Birkirkara closed in on second place as they moved five points clear, defeating Gzira United 3-1 at the National Stadium on Saturday.
While Birkirkara extended their positive run to ten matches, the Maroons suffered their fourth successive defeat and now seriously risk losing a spot in the UEFA Europa League as Hibernians have now joined them in third place and they could even be leapfrogged by Mosta and Balzan should one of them emerge as winner in the direct clash on Monday.
The Stripes took the lead on the 33rd minute when following a corner, Osvaldo Iorio served Alessandro Coppola who hit low past goalkeeper David Cassar.
Three minutes later, Matteo Fedele scored the third goal thanks to a direct freekick.
Gzira pulled one back four minutes in added time courtesy of Nikolai Muscat who controlled a cross by Jackson Mendoza and hit low past Sylla.