Birkirkara-Gzira 2-1 

Birkirkara: H. Bonello, C. Bubalovic, G. Sciberras, J. Zerafa (M. Guaillaumier), M. Andelkovic, S. Dimitrov, V. Plut, N. Vukanac, M. Alba (R. Scicluna), C. Attard, E. Herrera (G. Malan)

Gzira U: J. Borg, A. White (J. Borg), I. Azzopardi, S. Diamoutene, A. Cohen, J. Corbolan, M. Avila Perez, L. Zome, C. Reyna, A. Machedo Neto, I. Adeshina (Z. Scerri)

Referee: S. Spiteri

Asst.refs: D. Sultana, W. Debattista

4th official: C. Pisani

Scorers: E. Herrera 16. M. Andelkovic 20, A. Cohen 84 pen

Yellow cards: A. Cohen, C. Reyna, H. Bonello, A. Machedo Neto, G. Malan, S. Dimitrov

Red card: S. Diamoutene

Player of the match: M. Andelkovic (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Andelkovic  2. G. Sciberras  3. I. Azzopardi

A fine first half performance, that brought them a two-goal lead, was enough for Birkirkara to edge Gzira United. Birkirkara though should have scored at least a third goal in the second half, although they controlled  the proceedingss, especially after enjoying numerical superiority for the last half hour.

For Birkirkara, it must feel like the storm has cleared. Coach Nikola Jaros, who took over in difficult times this season, has dealt well with poor form and lack of motivation. The Stripes have now won four and lost only one of their past six matches, since the turn of the year, and are back in contention.

Gzira might have had their moments.  And the dismissal of their central defender Souleymane Diamoutene past the hour was highly debateable, even if the outcome of the game might not have been any different if Gzira had 11 men on the field.

But in certain vital qualities – strength, aggression, technicality – they were lacking.

The Maroons failed to close the gaps in midfield and defence and were severely punished for that.

Darren Abdilla’s side were never wholly convincing against opponents pushing strongly for a top-four finish and the Gzira coach is still left looking over his shoulder at the relegation zone.

Photos Domenic Aquilina

Both sides went into this match following wins the previous week. Gzira had beaten Floriana to ease their relegation worries. Birkirkara defeated Hibernians to revive their title hopes.

Gzira made three changes, dropping Jonathan Bondin, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Zach Scerri but had latest recruit Andrew Cohen, formerly of Hibernians, making his debut in midfield.

But yesterday they found the going tough against superior and determined opponents, who had already taken a two-goal cushion within the first 20 minutes.

Gzira fell behind past the quarter hour. Alba crossed from the left, after breezing past White, to cut the entire Gzira defence, including the goalkeeper, and Edward Herrera, who had started instead of Jovic, headed in from close range.

A difficult day for Gzira got worse on 20 minutes. Herrera played the ball low from the right towards the middle and it fell to Mislav Andelkovic who found ample space to hit it low past the helpless keeper Jurgen Borg.

As if that was awake-up call, Gzira looked theratening on a couple of occasions. Cohen’s free kick from a distance forced the Birkirkara keeper Bonello into his first difficult save. Then Adeshina exchanged the ball with Zome, advanced inside the Birkirkara area but was thwarted by Vukanac at the point of shooting.

But there was a definite sense that the Stripes had Gzira’s measure.

Playing physically when required, and raking crosses from both flanks, Birkirkara went close to increasing their lead past the half hour when a powerful Andelkovic shot, from the edge of the area, rebounded off the foot of the post.

Herrera wasted another opportunity shortly before the break when he shot completely over from a central position after the Gzira keeper was caught out of place as he tried to reach for a high ball.

Gzira effected a double substitution at halftime, sending in Zach Scerri and Jacob Borg and withdrawing Adeshina and White. They threatened when Avila Perez, put clear by Scerri down the right flank, shot narrowly wide when faced by the keeper.

Zome connected well to Avila Perez’s cross but his scissors kick went over.

Past the hour Gzira suffered another setback. Their central defender Diamoutene was harshly sent off for a tackle from behind on substitute Malan from some 25 metres out. On 71 minutes Gzira protested with the referee for showing Bonello only a yellow card after the Birkirkara keeper apparantly felled the advancing Corbolan, if there was any contact, also from some distance away from the penalty area.

