the half’s added time as Anastasi put through Fenech but his shot was tipped over into a corner by keeper Sullivan as the stalemate prevailed by halftime.
The second half continued on the same pattern, with Birkirkara looking inept to penetrate the Hamrun rearguard. Fenech lobbed a long ball which Sullivan saved into a corner with some difficulty. But a litany of misplaced passes and niggling fouls rendered the match rather scrappy.
It only came to life past the hour. Mallia, who ran through from midfield, was floored by Attard when inside the area. After some hesitancy, the referee awarded the penalty for Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza to put Birkirkara in front with a low shot.
That goal injected some much needed verve in the Stripes while it killed all of Hamrun’s hopes, as these days, a one-goal deficit is close to insurmountable.
Not surprisingly, Birkirkara hit their second on 74 minutes. Substitute Zahra won possession in midfield and set Bajada going to beat the Hamrun defence with his wide pass to Mifsud Triganza, who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted in from a tight angle.
Hamrun’s woes increased with Roderick Fenech’s dismissal ten minutes from time for a second bookable offence and only three minutes later Mifsud Triganza scored his hat-trick with a low strike on Zahra’s pass as Birkirkara started to toy with their opponents by then.
And with Hamrun looking worryingly vulnerable in the late stages, there was still time for substitute Michael Galea to score his side’s fourth, flicking in past the helpless Sullivan, after good work by Bajada on the left.