Valletta-Birkirkara 0-0
Valletta: N. Revishvili, J. Caruana, S. Borg, E. Agius, R. Fenech (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Briffa, O. Reyes Sanchez, L. Alliyu (H.Barry), A. Da Silva Souza, S. Bajada, I.Maisuradze
Birkirkara: J. Haber, Z. Muscat, N. Vukanac, A. Mendoza, J. Zerafa, G. Sciberras, P. Fenech, S. Shodiya (R. Calheira), E. Herrera, Jhonnattan (K. Zammit), F. Temile (R. Camenzuli)
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, D. Sultana
Additional asst refs: F. Zammit, P. Farrugia
4th official: M. Apap
Yellow cards: S. Bajada, E. Herrera, E. Agius
Player of the match: S. Shodiya (Birkirkara)
TMI top three: 1. J. Zerafa 2. S. Borg 3. S. Shodiya
Attendance: 5,551
Valletta and Birkirkara fired blanks in the afternoon’s top match that brought to an end the first round of matches in the second phase of the BoV Premier League.
This match, between the two top teams, separated by only two points in the standings at kick-off, was a disappointing fare. Much more was expected than delivered as both sides looked more happy with a point and made less effort to win.
A point apiece is just right and was enough, both to ensure Birkirkara stay above Valletta at the top of the table and to keep the Citizens three points above third placed Hibernians.
Birkirkara looked the better side overall, tactically well drilled, but produced precious little by the way of originality and imagination needed to unlock the Valletta solid defence.
Valletta’s play lacked the invention and pace and struggled to produce sufficeint incisive movement among their attacking players.
A goaless stalemate looked inevitable at the end.
With the exception of the suspended Ryan Scicluna, Birkirkara confirmed the same starting line-up that lost against Hibernians the previous week. Frank Temile was given the nod instead.
Valletta, who had to play the FA Trophy semi final match in midweek, re introduced Alan Silva Souza and Irakli Maisuradze in their starting line-up, relegating Hamza Barry to the bench as Nafti was not included in their squad.
Valletta were cautious, staying composed at the back, with Edmond Agius, Ryan Fenech and Shaun Bajada providing cover to their back-four. They tried to hit on the counter but Birkirkara stifled them in midfield with their customary grip on the proceedings . With Paul Fenech, Gareth Sciberras and Edward Herrera the workhosrses and pulling the strings in the middle, Frank Temile, Shola Shodiya and Jhonnattan could make progress inside the Valletta half. Valletta’s rearguard often looked uncomfortable though.
On 20 minutes, Birkirkara won a free kick on the edge of the area on the right for a Maisuradze hands. Jhonnattan’s kick fell to Mendoza whose shot was blocked in a goalmouth scramble before finally the danger was averted.
Towards the half hour Shodiya and Borg pushed and pulled each other as they chased possession insdide the Valletta area. The Birkirkara player fell but the referee did not interrupt play.
On 33 minutes Shodiya’s cross shot from the left almost surprised keeper Revishvili, who tipped the ball over the bar into a corner. And Shodiya went close when trying to head the ball from close range but failed to make contact.
After a barren first half, the teams were expected to show improvement, especially from Valletta. They did make a double substitution, short of the hour, replacing Fenech and Alliyu with Mifsud Triganza and Hamza Barry but the pattern of play did not change much. Valletta remained mostly disjointed and only looked menacing with an inswinging low Bajada free kick from the right which keeper Haber blocked safely on the ground at the near post.
Although Birkirkara enjoyed slightly the better share of possession, the delivery of their crosses was poor by their usual standards. And for all their huffing and puffing they only threatened on 76 minutes with a Jhonnattan inswinging corner from the left that was turned into another corner by the Valletta keeper.
As the match wore on, Birkirkara removed Temile and put in Ryan Camenzuli and later they also introduced Calheira for Shodiya. But when they substituted Jhonnattan with Kurt Zammit their intentions to hold to a point were eveident.
Valletta surged forward in added time but Mendoza, who gave a good contribution in defence, blocked Agius’ cross from the byeline into a corner to cut the danger.