Valletta-Birkirkara 3-1

Valletta: A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Borg, I. Azzopardi, R. Dos Santos, J. Pace, G. Agius (I. Zammit), T. Scerri, D. Dos Santos (D. Falzon), O. Temile (E. Agius), K. Sammut

Birkirkara: M. Fraser, T. Paris (A. Decesare), N. Vukanac, R. Muscat, J. Zerafa, K. Pulo (T. Vella), A. Buhagiar, P. Fenech, S. Bajada, M. Galea, E. Lattes

Referee: C. Lautier Asst.refs: K. Borg, A. Camilleri 4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: M. Galea 46, D. Dos Santos 53, 66, T. Scerri 90 pen

Yellow cards: P. Fenech, A. Buhagiar, S. Borg, A. Hogg, J. Zerafa, O. Temile, S. Bajada

Player of the match: Denni Dos Santos (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Dos Santos 2. E. Lattes 3. P. Fenech

Attendance: 3,860

Valletta keep enjoying the view from the top of the Premier League, particularly the sight of Birkirkara disappearing in their wing mirrors. The leaders have now opened a 13- point gap over the champions, which although not unassailable, is quite significant for the title win.

Yesterday’s performance might not have been Valletta’s best so far and at times the citizens looked rusty and too erratic, but sheer perseverance and expertise saw them come from a goal down and go on to win, to send Birkirkara spinning to a first defeat in eight matches.

Denni Dos Santos, prominently involved in Valletta’s success, was the inspiration of his team’s attack, as he scored a brace, with Terence Scerri scoring the other from a late penalty.

Birkirkara, spurred by their colourful supporters, gave a spirited display and showed character, at times dominating play. They caused the Valletta rearguard several anxious moments, especially from set pieces, throughout the match. However they lost their lead too early and allowed Valletta to turn the match on its head.

Both sides strengthened their defences with Birkirkara recovering Nikola Vukanac and Valletta having Ramon Dos Santos back after injuries.

The Stripes however were still without Trevor Cilia and gave a start to Karl Pulo, dropping Patrick Borg and Alan Tabone to the bench.

Valletta also had Denni Dos Santos back in the starting line-up after missing the previous match, with Ian Zammit making way. Roderick Briffa was out with flu.

The teams stifled each other to good effect in midfield and thus scoring opportunities remained much at a premium in a keenly contested first half. With two watertight defences, the teams tried to shoot from a distance but efforts from Bajada, Muscat, Denni and Scerri lacked power and precision.

Luckily, the second half came to life abruptly, courtesy of Birkirkara’s early goal and Valletta’s quick response to equalise.

Hardly two minutes after resumption, keeper Hogg dropped the ball on a Lattes corner, when challenged by Vukanac on the goal line, but managed to palm it out, only as far as Michael Galea to shoot at the top of the net.

That goal was the tonic needed to inject some verve into the match. Lattes and Fenech exchanged passes on the right, with the latter’s shot parried by Hogg with difficulty.

On 53 minutes Denni Dos Santos accelerated inside the Birkirkara area from the right on Sammut’s long pass, outpaced his direct marker and beat keeper Fraser from a tight angle, almost from the byeline.

Birkirkara’s response on 57 minutes had keeper Hogg repelling Lattes’ shot from the right. Buhagiar picked the loose ball but thumped it against the upright.

Valletta upped the tempo and threatened past the hour with Agius’ glaring miss as he headed wide in front of goal, on Scerri’s inviting cross.

On 66 minutes Denni Dos Santos, darting run on an Agius through pass, left two Birkirkara players stranded as he lobbed the ball over the onrushing keeper Fraser.

With Valletta’s purposeful running and slick passing evidently at the fore, the Stripes were suddenly facing an uphill struggle. To their credit they were not demoralised and kept trying.

Hogg again looked vulnerable on a Bajada low free kick as Birkirkara put in Andrew Decesare and later Terence Vella.

Galea’s long range shot forced keeper Hogg to stretch himself and save into a corner. From the ensuing kick, Buhagiar’s goalbound shot was blocked. Late desperate efforts by Galea and Fenech bore no fruit by Birkirkara, who even conceded a penalty in added time when Scerri fell under Buhagiar’s challenge inside the area and Scerri himself scored from the spot to put the cherry on the cake.