Birkirkara-Marsaxlokk 2-3

A hard earned victory, once more in the late stages, kept Marsaxlokk on course for the last Championship Pool berth. It is now up to them to beat Msida SJ next Saturday to achieve that aim.

A must-win situation forced the South seasiders to put everything to risk against Birkirkara yesterday. After going down to Mihailov's opener, Marsaxlokk kept their nerves and rallied with a brace from their Brazilian striker Pereira. And when Sokolov's equaliser looked to have dampened their spirits, Marsaxlokk hit back with Alcorse's winner four minutes from the end.

Both teams made changes from their previous outing. Marsaxlokk were missing the suspended Kevin Sammut while Trevor Templeman was exiled to the bench, making way for the returning Licari. Coach Patrick Curmi gave Julio Alcorse a rare start.

Birkirkara coach John Buttigieg also tampered with his starting line-up. Omar Borg was back in goal. Jonathan Holland also returned after suspension while Cilia and Mihailov were given starts. Michael Galea was not included in the squad as Alan Tabone and Mauro Dilello sat on the bench. The match had a quiet start as both sides elected for caution in wet conditions because of the drizzling rain and Alcorse's glancing header on Licari's cross almost caused problems for keeper Borg.

The slippery surface helped Birkirkara break the deadlock after ten minutes. Conceicao missed the ball when trying to intercept Mallia's through pass, to put Kiril Mihailov clear to beat keeper Debono with a low shot.

But within ten minutes, Marsaxlokk drew level. Marcelo Pereira ran in to connect well on Mamo's testing cross from the left and beat keeper Borg with a firm header.

Both teams tried to launch long balls forward in the hope that the strikers might exploit. Birkirkara threatened with deep runs of Misfud Triganza and Bajada inside the Marsaxlokk area before a Cassar rising shot for Marsaxlokk whizzed over the bar and a Pereira grounder was blocked by the Birkirkara keeper. But the teams were still tied at halftime.

Marsaxlokk pressed their opponents inside their own half after the restart but their build-ups were too predictable and Birkirkara could defend their goal with minimal difficulty. The match took a twist on 56 minutes though when Marcelo Pereira slightly flicked Cassar's rasping shot, enough to put the ball beyond keeper Borg's reach.

Birkirkara immediately put in Buhagiar for Holland. The substitute's header on Bajada's free kick caused panic inside the Marsaxlokk area but the ball was finally cleared into a corner. That was the prelude to Birkirkara's equaliser on 73 minutes. Bajada weighted his free kick inside the crowded Marsaxlokk area and the towering Ivailo Sokolov headed in at the far post.

Marsaxlokk were rattled. Birkirkara threatened again when Mihailov put Mifsud Triganza through but he shot hastily off target. With ten minutes remaining, Marsaxlokk almost scored. Said headed Cassar's long free kick towards goal but keeper Borg dived to his right to hold out the ball with a sprawling save.

Birkirkara could have also won the match themselves soon after but Mihailov shot Bajada's low cross wide with only the goal at his mercy. Having survived that scare, Marsaxlokk summoned some more effort and four minutes from normal time, substitute Camilleri beat Birkirkara's offside trap with his through ball for Julio Alcorse to flick the ball past keeper Borg and give his side a dramatic winner that might change the course of the season.