San Gwann 2

Birkirkara 2

San Gwann managed to salvage a point after being 0-2 in arrears by staging a late rally during the last few minutes.

The Stripes enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges in the first period while the second period was a balanced affair.

The early pressure came from Birkirkara. Ivan Zammit served Owen Amato with a through ball in the area but San Gwann keeper Dean Sciberras foiled him with a timely sortie.

Damien Buttigieg then served Nick Borg with a through pass and Michael Farrugia foiled him from further progression with a timely tackle while later, Zammit released Amato outside the area but he was foiled with a timely interception by Gianluca Sant.

San Gwann then mounted two actions in a row. Sant floated a perfect ball in the area from a free kick and Birkirkara keeper Alistair Micallef saved a header by Michael Farrugia.

Alessio Magro served Stojanovic in the area and Micallef saved his shot, while at the other end, Birkirkara won a corner kick on the right flank which was taken by Kieran Xuereb and Amato headed slightly over the bar.

Two minutes after the restart Birkirkara opened the score when Zammit, after dribbling past an opponent, served Nick Borg with a through ball and scored with a diagonal low shot from inside the area.

Substitute Nigel Bugeja then pounced on a loose ball outside San Gwann’s area but he drove well over the bar.

In the 50th minute Birkirkara doubled the score when Xuereb served Amato on the right flank who, after advancing, scored with a rising shot from the edge of the area.

San Gwann then mounted two actions. Stefan Stojanovic released Jan Tanti on the right flank who then crossed to Magro in the area but he skied the ball from an ideal position.

After a flag kick by Tanti was partly cleared, Micallef saved a header by Farrugia.

In the 61st minute San Gwann reduced the gap. Farrugia was fouled outside the area and from the free kick by Sant, Magro scored with a header from inside the area.

In a Birkirkara attack, Zammit dribbled past an opponent but Sciberras saved his effort from outside the area.

In the third minute of added time San Gwann equalised when Stojanovic was fouled outside the area and after Sant floated a perfect ball in the area from the free kick, Miguel Borg scored with a header.

Referee: Clinto Cassar

Player of the match: Owen Amato (Birkirkara)