Gzira’s efforts were somehow rewarded with a consolation goal from a penalty seven minutes from the end, after Dimitrov handled Azzopardi’s header inside the area. Andrew Cohen tucked it away to open his account with his new club.

TARXIEN RAINBOWS-  1

VALLETTA-                      1

Tarxien R: P. Schranz, E. Baker, E. Marcelina, T. Caruana, A. Azzopardi (S. Borg), D. Ponce (J. Galea), A. Nilsson (A. Agius), S. Prendes, D. Zerafa, K. Zammit, M. Tabone

Valletta: D. Bartkus, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Camilleri (L. Montebello), S. Malano (J. Borg), T. Radzinevicius, C. Pani, U. Uchenna, L. Aguirre, R. Muscat, M. Velasco (L. Cremona)

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Apap

4th official: G. Tonna

Scorers: A. Nilsson 57, L. Aguirre 90

Yellow cards: S. Borg

Player of the match: A. Nilsson (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Ponce  2. C. Pani  3. T. Caruana

Attendance: 1,144

A late Aguirre free kick on 90 minutes salvaged a point for Valletta as they looked heading towards a damaging defeat against stubborn Tarxien Rainbows.

This, though, was a hard fight.

Despite all their territorial supremacy, Valletta were traiing their opponents by an Alex Nilsson goal scored short of the hour. The same player fluffed the best of chances 20 minutes later that could have wrapped up the points for Tarxien.

Given a second chance, Valletta got some respite with a late equaliser.

This was Tarxien’s eighth consecutive game without defeat under coach Jesmond Zerafa. And leaves them firmly in the top half of the table.

Valletta stay seven points off leaders Balzan.

After last week’s anaemic draw against St Andrews, the Valletta coach needed to see a demonstration of iron conviction here as well as a cutting edge, especially as Tarxien, although nine points and three places below them, are stubborn opponents.

They gave a start to new Argentine striker Maximiliano Velasco to support Radzinevicius.

The champions defended high up the field and forced Tarxien inside their own half for most of the opening period.

They did so splendidly, abetted by the fact Valletta’s finishing was more scruffy than their smooth build-ups. They struggled to put their efforts on target, with tries from Uchenna, Velasco, Malano, and Muscat, mostly from a distance, all going astray.

Their only shot on target in the first half came from an Aguirre direct free kick, straight at goalkeeper Schranz, three minutes before the break.

A notable absentee for Tarxien yesterday was their wide player Alex Alves, who was suspended and that deprived the Rainbows of some inventive. They rarely ventured into enemy territory. When Azzopardi crossed from the right, Valletta keeper Bartkus dropped the ball when challenged by Ponce, but Prendes’ effort, on the loose ball, was blocked.

But Valletta remained in charge and continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession even after the restart. Tarxien defended tigerishly though. Pani, highly involved in his side’s build-ups, played a dangerous ball inside the Tarxien area but keeper Schranz reached out before Velasco. On Uchenna’s cross, Baker reached before Velasco to clear into a corner.

Photos Domenic Aquilina

Anxiety grew among the Valletta fans in the face of Tarxien’s disciplined resistance and Valletta’s imprecision when push came to shove.

And when many thought Valletta would imminentlybreak the deadlock, the goal came on the other end. Short of the hour, Alex Nilsson took possession on the edge of the Valletta area, steadied himself and beat keeper Bartkus with a low drive that hit the innerside of the post.

Valletta were rattled. Radzinevicius missed the target as pounced on an Aguirre cross from near the byeline.

Coach Paul Zammit introduced also Luke Montebello in the Valletta attack. Tarxien later put in Julian Galea for the hard working Ponce.

Past the hour, a short Camilleri back pass put his goalkeeper in an embarassing position as he tried to foot the ball upfield, hit Nilsson and as the ball was trickling over the line, Bartkus recovered in time.

Valletta’s rearguard was caught totally exposed on 76 minutes. Triston Caruana played the ball square to the unmarked Nilsson who contrived to miss the target and the chance to put the match to bed.

Luckily, Valletta were still in the game. They were all over their opponents in the final minutes, although they looked utterly  confused in their offensive play, seemingly convinced that persistence would pay.

Tarxien looked capable of holding their nerves until Valletta were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Tarxien area with 90 minutes on the clock. Leandro Aguirre stepped up to beat keeper Schranz with a powerful low drive and avoid a damaging defeat for the champions.