Birkirkara-Rabat 4-2
Birkirkara: J. Haber, E. Herrera, A. Mendoza, N. Vukanac, P. Fenech, J. Zerafa, F. Temile (R. Camenzuli), D. Zerafa (D. Toure), J. Benites, T. Vella (A. Borg), R. Scicluna.
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, Z. Tanti, D. Azzopardi, D. Falzon (K. Muscat), I. Carapic, C. Gauci, W. Borg (S. Cortis), P. Borg (R. Micallef), M. Avila Perez, M. Licari, A. Azzopardi.
Referee: K. Azzopardi.
Asst refs: D. Sultana, L. Portelli
4th official: A. Arciola
Scorers: T. Vella 2, one penalty, P. Fenech 2, C. Gauci,
Yellow cards: W. Borg, M. Avila Perez, R. Micallef, Z. Tanti, A.Azzopardi
Player of the match: T. Vella
TMI Top 3: 1. P. Fenech, 2. J. Benites; 3. M. Avila Perez.
Birkirkara scored their fifth consecutive victory yesterday as they beat bottom club Rabat Ajax by four goals to two after leading 2-0 at the interval.
The defending champions dominated for most of the time against a heavily depleted Rabat side due to injuries and suspensions to some of their squad players.
The Stripes have now joined Hibernians in the top placing after the Paolites’ defeat at the hands of rivals Tarxien.
Despite their dominance, Birkirkara failed to leave a good impression as striker Frank Temile was completely blotted out of the match. The former City striker is finding the going tough this season and remains struggling to win back his form.
On their part, Rabat remain firmly anchored to the bottom of the standings on only four points. But considering all their disadvantages and the clear disparity between the two sides, their performance must be considered encouraging.
In fact, they rallied to score twice in the late stages against such a formidable outfit. The Magpies still have 10 matches to go and they know from which matches they can get the points they are hoping to avoid the Drop.
Birkirkara could afford to leave players like Reuben Gauci, Ryan Camenzuli, Demba Toure and Gareth Sciberras on the substitutes bench apart from having Shola Shodiya and Rowen Muscat out through injury, Rabat were severely handicapped through the absence of no fewer than seven of their regular players, that is, goalie Velinilovic, J. Caruana, A. Smeir and J. Bajada, apart from the injured Pendas, Pelaes and S. Gauci.
In the first half, it was almost a one-way traffic affair with Birkirkara dominating the proceedings and therefore enjoying the lion’s share of play.
Rabat, in fact, were forced to defend for long stretches and after they went in arrears through a 10th minute penalty, there was never any doubt as to where the points were going.
In the second half, matters seemed to be improving for Rabat until they suffered a third goal. But they did not throw in the towel. In fact, they pulled back a goal and although Birkirkara scored a fourth goal, they again rallied to score a second – the best goal of the game.
The match had a quiet start but on the 10th minute, Birkirkara took the lead through a penalty when Dylan Falzon floored Terence Vella in the area. Referee Azzopardi quickly pointed to the dreaded spot from which the same Vella made no mistake.
Eight minutes later, Jhonnattann Benites set Temile in the area, but the latter’s shot went well over the bar. Moments later, from an Edward Herrera cross, Ryan Scicluna saw his first time shot going just over.
On the 22nd minute, as Birkirkara insisted, it was Azzopardi who turned to corner a P. Fenech inswinger.
On the 31st minute, Azzopardi was in action again saving a Daniel Zerafa header off a Jhonnattann cross.
A minute later it was 2-0 after a gift to the Stripes from goalie Azzopardi. A harmless looking cross from the right by Paul Fenech squirmed out of the hands of Azzopardi and the ball passed between his legs and over the line.
In the 41st minute, following an Herrera cross, Paul Fenech’s header went to Jhonnattann whose shot hit the side rigging.
Rabat started the second half on attack in the hope of scoring an early goal to get back into contention. On the 51st minute, it was Haber who denied Moises Avila Perez turning to corner his good effort.
In the 54th minute, Birkirkara scored again. It was Edward Herrera who received from Jhonnattann, to lift a perfect cross for Terence Vella, who controlled the ball well before hitting home past the helpless Azzopardi.
Rabat replied with a Clifford Gauci freekick being turned to corner by the alert Haber and soon after, it was Licari who had a low shot going just wide.
Rabat reduced the arrears on the 73rd minute when a Clifford Gauci shot was deflected into his own net by Mendoza.
Five minutes later, Azzopardi was forced to dive to save a Camenzuli grounder.
Birkirkara re-established their three-goal cushion on 84 minutes when a Demba Toure shot was only partially saved by Azzopardi and Paul Fenech was on hand to hit home into the empty net.
It was not yet over as Rabat found time to score again and it proved to be a spectacular goal too! From a Gauci cornerkick, Moises Avila Perez headed into the centre where Aidan Azzopardi beat Haber with a great overhead kick.