Naxxar L.-Birkirkara 0-1

Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, V. Bellia (J. Ani), M. Briffa, A. Buhagiar, R. Gilmar, A. Decesare, D. Falzon (T. Scerri), T. Lopes, A. Rocha Da Silva (P. Doffo), Evaldo, O. Zongo Birkirkara: J. Haber, D. Toure’ (T. Vella), A. Mendoza, Jhonnattan, P. Fenech, J. Zerafa, E. Herrera, R. Muscat, S.Shodiya (D. Zerafa), F. Temile (R. Camenzuli), Z. Muscat Referee: A. Arciola Asst.refs: P. Apap, S. Attard 4th official: A. Azzopardi Scorers: S. Shodiya 60 Yellow cards: A. Rocha Da Silva, A, Decesare, O. Zongo, T. Scerri, Evaldo, R. Camenzuli Player of the match: S. Shodiya (Birkirkara) TMI top three: 1. S. Shodiya  2. Evaldo  3. T. Lopes Attendance: 1,099   Birkirkara struggled to beat Naxxar Lions as they keep grinding results without playing particularly well. This narrow win, in a scrappy match, lifts them over Sliema Wanderers in third place in teh standings. This was a resilient performance by Naxxar who fought gamely at times but were undone by a goal of high-class incision by Shola Shodiya on the hour. That put some gloss on a shambolic affair, in which Birkirkara again failed to convince despite their myriad of talent. Naxxar, who had beaten Rabat Ajax in the previous match, were bolsted by the return of Andre Rocha Da Silva and the inclusion of Victor Bellia in their starting line-up. Pablo Doffo was named among the substitutes. Birkirkara, who were held by Qormi before the international break, were bereft of their injured captain Gareth Sciberras. At times the Stripes missed his presence and vision. Shola Shodiya filled his void  in midfield as Demba Toure’ was given a start in attack, meaning that Matheus Bissi started on the bench. Shodiya in particular was consistently inventive behind the strikers and deserved to score the winning goal and got voted the player of the match. As expected, the champions did the early running as Naxxar stayed cautious at the back. Jhonnattan was highly involved although hardly accurate or productive. His shot after five minutes was saved into a corner by the Naxxar keeper Azzopardi. Five minutes later, Jhonnattan twisted and turned inside the Naxxar area on Temile’s cross. Temile himself had his grounder turned into a corner by the Naxxar keeper after going past Buhagiar and one minute before the break, Jhonnattan and Toure’ combined well to put Herrera clear on the right but he hit horrendously off target. Naxxar rarely ventured into enemy territory and keeper Haber remained mostly inoperative and the pattern of the game did not change much even after the interval. Birkirkara  were moving the ball smoothly between the lines and dominating possession but Naxxar closed all gaps at the back as the towering presence of their two central defenders, Everton and Thiago Lopes, dominated in the air. The highly erratic Jhonnattan completely missed the target when well served by Shodiya until the stalemate was broken on the hour. Birkirkara’s goal came from a set piece, Jhonnattan playing a free kick short to Rowen Muscat who left the ball to Shola Shodiya to beat keeper Azzopardi with a curling shot at the top corner. That was the only highlight of a dull encounter. On 71 minutes Naxxar replaced Rocha Da Silva with Pablo Doffo and later Terence Scerri made his comeback in attack for Darren Falzon. Naxxar, crammed in midfield, failed to breach their opponents though and only went close with a tame header fro Gilmar on a Doffo sailing free kick. Birkirkara, sitting pretty in front, also made their three substitutions in aa performance that made some light, in the end, with a hard fought win.