Birkirkara 2
Jhonnattann 23, 24;
Vittoriosa Stars 0
Jhonnattann looked to have burned his bridges with Birkirkara after failing to report for pre-season training but the Brazilian has since gone some way towards redeeming himself.
Reinstated to Birkirkara’s squad with the season already underway, Jhonnattann has not only reclaimed his place in the starting XI, he has quickly restored his status as one of the team’s star players.
Emboldened by his two-goal salvo in the 3-1 victory over Floriana, Jhonnattann extended his rich seam of form yesterday, chipping in with another brace that dispelled the challenge of Vittoriosa Stars.
The Cottonera side had made the brighter start, unnerving Birkirkara with a couple of quick breaks masterminded by their speedy duo of Oscar Guerrero and Marcelo Pereira but their early optimism was jolted by Jhonnattann.
Victory for the Stripes, their fifth in their last six outings, turned a modicum of pressure on Valletta as the champions leapfrogged their rivals into second place ahead of City’s match against Balzan this afternoon.
Daniel Zerafa was handed a start by Birkirkara coach Paul Zammit who effected three changes from the 3-1 defeat of Floriana.
Zerafa replaced Paul Fenech, Edward Herrera was preferred to Brazilian defender Matheus Bissi and Frank Temile came in for Rowen Muscat who was not in the squad.
Opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation, Zammit instructed his forwards, Jhonnattann, Temile, Shola Ha-runa and Terence Vella, to interchange.
Deprived of flank defender Michael Camilleri, suspended, Vittoriosa coach Oliver Spiteri awarded a first-team recall to Siraj Arab while his twin brother Samir switched to right-back as Clive Brincat partnered Ramon in the heart of defence.
Spiteri deployed Malcolm But-tigieg in front of defence with the elusive Guerrero and Marcio Teruel dropping off main striker Pereira in attack.
On six minutes, Guerrero’s free-kick took a slight deflection but Justin Haber was well-positioned to save.
In the initial stages, Birkirkara were having trouble coping with the threat of the fleet-footed Vittoriosa forwards, particularly Guerrero, to the extent that Zerafa and Zach Muscat had already incurred a booking inside the opening 10 minutes.
Another free-kick, taken by Teruel, rolled just wide of the far post after taking a deflection.
Birkirkara had to wait until the 20th minute to get a shot on target but Herrera’s effort was blocked by Sean Cini. After Haber made a routine save to block Teruel’s central shot, Birkirkara’s first notable foray into their opponents’ half produced instant reward midway into the first half.
Herrera, granted freedom to tear up and down the right wing, raced into the box from the right before squaring to Jhonnattann whose first-time shot had the better of Cini.
One-nil soon became 2-0 as, barely a minute later, Haruna’s drive from outside the box was parried away by Cini but Jhonnattann was first to the rebound to stroke the ball into the net for a quickfire double.
Birkirkara’s two-goal spurt undermined Vittoriosa’s confidence after the Cottonera side had made the better start.
Vittoriosa took a while to regain their composure but they oozed signs of life as the first half wore on.
Six minutes from half-time, Teruel threaded an excellent through-ball to Guerrero who dashed into the area and veered wide in an attempt to evade Haber but his final effort was touched away by the goalkeeper.
On the stoke of half-time, Vittoriosa threatened again.
Alejandro Mendoza gave away a free-kick just outside the box after blocking Pereira’s pass with a hand. Teruel’s free-kick appeared to glance off Birkirkara’s wall before Haber pushed the ball away for a corner.
Birkirkara would have added to their lead but for a good save by Cini from Jhonnattann’s thunderbolt after good work by Temile.
The Nigerian should have made it 3-0 for Birkirkara but miscued his header from Vella’s measured cross.
Spiteri hauled off Teruel in favour of Mark Barbara while Ryan Camenzuli replaced the limping Temile for Birkirkara.
Taking an advanced position on the left wing, Camenzuli’s first intervention was to hit a goalbound shot that was saved by Cini.
Vittoriosa’s toils to offer a threat up front prompted Spiteri to introduce new Nigerian signing Omo-boy Oluwafunmi Eboisuwa for the ineffective Siraj Arab.
It was a defender who almost dragged the Reds back into the match as Brincat was first to Buttigieg’s angled free-kick but his point-blank header cannoned off the crossbar.
The woodwork denied Birkirkara a third goal as Camenzuli’s exquisite drive from an angled position came off the goal-frame. A minute from time, the Stripes should have extended their advantage.
Jhonnattann, capitalising on a glaring mistake in the Vittoriosa defence, advanced unimpeded but the Brazilian elected to pass to Kurt Zammit, a second-half substitute, instead of going it alone. Zammit’s central attempt was blocked by a defender.
Birkirkara
J. Haber-6.5, E. Herrera-7, A. Mendoza-6, Jhonnattann-7.5, R. Scicluna-6.5, J. Zerafa-6.5, F. Temile-6 (64 R. Camenzuli-6), D. Zerafa-6.5, S. Haruna-6 (78 D. Toure), T. Vella-6 (78 K. Zammit), Z. Muscat-7.
Vittoriosa Stars
S. Cini-6, Samir Arab-5, M. Buttigieg-6, M. Teruel-6 (64 M. Barbara-5.5), M. Pereira-6, C. Spiteri-6 (88 R. Mifsud), Siraj Arab-4 (72 O.O. Eboisuwa), O. Guerrero-6.5, Ramon-6.5, F. Agiuar-5, C. Brincat-6.
Referee: Paul Caruana.
Yellow cards: D, Zerafa; Z. Muscat; Ramon.
BOV player of the match: Jhonnattann (Birkirkara).