Vittoriosa S.-Birkirkara 1-4

Vittoriosa S: M. Muscat, O. Sidibe, Samir Arab (L. Vella Critien), M. Buttigieg, O. Guerrero, F. Santaguida (M. Garcia), C. Brincat, M. Pereira, J. Aguiar, F. Arriagada (C. Sammut), M. Camilleri

Birkirkara: J. Haber, P. Fenech, A. Mendoza, M. Bissi (D. Zerafa), F. Temile, G. Sciberras (A. Borg), R. Scicluna, J. Zerafa, S. Shodiya, Z. Muscat, Jhonnattan (R. Calheira)

Referee:  P. Farrugia

Asst.refs:  E. Spiteri, S. Attard

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: A. Mendoza 12, S. Shodiya 35, 59, M. Pereira 63, F. Temile 90+

Yellow cards: F. Arriagada, C. Brincat,   R. Scicluna, M. Buttigieg

Player of the match: S. Shodiya (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3:  1. S. Shodiya  2. G. Sciberras  3.C. Brincat

Attendance: 1,029

Birkirkara were back in the groove after their reverse against Valletta the previous week. Yesterday they beat newcomers Vittoriosa Stars with plenty to spare to hold on to top spot as the BoV Premier League now enters its second phase.

They will enjoy a one-point lead over nearest challengers Valletta when the points are halved.

Birkirkara made three changes from the side that lost to Valletta. Defenders Mathias Bissi and Joseph Zerafa, as well as forwrd Frank Temile were given starts, replacing Nicola Vukanac, Ryan Camenzuli and Rowen Muscat.

Prior to kick off, goalkeeper Mario Muscat was presented with a memento to mark his highest number of appearances for Hibernians, by club president Tony Bezzina, in the presence of the club committee and players.

Vittoriosa, who had beaten Rabat Ajax in their previous outing, had to do without their suspended volatile forward Gilbert Martin and lost some cutting edge on the flank. His reploacement Federico Santaguida was substituted at halftime. Malcolm Buttigieg, Clive Spiteri and Michael Camilleri returned in defence, instead of Siraj Arab, Aguiar and Luke Vella Critien.

Against one of the meanest defences in the Premier League, Vittoriosa failed to see much of the ball and rarely ventured into enemy territory for the first 45 minutes. They were pinned inside their own half by slicker opponents, inviting trouble by defending far too deep. They could be thankful that  they were trailing by only two goals at halftime.

Birkirkara’s lead could have been bigger had they made good of all their chances. An early goal after only 12 minutes paved the way to Birkirkara’s victory. Zach Muscat headed Temile’s free kick from the left towards the middle and other defender Alejandro Mendoza stooped low to head past keeper Muscta from close range.

Birkirkara retained the initiative without exerting themselves too much, because, right before them, their opponents were crumpling.

Midway through the half, Brincat blocked Jhonnattan into a corner after the Brazilian had gone inside the Vittoriosa area with alarming ease.

Towards the half hour, Birkirkara should have doubled their lead. Shodiya ran free on the right, chasing Jhonnattan’s splitting pass from midfield, but failed to beat keeper Muscat as he rushed off his line to block him.

The Stripes’ second goal looked inevitable however. When, on 35 minutes, Sidibe lost possession inside the area, Sciberras crossed for Scicluna to thump his effort against the upright, for Shola Shodiya to blast in the rebound.

The champions looked good value for their advantage at halftime and the pattern of the game did not change much in the second period. In fact Birkirkara scored anothet goal towards the hour. Zach Muscat’s deep cross from the byeline on the right fell to Jhonnattan, whose effort was cleared towards Shola Shodiya to blast the inviting bouncing ball at the top corner, leaving keeper Muscat rooted to his line.

Vittoriosa obtained some scant consolation on 63 minutes as they reduced the arrears , also with a well taken Marcelo Pereira goal. The Brazilian hooked Arriagada’s pass and drilled his shot from outside the area past the helpless keeper Haber.

Ronaille Calheira was introduced for Jhonnattan in attack for his Birkirkara debut and minutes later they were forced to make another substitution as Bissi limped off, to make way for Daniel Zerafa. Zach Muscat moved at the centre of defence, with Scicluna dropping as wide back on the right.

The Stripes still remained potent going forward and Buttigieg held out a Daniel Zerafa effort with an overhead kick. Towards the end, Shodiya put Temile through but keeper Muscat produced all his class to thwart him into a corner, only for the Birkirkara forward to beat the Vittoriosa keeper with a low drive on a second chance deep into added time.