Galea's late goal rewards sprightly Stripes

Birkirkara 1
Sliema Wanderers 0

Revenge mission complete. Bitter memories of Birkirkara's 4-1 demise to Sliema Wanderers in the 2000 FA Trophy final, only days after the former had been crowned Malta champions for the first time ever, were eradicated yesterday as Michael Galea struck an injury-time goal that enabled the Stripes to retain the FA Trophy.

Everyone at the National Stadium was preparing for extra-time when Galea stooped to head home a cross from strike-partner Matthew Calascione. His goal coming so late in a final may have been a cruel blow to Sliema Wanderers, the newly-crowned champions, but it definitely rewarded the most enterprising team in yesterday's match.

"Thank you, thank you very much" chortled the vociferous and colourful Birkirkara fans as skipper Chucks Nwoko lifted the Trophy, the second in the club's history after last year's 1-0 defeat of the same Sliema in the final.

Stephen Azzopardi's boys deserved their moment of glory for they combined graft with craft to dominate large swathes of possession against a Sliema side whose inert display yesterday failed to justify their status as the new champions of Malta.

Birkirkara's penchant to cover every inch of the Ta' Qali pitch, be it to retrieve possession or to unhinge the resilient but slow Sliema defence was in contrast with the champions' inhibitions to get the ball forward.

A boisterous roar coursed through the National Stadium - yesterday housing one of the biggest crowds of the season - as the finalists emerged from the tunnels.

Lino Galea, the Birkirkara left-back, and Sliema midfielder Joe Brincat, the two main injury doubts ahead of the match, were not included in the starting line-ups but were named among the substitutes.

A miscued pass from Luke Dimech indicated the tension gripping the players in the embryonic stages of yesterday's final.

Danilo Doncic was quick to pounce on Dimech's blunder but he was tripped by the Birkirkara defender as he was about to sprint into the penalty box. Massimo Grima took the ensuing free-kick but his low strike whistled past the near post.

There was little of note in the first 10 minutes as both teams toiled to gain a grip on proceedings. After 13 minutes, William Camenzuli used his body strength to steer clear of his immediate markers but his low drive failed to trouble Murphy Akanji's composure.

Amidst the grafting that punctuated the opening exchanges, it was Birkirkara who played the more constructive football, thanks in no small measure to the no non-sense movement of their forward men, namely George Mallia, Matthew Calascione, Michael Galea and Chucks Nwoko.

An unorthodox tackle by Chris Okoh on the elusive Mallia, for which the burly Sliema defender earned a caution, mirrored Birkirkara's early edge.

Sliema were more intent on squeezing the living daylights out of their opponents as they struggled to create some problems of their own in attack where Doncic and Orosco Anonam were closely guarded by Dimech and Camenzuli.

Birkirkara's early pressure abated as the first half progressed. A free-kick by Nwoko after 32 minutes was easily parried by Akanji who then denied Camenzuli.

Sliema were still huffing and puffing to inject some fluidity into their build-ups, their trouble exacerbated by Birkirara's superior physical condition.

Eight minutes from half-time, Galea was about to volley the ball towards the goal after receiving a fine cross from Nwoko but Brian Said dispossessed him with a timely tackle.

From goal saviour, Said could have turned goal scorer in the dying minutes of the first half but his rising header from a Turner cross sailed over the bar.

The best chance of the game fell to Mallia. The second half was only four minutes old when Marx's centre soared past Chetcuti and Ciantar and into the path of the unmarked Mallia whose volley on the turn from point blank finished wide and high much to the disbelief of the Birkirkara striker.

Sliema were also unlucky not to break the ice when another Said header from a teasing Grima free-kick crashed against the far post. Doncic was first to the loose ball but his attempt was scooped away by Camenzuli.

Edward Aquilina sought to give some impetus to his team's forward movement by introducing international left-back Carlo Mamo instead of Okoh 12 minutes into the second half. Minutes earlier, Kevin Sammut had replaced Mangion.

Assistant-referee James Vella Clark incurred the wrath of the Birkirkara fans for signalling Mark Anthony Bonnici's dubious offside position who was latching to a Mallia through-pass.

After a quiet start to the second half, the Stripes suddenly upped the tempo. Turner made a crucial headed clearance on Mallia who was about to power home Calascione's cross. Calascione hit the ball high and Akanji saved from Galea as Birkirkara continued to look the likelier side to break the stalemate.

Sliema coach Aquilina was forced into his third substitution 13 minutes from time as Ciantar was borne away on a stretcher after suffering an injury. His void was filled by David Camilleri, a midfielder, who went to pick up a central role as Chetcuti was repositioned as centre-half.

The industrious Turner then spared Akanji's blushes when hooking the ball away after Mallia's corner was fumbled by the Nigerian.

Doncic could have applied the killer touch when, for once, he evaded the shackles of the Birkirkara defenders but he sidefooted the ball wide.

Four minutes from the end of regular time, the tireless Mallia supplied Galea who fired wide.

The game descended into a scrappy affair as the players braced themselves for extra-time but it was not to be. Capitalising on some lax marking inside Sliema's half, Calascione made headway inside the right channel before delivering a perfect cross towards Galea who dived to head the ball home despite Said throwing his body in the way in a desperate attempt to block.

Birkirkara players and fans were in seventh heaven as seconds later, referee Agius blew the final whistle. Birkirkara had retained the FA trophy and deservedly so.

Birkirkara: J. Haber, M.A. Bonnici, W. Camenzuli, M. Calascione, J. Marx, M. Galea, C. Nwoko, L. Dronca, R. Briffa, G. Mallia, L. Dimech.

Sliema W.: M. Akanji, I. Ciantar (D. Camilleri), B. Said, M. Grima, N. Turner, D. Doncic, J. Chetcuti, R. Mangion (K. Sammut), O. Anonam, C. Okoh (C. Mamo), K. Laferla.

Referee: Charlie Agius.

Scorers: Galea 90.

Yellow Cards: Okoh; Turner; Nwoko; Galea; Dimech.