The Malta Independent on Sunday
Spoils shared in entertaining match
Football - BOV Premier League
tant points as their hopes of winning a berth in European football next season continue receding.
As for St Andrews, it was an important point won in their hopes to avoid relegation.
Birkirkara started the match without Bubalovic and Zerafa, both suspended, while the Saints had Felix Udoh ruled out through suspension.
The first half was more or less balanced but it was the Stripes who showed the better ideas and created the best scoring opportunities.
They certainly deserved to be 2-1 ahead at that stage with Alba and Malan scoring their first goals for the club since they joined the Stripes in the January transfer window.
The Saints did not stare at their opponents and also had their good moments, but they seemed to lack punch up front as the Birkirkara defence was only caught napping once – on the occasion of Nwoko’s equaliser.
In the second half, play remained more or less balanced, especially after the Saints equalised a second time through Nwoko.
Birkirkara were awarded a penalty on the 7th minute when following a Plut cross, an Alba shot appeared to have been handled by St Andrews defender Michael Johnson near the goal line.
From the spotkick, Alba made no mistake, sending Galea the wrong way.
St Andrews did not take long to equalise. It was the 19th minute when Kyrian Nwoko who headed past Bonello following a good cross by Ivan Paz.
In the 26th minute a Ryan Scicluna humdinger was deviated to a corner. From Dimitrov’s cornerkick, it was Gonzalo Malan who headed into the net from close in.
In the 35th minute, it was Malan again who tried his luck with a hard shot that goalie Galea did well to turn to corner. Soon after Vukanac found the net with a header but the point was disallowed because of a foul by the same player.
In first half added time, from a Scicluna cross, Malan went close with a good header that just missed the target.
Soon after the start of the second half, Birkirkara almost added a third goal when Plut had a shot blocked in extremis by a St Andrews defender.
The Stripes paid dearly for this miss as in their next attack, the Saints equalised for a second time.
It was Kastrevec who crossed low into the area where Nwoko was first on the ball to hit home past Bonello.
On the hour, it was Plut who nodded the ball down for Ryan Scicluna who missed a sitter, hitting the ball wide from an ideal scoring position.
In the 65th minute, St Andrews threatened seriously through Aidan Friggieri who Had a close range shot saved by Bonello.
In the 69th minute the two teams were reduced to 10 men when Ryan Scicluna (second yellow card) and Enmy Pena Beltre were dismissed, the former for a foul and the Saints player for retaliation.
On the 80th minute, Alba had a low shot from the edge of the area saved on deck by Galea. As Birkirkara insisted on attack, from a Herrera cross, it was Dimitrov who failed to connect.
In added time, St Andrews broke away with Paz advancing into the area, but his final effort was cleared out by Bonello’s extended foot.