Birkirkara move five points clear at the top of the BOV Premier League table thanks to a fine 3-1 win over Sliema Wanderers after Valletta’s 2-2 draw with Mosta.
This defeat brought to an end the Wanderers’ unbeaten run consisting of ten matches without defeat. For the Stripes, this was the fourth successive win and the seventeenth win in eighteen matches.
Rowen Muscat was missing once again for Paul Zammit’s side while Alfonso Greco could not count on Abubakar Bello-Osagie.
Birkirkara took the lead on the 12th minute when Edward Herrera chested the ball down on the right off a freekick by Zerafa and with a fine volley, he saw the ball hit the crossbar before ending at the back of the net.
The Wanderers equalised on 23 minutes when Alex Muscat sent Stanley Ohawuchi through and the latter avoided a defender before hitting past Justin Haber from the edge of the area.
However four minutes from the end of the first half, Birkirkara regained the lead when off a cross by Zach Muscat from the right, Paul Fenech, all alone in front of Bonello, headed the ball over the Sliema goalkeeper.
Victory was beyond doubt on the 57th as the Stripes scored the third goal thanks to Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao who exchanged the ball with Zach Muscat before beating Bonello with a shot from the edge of the area.
Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar
SLIEMA Henry Bonello, Alex Muscat, Kane Farrugia (61′ Trevor Cilia), John Mintoff (71′ Jacob Borg), Stanley Ohawuchi, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Ivan Woods (79′ Mark Scerri), Paltemio Barbetti, Matias Muchardi, Admir Vladavic, Stefano Bianciardi.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Alex Podda, Axl Xuereb, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Alfonso GrecoB’KARA Justin Haber, Zach Muscat (75′ Daniel Zerafa), Nikola Vukanac, Ryan Scicluna, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera, Paul Fenech, Haruna Shola Shodiya (79′ Ryan Camenzuli), Gareth Sciberras, Alejandro Mendoza, Corujo, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao (82′ Ronaille Calheira Seara).
Subs not used: Reuben Gauci, Antoine Borg, Terence Vella, Frank Temile.
Coach: Paul ZammitReferee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Duncan Sultana
Additional Assistant Referees: Chris Lautier, Sandro Spiteri
Fourth Official: Albert Borg Cardona
Yellow Cards: Gatt Baldacchino
Scorers: 12′ Edward Herrera, 23′ Stanley Ohawuchi, 41′ Paul Fenech, 57′ Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao
BOV Player of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao
Attendance: 1,208