Birkirkara-Valletta 1-2

Birkirkara: J. Haber, Z. Muscat, A. Mendoza, N. Vukanac, R. Camenzuli, G. Sciberras (D. Zerafa), R. Scicluna (F. Temile), R. Muscat, S. Shodiya, P. Fenech (T. Vella), Jhonnattan

Valletta: N. Revishvili, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Fenech, E. Agius, R. Briffa, O. Abayomi (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), H. Barry, S. Bajada, J. Vandelannoite (A Da Silva Souza), A. Nafti (I. Azzopardi)

Referee: F. Zammit

Assst refs: A. Camilleri, D. Sultana

Additional asst.refs: C. Lautier, T.Farrugia Cann

4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: R. Fenech 13, S. Shodiya 53 pen, H. Barry 63

Yellow cards: J. Caruana, S. Bajada, P. Fenech

Player of the match: R. Fenech (Valletta)

 TMI top three: 1. H. Barry  2. R. Muscat   3. R. Fenech

Attendance: 5,966

Birkirkara’s winning streak came to an end yesterday as the champions were beaten by vibrant Valletta in the weekend’s much expected clash, watched by one of the best crowds this season.

Valletta won thanks to their willingness to close the gap on runaway leaders Birkirkara. They were buoyed by a sturdy victory with two specatcular individual efforts from their two best players on the afternoon,  Ryan Fenech and Hamza Barry. In between, Birkirkara had drawn level through a Shola Shodiya penalty, but were undone by Valletta’s winner just when they were producing their best at the start of the second half.

Birkirkara’s lead at the top has now been trimmed to three points and with the points halved, Valletta will be expected to revive their title challenge against the reigning champions.

Valletta had taken gradual control of the proceedings after taking the lead during the first half. Birkirkara were transformed by the interval, re-emrginhg with great vigour and levelled matters before the hour. Any creeping apprehension by Valletta after that, banished ten minutes later as they regained the lead and could preserve it

Valletta, who had warmed up for this match with a 6-1 win against Rabat Ajax, yesterday gave debuts to Georgian keeper  Nukri Revishvili and Nigerian forward Owonikoko Abayomi, as well as Brazilian Da  Silva Santos as a late substitute, after splurging on reinforcements in January. They were bereft of the injured Denni Dos Santos though and despite the movement of Hamza Barry, Edmond Agius and Ryan Fenech, their midfield still struggled for inventive.

All eyes were on the Valletta bench as Mark Miller and new Dutch coach  Andre Paus gave out technical instructions yesterday.

Birkirkara also made changes to the side that beat Tarxien Rainbows on Monday. Joseph Zerafa was suspended, Edward Herrera missing from the squad and Frank Temile relegated to the bench. Zach Muscat, Rowen Muscat and Ryan Camenzuli were give starts instead as Birkirkara searched for some defensive security.

The match’s first chance fell to Birkirkara though. After ten minutes,  Jhonnattan’s cross from the right fell to the unmarked Shodiya who contrived to miss the target with his effort from near the penalty spot.

The Stripes paid dearly almost immediately. On 13 minutes Ryan Fenech won possession from some 25 metres out, steaded himself and drilled a left-foot shot, that could have taken a slight deflection off Zach Muscat, and end at the bottom corner.

Birkirkara tried to counter. Scicluna ran inside the Valletta area after playing one-two with Sciberras but was thwarted by keeper Revishvili into a corner.

The match remained devoid of real goalmouth action, with Valletta going close again towards the half hour, Caruana heading Nafti’s free kick wide.

Birkirkara went into the second half in more lively fashion and mounted some sustained pressure. Jhonnattan headed over on Shodiya’s cross from the left before Shodiya chased a long ball from Rowen Muscat but keeper Revishvili blocked into a corner.

With Valletta looking out of sorts, Birkirkara were awarded a soft penalty on 53 minutes. From a corner, the referee spotted Caruana’s pulling of Mendoza’s shirt and sanctioned the Valletta defender. Shola Shodiya made no mistake from the penalty spot to restore equilibrium.

With Birkirkara taking the grip between their teeth, they almost forged ahead towards the hour when Fenech unleashed a powerful shot from outside the area but the Valletta keeper was equal to task, repelling his effort.

That heralded Birkirkara’s best patch but they were stunned by Valletta’s second goal on 63 minutes that had them trailing their opponents again. Agius’ free kick from the left was headed out by Zach Muscat, the ball fell invitingly to Hamza Barry who blasted it past keeper Haber at the top corner.

Valletta immediatelt pulled out Nafti and replaced him with defender Ian Azzopardi as Birkirkara put Frank Temile into the fray.

The heavy down pour in this second half made the playing surface slippery and ball control difficult for both sets of players. Valletta remained cautious as they defended their precious lead, with Birkirkara raking long balls forward but with little purpose.

On 72 minutes Ryan Fenech avoided Mendoza on the right but shot wide.

On the other end, Birkirkara’s frantic late efforts could not find a way past the Valletta rearguard, with Rowen Muscat placing his shot over from the edge of the area and Shodiya blocked in extremis when inside the Valletta area.

Valletta were finally over the line.