Birkirkara's Alex Da Paixao (right) hits a shot against Pieta' Hotspurs. Photo: Domenic Borg
PIETA’ HOTSPURS 1
Agius 77
BIRKIRKARA 5
Zibo 38; Cabrera 44, 71; Radojevic 62; Da Paixao 88
PIETA’ HOTSPURS D. Alampasu-6, S. Okoh-5.5, C. Bangura-5.5, T. Ojo-5.5 (58 K. Catania), D. Zerafa-6 (76 K. Briffa), J. Ghio-5.5, L. Amadu-5.5 (46 Y. Morita-6), P. Lapira (58 K. Leonardi), A. Schembri Wismayer-5.5 (58 T. Agius), Z. Leonardi-6, T. Yamaguchi-6.
BIRKIRKARA A. Sylla-6, O. Iorio-6 (72 D. Pires), A. Da Paixao-7, Y. Yankam-6 (65 N. Micallef), P. Mbong-6 (65 J. Farrugia), K. Zammit-6, N. Radojevic-6, C. Attard-6, E. Cabrera-7 (82 M. Gambin), S. Zibo-6.5, D. Ribeiro-6 (82 M. Conti).
Referee Etienne Mangion
Yellow Cards P. Mbong, J. Ghio, D. Alampasu
BOV Player of the Match Alex da Paixao Alves (Birkirkara)
After struggling in recent outings, Birkirkara returned to winning ways thanks to an emphatic 5-1 victory over bottom-placed Pieta’ Hotspurs.
This was a win that enables the Stripes to move third, level on points with Gżira United, two points behind second-placed Hibernians. Pieta’, on the other hand, remain anchored at the bottom of the table with just four points. The Hotspurs showed good ideas in the opening stages but once they conceded the first goal, Birkirkara dominated.
Birkirkara coach Giovanni Tedesco could not count on the suspended Enrico Pepe and Alessandro Coppola. Nemanja Radojevic, Denis Custodio Ribeiro, and Enzo Cabrera were all named in the starting line-up along with goalkeeper Amara Sylla as Giacomo Nava and Kevin Tulimieri were retained on the bench.
The Hotspurs, on the other hand, had three changes from their last outing as Samuel Okoh, Abedel Latif Amadu, and Paul Lapira were handed a start at the expense of Terence Agius and Sekou Amadou Camara while Ganiu Atanda Ogungbe was ruled out through suspension.
Birkirkara threatened on seven minutes when Denis Custodio Ribeiro delivered a cross from the left and Osvaldo Iorio’s powerful drive from the edge of the area ended just over the bar. The Hotspurs replied with a Paul Lapira freekick ending just wide on 14 minutes.
On 19 minutes, Yannick Yankam came to the rescue blocking a Latif Amadu effort from inside the area off the goal line after a corner by Paul Lapira from the right was deflected by goalkeeper Amara Sylla.
Birkirkara finally managed to take the lead on 38 minutes. A freekick by Paul Mbong was blocked by Zean Leonardi but Mbong took the rebound and served Osvaldo Iorio, the latter hitting an overhead kick towards Simon Zibo whose brilliant first-time effort gave goalkeeper Dele Alampasu no chance.
Six minutes later, the Stripes doubled the score. Alex da Paixao provided the assist from the right and Cabrera had the easiest of jobs in hitting home from close range.
Nine minutes into the second half, Takuma Yamaguchi tried his luck for Pieta’ with a shot from outside the area which was parried by Sylla.
Goalkeeper Dele Alampasu escaped with just a yellow card when he brought Cabrera down outside the area but from the resulting freekick, on 62 minutes, Birkirkara extended the lead. Radojevic scored directly from the freekick from the right.
Birkirkara scored a fourth goal on 71 minutes when Da Paixao sent Cabrera through and the latter anticipated the goalkeeper with a low shot from the left.
The Hotspurs pulled one back on 77 minutes. Substitute Yuto Morita had a powerful drive partially saved by Sylla and off the rebound, another substitute, Agius, placed the ball at the back of the net.
However, two minutes from time, Birkirkara made it 5-1. Da Paixao exchanged the ball with Neil Micallef on the left before slotting the ball past goalkeeper.
