Birkirkara’s third league win on the trot was more than they deserved, as they dominated Floriana for long stretches and could have won by a wider margin were it not for some profligacy in front of goal. They now join them in third place on 21 points.
Floriana played below par and lacked enough firing power in the first half, only to improve slightly with the introduction of Caruana, Woods and Grabowski in the second.
Still, they were always on the receiving end as they provided little cover in midfield, which was often bypassed by their sharper opponents. Floriana ended in nine men as Manolito Micallef and Erik Akoto were dismissed in the space of two minutes towards the end and they then collapsed to concede Birkirkara’s third goal.
Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit opted to leave both Mifsud Triganza and Moises on the bench and played Shodiya as central striker, flanked by Jorge Silva and Ryan Scicluna. Shaun Bajada was again assigned an advanced role behind the forward line.
That kept the Floriana defence on guard as Owen Bugeja and Eric Okoto were being stretched by the Stripes’ through balls in the opening stages.
Although Floriana threatened first, with Doffo whacking an inswinging free kick from the left that keeper Gauci tipped over the bar after eight minutes, Birkirkara soon took the bit between their teeth. The Floriana keeper Jansen rushed out to block Shodiya on the edge of the area, lost the ball but Scicluna’s cross of the loose ball found no support.
Towards the quarter hour, on a Bajada free kick from the left, Pereira headed straight on the keeper.
And when Shola Shodiya found the ball at his feet on a Sciberras pass, following a Floriana clearance, he beat keeper Jansen with a low drive.
In the absence of Christian Caruana and Ivan Woods, both named as substitutes, and the injured Christian Cassar, Floriana struggled to create something and looked aenemic going forward.
Half chances followed at both ends. Alandson failed to hit the ball on Mintoff’s pass and then Bajada shot off target on Scicluna’s cross from the right.
Another set piece brought about Floriana’s equaliser on 34 minutes. Doffo’s sailing free kick was headed by Akoto against the bar, and with keeper Gauci out of sorts, the rebound fell on Malcolm Licari who scored with a routine header from close range.
Equilibrium lasted only nine minutes though. Bajada pinned a perfect free kick inside the Floriana area and defender Nikola Vukanac turned attacker, rising high to head past keeper Jansen.
Floriana put in Caruana for Pisani, but Birkirkara fluffed yet another good opportunity before half time. On Silva’s inviting cross, Scicluna shot wide with only the keeper in his way.
The tide abated somehow in the second half and Floriana saw more of the ball. Alandson capitalized on some hesitancy by Sciberras, played a short pass to Caruana, whose shot was turned into corner by keeper Gauci.
Floriana even put in Ivan Woods for Clyde Borg.
On 56 minutes, Birkirkara had what looked like legitimate claims for a penalty turned down by the referee when Akoto fouled Silva inside the area.
On the hour, Bajada headed Shodiya’s cross over and three minutes later, Scicluna thumped his shot against the upright on Silva’s pass.
Birkirkara kept up the pressure. Keeper Jansen saved well Pereira’s free kick.
But with Birkirkara failing to bury their opponents, Floriana were still in the game and put in Grabowski for Doffo. On 74 minutes, Woods arrived fractionally late on an Alndson low cross. Shortly after, Akoto headed Woods’ cross just wide.
But the match ended in misery for the Greens. Mano Micallef was sent off for two bookings on 83 minutes and two minutes later, Akoto suffered the same fate as he was given a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Fenech.
Birkirkara exploited their numerical advantage with a third and assuring goal on the stroke of time. Silva ran through on the left and played the ball beyond the keeper’s reach towards substitute Avila Moises who shot into an empty goal.
Birkirkara: R. Gauci, R. Scicluna (R. Camenzuli), R. Pereira, N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa, A. Buhagiar, G. Sciberras, P. Fenech, S. Bajada, J. Silva (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), S. Shodiya (A. Moises)
Coach: P. Zammit
Floriana: P. Jansen, E. Akoto, O. Bugeja, J. Mintoff, P. Doffo (A. Grabowski), M. Micallef, A. Alandson, D. Pisani (C. Caruana), J. Borg, C. Borg (I. Woods), M. Licari
Coach: M. Woods
Referee: A. Azzopardi
Asst.refs: R. Vella, D. Sultana
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: S. Shodiya 18, M. Licari 34, N. Vukanac 43, A. Moises 90
Yellow cards: J. Zerafa, C. Caruana, I. Woods, M. Micallef, R. Scicluna, N. Vukanac
Red cards: M. Micallef, E. Akoto
Player of the match: Shola Shodiya (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. S. Shodiya 2. S. Bajada 3. P. Doffo