Valletta 4
Scerri 22, 49, 65; E. Agius 43
Birkirkara 2
Galea 47; Comvalius 56
The ferocious rivalry between Birkirkara, the newly-crowned champions, and Valletta ensured that this final-day clash would not descend into something of a no-contest.
True, Birkirkara went into this match safe in the knowledge that nothing untoward was going to deprive them of a thoroughly-deserved title triumph but they were nonetheless keen to wrap up their season on a winning note.
Still smarting from their failure to win the championship, Valletta had nothing to play for bar pride but that means a lot for the Citizens.
From the word go, they seemed intent on upstaging the new kings of Maltese football and putting a slight damper on their title party as Birkirkara seemed to be still over the moon after their celebrations last Friday.
The Citizens achieved the somewhat mundane aim of gaining a measure of revenge over their rivals as they prevailed 4-2 thanks to Terrence Scerri's hat-trick but their satisfaction was fleeting as it was Birkirkara who lay their hands on the most coveted cup after the match.
As referee Adrian Azzopardi blew the final whistle, all eyes turned to the joyous Birkirkara players and their hollering fans who let out a raucous roar when captain Michael Galea held aloft the BOV trophy in front of a packed enclosure.
The Birkirkara fans daubed the National Stadium yellow and red as thousands headed to Ta' Qali to watch their team's coronation as champions of Malta for the third time.
Birkirkara has been gripped by football-mania since their team eclipsed Valletta in the title race.
Fans of all ages made their way to the stadium hours before kick-off as the Birkirkara supporters club lined up a host of singers to entertain the crowd.
'We are the champions' was sung several times and the decibel levels rose when the champions were summoned to the stage to receive a well-deserved applause from their admirers.
Undaunted by the prospect of assisting to a Birkirkara fiesta, hundreds of hard-core Valletta fans ventured to the stadium. Although heavily outnumbered, they did their utmost to make themselves heard.
News that the Malta FA had accepted Valletta FC's request to launch a probe into the much-talked-about Birkirkara-Hibs match, further stoked the ill-feeling between these two clubs but nothing was going to puncture the buoyancy of the Stripes yesterday.
A deafening cheer engulfed the stadium as the two teams strolled onto the pitch for kick-off. Gilbert Agius, the Valletta captain, presented flowers to Michael Galea, his Birkirkara counterpart, and Ton Caanen, the Valletta coach, approached the Birkirkara bench to congratulate Paul Zammit.
Eager to cap their extraordinary title-winning campaign on a high note, Zammit named his strongest available line-up with left-back Carlo Mamo the only notable absentee because of injury.
Plagued by a shortage of defenders, Caanen deployed Gilbert Agius alongside Kenneth Scicluna in the heart of defence as Steve Borg reverted to right-back to deputise for Roderick Briffa who was on the bench.
Jordi Cruyff, who is recovering from a knee problem, was also among the six substitutes named by Caanen as the club suspension imposed on defender Luke Dimech and the departure of Irish striker Declan O'Brien left the coach with only 17 first-squad players at his disposal.
The tactical configuration of the two teams was an identical 4-3-3.
Zammit sent out his usual attacking trident of Michael Galea, Trevor Cilia and Sylvano Comvalius while Caanen restored Terrence Scerri as Valletta's chief attacker with Dyson Falzon and Doding Priso operating on the wings. Michael Mifsud took up a central position between midfield and attack.
The early exchanges were short on creative football but Valletta broke the deadlock after 22 minutes. Priso intercepted a clearance just outside the box and slipped the ball to Scerri who outpaced Branko Nisevic and guided his shot through Jorge Mora's legs.
Mifsud then had the audacity to try and beat the out-of-position Mora from the centre-circle but the shot drifted wide.
The fare remained low-key with Valletta showing more desire to attack as Birkirkara struggled to find rhythm.
Five minutes from half-time, Birkirkara appealed for a penalty when Comvalius went down under Borg's challenge but referee Adrian Azzopardi waved play on.
Borg ran upfield with the ball at his feet before playing a through-pass to Falzon who advanced on the right but overhit his cross towards Mifsud.
The Citizens' brisker performance yielded a second goal two minutes from half-time.
Mifsud's jinking run through the middle prompted Rowen Muscat to foul the striker well outside the box and from the free-kick, Edmond Agius wafted his shot past the wall and inside Mora's near post.
Zammit's men had been subdued for much of the first half but less than two minutes into the second half, they pulled one back.
Cilia made headway on the right before sending in a looping cross that eluded Gilbert Agius and fell in the path of Galea who beat Andrew Hogg with a low shot.
The Birkirkara fans were still celebrating Galea's goal when Valletta re-established their two-goal cushion. It was an almost carbon-copy goal as left-back Steve Bezzina made an overlap on the left and picked out Scerri who prodded past Mora.
The flurry of goals continued as on 56 minutes Birkirkara narrowed the deficit. Cilia was again the provider with another delivery, this time towards Comvalius who sped unimpeded into the box before hitting low past Hogg.
Birkirkara now surged forward with renewed vigour but their hopes suffered a setback when Valletta made it 4-2 on 65 minutes.
Caanen's troops were quick to switch from defence to attack as the industrious Jamie Pace embarked on a lung-bursting run before slipping the ball to Priso. The Cameroonian's low cross was diverted into the path of Scerri who drove past Omar Borg, a second-half substitute for Mora.
The white-shirted players threatened to pull further clear of their opponents when, from a corner, Mifsud tricked his way into the box and passed to the unmarked Priso but the latter's close-range flick was wide.
Valletta
A. Hogg-6, S. Borg-6, S. Bezzina-7, G. Agius-6.5, K. Scicluna-6.5, E. Agius-7, D. Falzon-6 ('64 K. Sammut-6), D. Priso-6, J. Pace-7.5 ('86 D. Grima), M. Mifsud-6, T. Scerri-8 ('83 C. Frendo).
Birkirkara
J. Mora-4 ('56 O. Borg-4), T. Cilia-6.5, B. Nisevic-5, N. Vukanac-5.5, J. Zerafa-5, R. Muscat-5, P. Fenech-5, S. Bajada-5 ('73 K. Pulo), A. Buhagiar-5, M. Galea-6, S. Comvalius-6 ('83 G. Mallia).
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.
Yellow cards: E. Agius; Zerafa; Fenech; Buhagiar; Muscat; Comvalius; Bezzina.
BOV player of the match: Terrence Scerri (Valletta).