Citizens torn apart by rampant Stripes

Birkirkara 7
Valletta 2

February 22, 2003. This date will linger in the memory of Birkirkara fans for many, many years to come as their team turned on the style in the second half to humble Valletta to the tune of 7-2, their biggest ever victory over their bitter rivals.

Meetings between the two juggernauts of Maltese football rarely fail to live up to the pre-match hype but the exciting fare served up in yesterday's encounter was beyond everyone's dreams.

This was Maltese football at its most enthralling, two sides facing each other with all guns blazing in their bid to bolster their title challenge. Goals are the lifeblood of football and there were plenty of them yesterday.

That Birkirkara, full of youth exuberance and zest, claimed seven of the nine goals scored, is a credit to a club that has really become a force to be reckoned with.

With Sliema dropping two precious points after their match with Pietà ended 2-2 earlier yesterday, Bir-kirkara's emphatic win over their rivals, which matured early in the second half when Stephen Azzopardi's team struck three times in eight minutes, vindicated their title aspirations as the Stripes have now joined the Blues at the top of the table on 26 points.

Birkirkara were the more adventurous side early on but it was Valletta who, with their first attack, came close to breaking the stalemate.

David Carabott, restored to Valletta's initial formation after returning from suspension, delivered a shot-cum-cross from the right that caught the Birkirkara defence unawares as the ball rolled into the path of Rumen Galabov.

The Bulgarian striker's low effort from close range had goal written all over as Justin Haber dived the wrong way but William Camenzuli raced back to hook the ball away. Valletta claimed that the ball had crossed the goalline before Camenzuli's intervention but the referee waved play on.

Prior to that missed opportunity by Valletta's Galabov, the best chances had come from Birkirkara. Congolese midfielder Rufin Oba had a free-kick touched away by Ernest Barry who later smothered away Roderick Briffa's goalbound header from a Camenzuli cross.

Birkirkara's early persistence reaped its just rewards midway into the first half. Oba's cross from left was allowed to sail towards Briffa who curled the ball through a clutch of Valletta defenders and into the far corner of the net.

The Stripes' fans were over the moon but their joy was shortlived as Valletta were back on level terms ten minutes later. Latching onto a long pass from Keith Fenech, the speedy Oretan floated the ball towards goal as Haber charged out of goal in an attempt to block. Oretan's scrambled shot from the distance bounced in front of goal and ricocheted off the crossbar but the Nigerian striker was on hand to retrieve the rebound before dragging the ball back to Galabov who fired the ball home.

Valletta were relieved but not for long as Birkirkara had their noses back ahead after three minutes. Darren Debono's challenge on Michael Galea was penalised by the referee who opted for the maximum punishment. Valletta's protests were to no avail as Dronca converted from the spot.

The Citizens, taken aback by the goal, had Renie Forace to thank for keeping them in the game when he blocked a Briffa pass that was destined to reach the unmarked Galea after the Citizens' offside trap had been spun wide open by Birkirkara.

That close escape looked to have given Valletta fresh hope. Four minutes from half-time, they restored equilibrium as play continued to ebb from one end to the other.

Their equaliser came from a very unlikely source, defender Darren Debono who struck a low shot past Haber. The Stripes risked going in for the break with their backs to the wall had Haber not kept out an Oretan shot.

Four goals inside the first 45 minutes, a hatful of chances, total commitment from both teams and a vibrant atmosphere on the terraces were the legacy to an electrifying first half.

Valletta began the second half in enterprising fashion, Haber saving shots from Forace and Oretan before palming away a Bonnici corner. But in their first foray into the Valletta's half, Birkirkara regained the lead.

Briffa created space for himself just outside the right edge of the penalty area before he slipped the ball towards Michael Galea who beat the helpless Barry with a firm shot.

Roared on by their vociferous fans, Birkirkara kept their foot on the accelerator and they effectively wrapped up the issue with two further goals in three minutes.

On 54 minutes, Camenzuli unleashed a fierce drive which flew past Barry's groping hands. Three minutes later, Azzopardi's team finished off the best move of the game with another goal to surge 5-2 ahead.

The Birkirkara forwards' swift movement and accurate passing had the City defenders chasing shadows as the roaming Mallia fed Galea who in no time laid the ball into the path of Briffa at the far post and his firm strike lifted the roof of the net much to the delight of the Stripes' faithful.

The incoming Trevor Thomas, a second-half substitute for Penchev, may have narrowed the gap for Valletta but Haber stood in his way after the City striker had pounced on a short clearance by Dimech.

This came after 72 minutes, by which time City coach Fenech had deployed three men in attack in a bid to haul his team back into contention.

Any hopes Valletta might have had of salvaging a draw from this game vanished when Nwoko netted goal number six after a fine move.

There was still time for another goal by Birkirkara, courtesy of Camenzuli who, running onto a pass from Mallia, chipped the ball over Barry's head to complete Valletta's rout.

Birkirkara: J. Haber, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione (M.A. Bonnici), M. Galea (C. Micallef), C. Nwoko, R. Oba (L. Galea), L. Dronca, K. Scicluna, R. Briffa, G. Mallia, L. Dimech.

Valletta: E. Barry, D. Theuma, D. Debono, R. Forace, K. Bonnici (E. Azzopardi), M. Penchev (T. Thomas), K. Fenech (D. Trasokopoulos), D. Carabott, C. Oretan, N. Saliba, R. Galabov.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Scorers: Briffa 22nd, 57th; Galabov 32nd; Dronca 35th pen.; Debono 41st; M. Galea 52nd; Camenzuli 54th, 89th; Nwoko 83rd.

Yellow Cards: Dimech, Mallia, M. Galea, Camenzuli.

Player Of The Match: Roderick Briffa (Birkirkara).