Birkirkara-Tarxien R. 1-0
Birkirkara: J. Mora, T. Cilia (T. Paris), B. Nisevic, N. Vukanac, P. Fenech, R. Muscat, S. Bajada (G. Mallia), A. Buhagiar, J. Zerafa, M. Galea, S. Comvalius (A. Tabone).
Tarxien R : A. Curmi, D. Camilleri, G. Calabretta (W. Zerafa), M. Tanti, A. Decesare, D. Rocha Dos Santos, R. Mintoff, R. Grech (C. Fenech), L. Galea, K. Magro (J.Shead), J. Grioli.
Referee: K. Azzopardi, Ass.t refs: A. Camilleri, P. Agius, 4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: S. Bajada
Yellow cards: P. Fenech, L. Grech, A. Decesare, M. Tanti,
Player of the match: Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara)
TMI top three: 1. S. Bajada 2. T. Cilia 3. A. Curmi
A Shaun Bajada spectacular volley seven minutes from the break was enough for Birkirkara to clinch their third title in their history. It was a hard earned victory as Paul Zammit’s boys were not at their best yesterday.
The Stripes had too much pressure yesterday and they failed to produce their usual spectacular attacking football, apart from some flashes in the first half.
But the victory was their only goal yesterday, and they obtained it against a Tarxien side, that never gave away an inch, even though the Rainbows failed to impress in attack.
This deserved title victory, surely not predicted at the start of the season, will go down in the records as the most beautiful for the Birkirkara supporters. They pipped arch rivals Valletta who were surely the great favourites for the title. But credit goes to all the Birkirkara players, their coach and the whole committee for a memorable and incredible season that was crowned yesterday with the mathematical certainty. The Stripes’ decisive victory was surely that against Valletta in the last match of the first round of the championship pool, thanks to a Trevor Cilia goal. The Stripes withstood the pressure in the remaining matches to clinch a deserved title
For rivals Valletta this was another great setback, the second consecutive one, after losing last season’s title in their last match against Hibernains.
Pushed by their numerous loyal fans Birkirkara could have taken the lead after barely 75 seconds when Trevor Cilia crossed towards Michael Galea who nodded the ball towards Comvalius whose point blank effort was miraculously blocked by Curmi.
Birkirkara continued to dominate and a Comvalius grounder went inches wide. On 10 minutes Tarxien goalkeeper Curmi made another great save blocking a close range header by Michael Galea.
Two minutes later the Birkirkara captain missed a sitter when he failed to connect in front of goal a Trevor Cilia freekick. The Stripes kept pushing forward and Curmi had to stretch to the limit to block a Trevor Cilia lob.
The Stripes lost some of their initial flair but on 25 minutes they came close again with a Comvalius freekick going slightly over the bar. Two minutes later the Rainbows had their first break with Mark Tanti going close from an acute angle.
On 32 minutes Tarxien gave away the ball in midfield and goalkeeper Curmi had to make amends blocking desperately on Michael Galea. On 38 minutes Birkirkara forged ahead when Shaun Bajada picked a loose ball outside the Tarxien box and hammered a dipper in the top corner of the net to send the Yellow’s supporters in raptures.
Tarxien made one substitution for the second part of the match with James Shead coming in for Magro. Cilia went close for the Stripes on 47 minutes. The Stripes controlled the match in the second half leaving the initiative in Tarxien’s hands. But Tarxien had no punch with Rocha Dos santos completely blotted by Nisevic and Vukanac.
On 70 minutes Trevor Cilia hit the side netting in a rare Birkirkara attack.
The match dragged on with Birkirkara waiting for the final whistle. And when the whistle was blown the Birkirkara started their more than deserved championship celebrations which will reach their peak next Wednesday after their final match against Valletta.