BIRKIRKARA 2
Jorginho 19, Mifsud 88
SENGLEA ATHLETIC 3
Venancio 47 pen., Garcia 75, Grech 84 pen.
Senglea all but secured their Premier League status yesterday after coming from behind to beat Birkirkara 3-2 in a crunch tie and avoided the play-out against Sta Lucia. This has been an extraordinary season for Senglea Athletic but they deserve credit for the way they turned around their fortunes since January.
Friday's match was a reflection of their season when they performed another ‘houdini act’ to turn tables on Birkirkara and obtain direct salvation.
With Birkirkara looking from atop their peaceful seat, one would have excused some elements complacency in their game with coach John Buttigieg gave home-grown hopes Gianluca Bugeja and Paul Mbong added experience in the premier league. But building up morale in view of their FA Trophy tie with Mosta next weekend, was a priority for them as Senglea needed a win to avoid the play-out.
That panorama set the scene for yesterday’s confrontation. The match was in its 19th minute when Birkirkara scored. The energetic Michael Mifsud made a solo run on the right flank before laying the ball towards Jorginho who signed the formalities when planting past Matthew Farrugia.
Birkirkara, without Cain Attard, Kurt Zammit, both suspended and Matthew Guillaumier injured, were doing all the running, pushing ball towards their front-runners, Mifsud and Jorginho and having Mbong and Maurizio Vella moving up to supplement the attacking forces. Senglea’s incursion into opposing territory were sporadic.
Past the half hour mark, the unexpected happened when Mbong, unmarked, was about to retrieve the ball to slot home but he was obstructed by his teammate Jorginho as Senglea heaved a sigh of relief.
Yet two minutes into the second half, Senglea grabbed a lifeline that came in the shape of a penalty. It came from a corner action by Diego Venancio, when Mbong under pressure from Sidqy El Mehdi, handled the ball into the box. Calmly, Venancio sent Andrew Hogg the wrong way.
It was all Senglea now. Leighton Grech first arrowed a shot just wife of the far post and then Hogg blocked a dangerous effort by Gary Camilleri. Romulo, released by Braian Volpini saw his angled shot saved by Hogg again.
Senglea swept forward in search of the lead, the band from their supporters’ end was revived. Fifteen minutes from time, Venancio’s cross from the right caused a goalmouth scramble as Nicolas Garcia headed onto goal in from the goal-line.
Leighton Grech Mattocks put his clan's minds at rest when he made no mistake from the spot after Senglea were awarded another penalty.
At death, Michael Mifsud narrowed the deficit for Birkirkara from close-range.
Diego Venancio of Senglea Athletic was named BOV Player of the Match.