Valletta 0

Birkirkara 1

Valletta did most of the attacking during the game penning the Stripes in their own area for long stretches but Birkirkara defended grimly to the end and managed to repel the onslaught by Valletta.

The Citzens started straight on the offensive as Nicholas De Gabriele dribbled past an opponent on the left flank but his well-executed cross found no takers.

The Stripes then mounted two actions in a row. Kieran Xuereb dribbled past an opponent outside the area and Valletta keeper Daniel Attard denied him with a diving save. Later Owen Amato was fouled on the right flank but Carl Abela’s freekick was headed away to safety. 

Valletta regained the initiative and raided the Stripes fort on four consecutive occasions. Kieren Grima served Luke Pace in the area and Stripes keeper Alistair Micallef saved his header. Matthew Spiteri served Clint Zammit on the left flank and the ball was cleared on the line following his cross-shot.

Zammit was then fouled on the left flank, the same player floated a high ball in the area from the free kick and Pace scored but the point was disallowed for off-side.

In their last action before the break, De Gabriele served Mirco Vella in the area and with only Micallef to beat, he drove over the bar from two metres.

The second period was a total dominance by Valletta as Birkirkara created only two actions.

Micallef saved a free kick shot by Zammit after Pace was fouled  on the right flank.

Pace then headed over the bar following a well-taken corner kick by Jake Spiteri.

Vella floated a high ball in the area from a free kick and Micallef saved a header by Zammit. Lapira then served Vella in the area and Micallef foiled him with a timely sortie.

In a Birkirkara rare attack, Owen Amato served substitute Kyan Gauci with a through ball in the area but Attard neutralised the ball with a timely sortie.

In the first minute of added time Birkirkara scored the all-important goal. Gauci dribbled past an opponent on the right flank and executed a perfect cross in the area. Attard failed to neutralise the ball and Nick Borg scored from inside the six-yard box.

Referee: Chris Lautier                             

Player of the match: Nick Borg