Birkirkara 1

Valletta 4

With Hibernians winning on Saturday and moving to just one point behind Valletta, the spotlight and the pressure switched to the champions who felt they could not afford to slip up against tricky opponents Birkirkara.

Yesterday’s was a reassuring return to convincing form by the leaders, whose unbeaten run of 15 consecutive league extends their lead to four points.

Two goals up by the first quarter hour, Valletta had their work finished early and never allowed their opponents to hold the initiative, except in flashes.

Valletta fielded only three foreigners in their starting line-up although they had five others on the bench, including Barbosa, Effiong, who went in as substitutes, and latest recruit Filippo Scozzese.

With Panandetigiuri deployed as right back, Roderick Briffa could play in midfield, alongside Edmond Zammit and Roderick Bajada who was given a start.

Mifsud was a constant menace although he failed again to score. Briffa was prominently involved in Valletta’s build-up play and above all Zongo demonstrated strength and enduring brilliance in the face of adversity.

Birkirkara had Nikola Vukanac returning in the heart of their defence but were still without the injured Rowen Muscat. Flank players Shodiya and Silva tried to exploit the width, with Bajada behind main striker Mifsud Triganza. But despite their win against Balzan the previous week, they were not good enough to disturb superior opponents yesterday and were on the back foot throughout.

Valletta could not have had a better start. With hardly four minutes on the clock, Mifsud’s shot, after some good footwork, was deflected in the path of Denni Dos Santos to shoot past keeper Gauci.

Valletta doubled their lead on the quarter hour. Roderick Briffa went in from the byeline on the right, his cross was cleared short for Oussain Zongo to shoot at the top corner.

Undone by two quick goals, Birkirkara laboured to pull themselves back into the game.

And with Shaun Bajada sensing the Valletta keeper slightly off his line, his shot from a distance ended narrowly over.

On 37 minutes Zerafa advanced from the back, passed towards Mifsud Triganza, whose goal bound effort was deflected into a corner by Hogg’s full-length save.

Failing to reduce the deficit before halftime, Birkirkara’s work became more laborious in the second period. They pushed forward as they had to do, but Valletta kept their stranglehold on the proceedings.

On 53 minutes Birkirkara should have done better, going close when Zerafa sent a long ball inside the Valletta area, surprising everybody, including Vukanac, who mishit horrendously in front of goal.

But purposeful and determined, always penetrative on the break, Valletta were good value for their advantage. Towards the hour, Zongo had a double effort cleared first by Pereira on the goal line and then his back heel on the rebound saved into a corner by keeper Gauci.

Birkirkara had a penalty claim turned down when Mifsud Triganza was held inside the area by Borg and Caruana before Zongo came closest to rewarding the dominance enjoyed by the leaders but his shot bounced back off the upright.

Valletta’s third goal looked inevitable and came on 68 minutes. Denni played a splitting pass forward for Jonathan Caruana to chase through the middle and lob the ball over the onrushing keeper Gauci.

With the points virtually secured, Valletta eased off. Birkirkara put in Moises for Pereira and on 73 minutes Shaun Bajada’s free kick hit the side netting on the right.

Two minutes from normal time, with Valletta having already substituted Roderick Bajada and Zongo, the Stripes hit a consolation goal. Buhagiar’s cross from the right was cleared in the path of Avila Moises who beat keeper Hogg with a well placed shot from the edge of the area.

But there was still time for Valletta to score their fourth goal in added time. That came courtesy of substitute Alfred Effiong who headed in at the near post other substitute Gilbert Agius’ free kick from the left.

Birkirkara R. Gauci, N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa, G. Sciberras, S. Bajada (R. Camenzuli), R. Pereira (A. Moises), P. Fenech, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (R. Scicluna), S. Shodiya, A. Buhagiar, J. Silva

Coach P. Zammit

Valletta A. Hogg, J. Caruana, S. Borg, S. Panandetigiuri, I. Azzopardi, R. Bajada (W. Barbosa), R. Briffa, E. Agius, O. Zongo (A. Effiong), D. Dos Santos, M. Mifsud (G. Agius)

Coach J. Zerafa

Referee F. Zammit

Asst.refs W. Debattista, P. Apap

4th official P. Caruana

Scorers D. Dos Santos 4, O. Zongo 15, J. Caruana 68, A. Moises 88, A. Effiong 90+

Yellow cards S. Bajada, O. Zongo, N. Vukanac, S. Shodiya

Player of the match O. Zongo (Valletta)

TMI top 3 1. O. Zongo 2. R. Briffa 3. S. Shodiya

Attendance 2,610