Birkirkara maintain positive streak

Birkirkara extended their positive run to five matches as they defeated Pietà Hotspurs 3-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. A win which ensures they stay in fifth place and keep the pace with the teams in the upper part of the table.

On the other hand, for the Hotspurs, this was the fifth consecutive defeat.

Both sides had two changes from their last outing. The Hotspurs had Dylan Agius and new signing Uchenna Calistus Umeh replacing Takaki Ose and the suspended Ishaya Irimiya Jalo. On the other hand, Michael Mifsud and Johann Bezzina were preferred to Jake Grech and Marcelo de Siqueira.

Birkirkara went close on the 6th minute with a Luke Montebello effort hitting the crossbar. 

However Birkirkara took the lead on the 26th minute when off an assist by Maurizio Vella from the left, Matthew Guillaumier rounded a defender before beating goalkeeper Nicky Vella with a fine low shot from inside the area. 

Substitute Jorge Pereira da Silva doubled the score on the 66th minute when Maurizio Vella served Johann Bezzina who released Jorginho inside the area and the latter hit low past Nicky Vella

Eight minutes from time, the Stripes sealed the issue with a third goal thanks to Danilo Chapoval who headed the ball home following a corner by Clayton Failla from the right. 

B’KARA Kristijan Naumovski, Danilo Chapoval, Matthew Guillaumier, Mislav Andjelkovic, Maurizio Vella (78′ Clayton Failla), Luke Montebello (55′ Jorge Pereira da Silva), Kurt Zammit, Eduardo Ferreira, Michael Mifsud (69′ Jake Grech), Johann Bezzina, Cain Attard.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Neil Micallef, Carlo Zammit Lonardelli, Thiago de Souza,
Coach: Mark Buttigieg
Asst. Coach: John Arne Riise

PIETÀ Nicky Vella, Christian Degabriele (80′ Harry Singh), Neil Pace Cocks (39′ Travis Bartolo), Dylan Agius (70′ Sheldon Pisani), Paul Chimezie, Jan Busuttil, Gabriel Mensah, Juan Manuel Artiaga Roa, Christian Grech, Uchenna Calistus Umeh, Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto.
Subs not used: Jacob Chircop St John, Samuel Okoh, Svein Bartolo, Nicholas Pisani.
Coach: Ramon Zammit
Asst. Coach: Mark Vella

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Andrea Sciriha
Yellow Cards: Umeh, Vella
BOV Player of the Match: