Zebbug-Birkirkara 0-4
Zebbug R: F. Morales, J. Borg, J. Diaz, M. Gauci, Y. Camilleri, C. Gauci, M. Bartolo (M. Ciantar), C. Monti, T. Paris (L. Agius), M. Rodrigues Britto (C. Beattie), M. Mucchiardi
Birkirkara: J. Haber, M. Bissi, E. Costa Morais (E. Herrera), N. Vukanac, R. Rodrigues Ledesma (A. Mendoza), E. Gonzaga, P. Fenech, Z. Muscat, R. Scicluna, L. Grech (A. Borg), R. Camenzuli
Referee: M. Borg
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, S. Attard
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: L. Grech 1, E. Costa Morais 43, E. Gonzaga 65, R. Ledesma 76 pen
Yellow cards: J. Diaz, R. Scicluna, Y. Camilleri
Player of the match: L. Grech (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. E. Gonzaga 2. L. Grech 3. Z. Muscat
It is of course tempting to make light of successive victories against newly promoted teams, but in Birkirkara’s case there are grounds to believe that they will be the main title challengers again this season.
After their 2-1 win over Pieta Hotspurs on the opening day, Birkirkara yesterday put other newcomers Zebbug Rangers to the sword in equally comfortable manner.
Beating the teams you might be expected to beat isn’t everything in the Premier League, but it’s certainly a pretty good start, and it is with these kind of fixtures in mind that the cutting edge of Birkirkara’s newly assembled attack will be expected to make the most tangible difference.
Yesterday, all their three new foreigners scored goals, with Leighton Grech also putting his name on the scoresheet.
For Zebbug, this was their second consecutive league defeat, after also conceding four goals against Balzan in the first match, and although still early in the season, they were handed a warning about the rigid reality of the Premier League.
The Rangers were always on the back foot despite making two additional signings to their squad within the week, the most notable that of former Scottish international forward Craig Beattie, who started on the bench and played only for the last 13 minutes, with Zebbug trailing by four goals.
Other newcomer was Brazilian goalkeeper Fabricio Morales , who could not have had a more disastrous debut in Maltese football, beaten just after 56 seconds, without even managing to put a hand to the ball.
Leighton Grech, replacing Edward Herrera in the Stripes’ only change from the previous match, picked Fenech’s long pass, advanced as he found an opening in the Zebbug rearguard on the left and beat the 28-year old Morales with a low diagonal drive.
This early lead gave Birkirkara a perfect start and four minutes later Fenech tried to replicate, with a similar move from the left flank, on Muscat’s cross, but his effort went narrowly wide.
As much as they enjoyed possession, Birkirkara hardly looked menacing during the first half hour, only for Ledesma to clip the bar with his inswinging corner from the right on 27 minutes. Playing with three men at the back, the Stripes often bypassed their midfield, launching long, direct balls forward for Ledesma, Gonzaga and Grech to chase.
Trying to stay composed, Clifford Gauci and Mathias Mucchiardi worked tirelessly in midfield but Zebbug always relied on the rare runs and shots of Britto for goals, but the Brazilin’s finishing was erratic to say the least. Moreove, their defensive efforts dipped as Birkirkara piled up the pressure.
Birkirkara were always ready to pounce on their opponents’ defensive frailties, mostly from Zebbug’s right flank, and on 36 minutes ‘Lilu’ Costa Morais pounced on Paris’ erratic pass played a low cross but Gonzaga could only shoot against the side netting.
On 42 minutes Muscat played an inviting ball to Costa Morais who was denied by the keeper’s first difficult save of the match.
Hardly one minute later, Grech advanced on the right, delivering a deep perfect cross for the unmarked Costa Morais to nod the ball in from close range.
Birkirkara pulled Bissi at the heart of their defence for the second half and Zebbug struggled to penetrate, although Mucchiardi went clsoe with a rising shot from outside the area and a fierce Britto free kick on the hour was repelled by Birkirkara keeper Haber.
‘Lilu’ Costa fluffed a good chance on 62 minutes as he shot over when put through by Ledesma.
There was no denying Birkirkara three minutes later though. Grech’s splitting pass put Eliandro Gonzaga neatly through to score his side’s third with a thunderous shot, hitting the underside of the bar before crossing the line.
Birkirkara’s fourth goal on 76 minutes was only cosmetic and came courtesy of Rafael Ledesma’s penalty after Yessous Camilleri had tripped Gonzaga inside the Zebbug area.