Birzebbuga 3

Zejtun C 1

Birzebbuga staged a great comeback to beat Zejtun 3-1 and gain three precious points in their quest to avoid relegation worries.

On the other hand, this was a blow for Zejtun’s promotion hopes. Birzebbuga played a great game with Marev stealing the show with a great performance.

Zejtun found the going hard, managed to forge ahead, but Birzebbuga had other ideas as they turned the tide in their favour, with the third goal scored with a man less.

Zejtun had a very promising start with a Gers Delia deflected shot almost finishing at the back of the net inside the first minute. Zejtun dictated matters in the first 20 minutes of the match with Birzebbuga goalkeeper Ivan Casha frequently called in action to block some dangerous cross.

On 16 minutes Ganchev missed a sitter when he lobbed over the bar from an ideal position following a Delia through pass.

After a difficult initial period Birzebbuga went out of their defensive shell and took hold of the midfield sector putting their opponents against the wall. Celeste had a header going wide and Glenn Tanti’s long range effort was easily saved by Ranier Farrugia.

On 25 minutes Farrugia had to stretch to punch a dangerous cross shot from Marev.

Minutes later Birzebbuga had penalty appeals turned down when Marev’s cross appeared to hit Edward Azzopardi’s hand.

In the final five minutes Zejtun were menacing in the Birzebbuga area. Ganchev was blocked by a Kenneth Spiteri timely tackle, and Shaun Magro miskicked the ball from an ideal position.

But the best chance was yet to come, seconds before the referee’s end of half whistle, with Shaun Magro missing a glorious chance with only Casha to beat.

On the resumption, Zejtun started like a house on fire and on 50 minutes they went very close when Ganchev hit the base of the upright and from the rebound Kenneth Abela’s shot was blocked by Mark Pullicino on the goal line.

Three minutes later Zejtun forged ahead when Delia crossed towards Kenneth Abela who passed towards Ganchev whose shot finished past a helpless Casha.

On 63 minutes Zejtun goalkeeper Ranier Farrugia saved his side with a brilliant save off a Glenn Tanti scorcher from a distance. On 66 minutes Zejtun almost doubled the score with an Andre Farrugia shot hitting the side netting.

But a minute later Birzebbuga drew level when Marev floated a perfect cross towards Ronnie Celeste who headed past Farrugia.

The match was now exciting and 12 minutes from time Birzebbuga took the lead when Marev split the Zejtun defence apart with an inch perfect pass and Mead Mifsud beat Ranier Farrugia with a low shot.

However six minutes from time the same Mead Mifsud was sent off when he received a second booking for a nasty foul on substitute Ryan Cauchi. Zejtun pushed everything forward and went close with a Matthew Borg header that sailed over the bar.

But Birzebbuga sealed the issue with a third goal on 88 minutes when Keith Muscat passed towards Marev who crowned a five star performance with the third and final goal.

Birzebbuga: I. Casha, K. Borg, M. Pullicino, K. Spiteri, M. Gabriel, P. Camilleri (F. Schneider), M. Sciortino, G. Tanti (A. Dalli), B. Marev, M. Mifsud, R. Celeste (K. Muscat).

Zejtun C: R. Farrugia, A. Farrugia, M. Borg, C. Magro, E. Azzopardi, L. Micallef (R. Cauchi), N. Filipov, S. Magro (C. Formosa), K. Ganchev, K. Abela, G. Delia (V. Camilleri)

Referee: Mario Apap