The Malta Independent on Sunday
Valletta keep up the pace with convincing win
Football - BOV Premier League
with Balzan winning again, they needed to keep the pace with the leaders.
Still unbeaten in this calendar year before yesterday, this damaging defeat, against one of the teams they find particularly difficult to lose to, might impact the Stripes’ title ambitions now.
Birkirkara threatened but without creating too much of clear-cut note and very rarely tested Dziugas Bartkus in the Valletta goal although they were denied by the woodwork in the late stages.
Birkirkara coach Nikola Jaros gave starts to Christian Bubalovic and a debut to new signing Gary Muir in defence. Joseph Zerafa was exiled to the bench but replaced Muir in the second half.
Valletta started with Lithuanian Tomas Radzinevicius in attack as Llywelyn Cremona started in midfield for the suspended Rowen Muscat.
Valletta wanted to bounce back form their upset in the FA Trophy against Balzan in midweek.
The champions started quite securely, if a little cagily, as Birkirkara struggled to control the high tempo in midfield.
Valletta had already gone close short of the quarter hour, following a deep cross from the right and Romao’s close header being held out by keeper Bonello, playing against his former team for the first time since joining Birkirkara.
Valletta went ahead on 27 minutes. Santiago Malano pounced on a moment of defensive hesitation from Muir, who took long to clear inside his area, and the Valletta player could advance to beat Bonello with a low strike.
Birkirkara’s prospects of an equaliser had looked remote in this firts half but they twice went close just before the break.
A Plut cross fell to Guillaumier, who had all the time to arrange the ball from inside the area, but he sent his effort off target.
Then Malan advanced inside the Valletta area but his shot only skimmed the side netting.
Ryan Scicluna took Guillaumier’s place for Birkirkara at halftime as the mildly interesting rather than magical tone continued well into the second half.
Malano continued to be the most threatening for Valletta, with his surging runs from midfield, as the champions continued to show more attacking initiative, holding back their opponents.
Valletta threatened to widen the gap short of the hour when Uchenna made his way inside the Birkirkara area from the left but failed to put his final shot on target.
Valletta replaced Radzinevicius with Luke Montebello. They missed the chance to close the game on 73 minutes. On a Malano cross, Uchenna skied the ball.
It was strangely meek for Birkirkara who failed to show enough effort when in need of some extra inspiration. They almost clinched a surprise equaliser five minutes from the end when Malan laid the ball in the path of Dimitrov who struck against the upright.
Conceding at that moment would have been harsh on Valletta though. Balzan Hibernians Floriana Valletta Birkirkara Sliema Tarxien Hamrun St. Andrews Gzira Pembroke Mosta PW D L F A Pts 19 12 5 2 36 21 41 18 11 4 3 28 16 37 18 9 6 3 29 16 33 19 10 6 3 27 14 36 19 9 4 6 36 17 31 18 7 3 8 21 22 24 18 6 6 6 21 24 24 18 7 2 9 29 36 23 19 5 6 8 21 28 21 18 3 4 11 15 27 13 18 2 4 12 17 38 10 18 2 4 12 11 32 10