Birkirkara move six points clear

Champions Birkirkara showed that they are in fantastic form as they defeated Qormi 3-1 and went on to register their eleventh consecutive victory.

For Qormi this was their third consecutive defeat and they remain third from the bottom on 15 points.

Birkirkara took the lead on the 15^th minute. A freekick by Jhonnattann hit the crossbar, and off the rebound Edward Herrera headed the ball past goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia.

On the 66^th minute, off a corner by Jhonnattann, Alejandro Mendozo Corujo had his header beat goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia to give Birkirkara a 2-0 lead.

Qormi managed to reduce the gap on the 77^th minute. Triston Caruana served Alfred Effiong , the latter then made his way past past goalkeeper Justin Haber to easily score.

Birkirkara made sure they collected all three points on the 88^th minute when off a cross by Jhonnattann, Ryan Scicluna beat goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia from close range.

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Alfred Effiong, Roderick Sammut Christian Terribile (69′ Gianluca Nucera), Leighton Grech, Roderick Bajada, Joao Gabriel da Silva (77′ Abudullai Issaka), Triston Caruana, Emerson Vella (69′ Duncan Pisani), Owen Bugeja, Jonathan Bondin.

Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Karl Sciortino, Leonardo Gabrieli, Dylan Pirotta

Coach: Karel Zeman

BIRKIRKARA Justin Haber, Joseph Zerafa, Alejandro Mendoza Corujo, Nikola Vukanac, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao (88′ Ryan Camenzuli), Gareth Sciberras, Frank Temile (78′ Ryan Scicluna), Rowen Muscat, Haruna Shola Shodiya (61′ Terence Vella), Paul Zammit, Edward Herrera.

Subs not used: Reuben Gauci, Zach Muscat, Antoine Borg, Demba Toure.

Coach: Paul Zammit

Referee: Andre Arciola

Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Albert Borg Cadona

Additional Assistant Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Paul Caruana

Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri

Scorers: 15' Edward Herrera, 66′ Alejandro Mendoza Corujo, 77′ Alfred Effiong, 88′ Ryan Scicluna

BOV Player of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao

In the other match, Valletta did not get the result they were looking for to stay in touch with the league leaders Birkirkara as Sliema Wanderers held them in a goalless draw.

The best chance was in the first half when on the 29^th minute when Valletta's Abdelkarim Nafti's freekick was cleared off the goalline by Henry Bonello.

Ten minutes into the second half an shot by Sliema's Admir Vladavic was saved by Valletta's goalkeeper Pietro Marino.

Both teams had to settle for a goalless draw in a match that did not produce any action in front of goal.

VALLETTA Pietro Marino, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Edmond Agius, Ryan Fenech, Roderick Briffa, Hamza Barry (79′ Ian Zammit), Shaun Bajada, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Jason Lee Vandelannoite (46′ Aziz Corr Nyang), Abdelkarim Nafti (71′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza).

Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Ian Azzopardi, Isaac McCarthy, Llywelyn Cremona.

Coach: Mark Miller

SLIEMA WANDERERS Henry Bonello, Alex Muscat, John Mintoff, Mark Scerri, Admir Vladavic, Stanley Ohawuchi, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Trevor Cilia (87′ Jacob Borg), Matias Muchardi (87′ Abubakar Bello-Osagie), Paltemio Barbetti, Stefano Bianciardi.

Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Axl Xuereb, Ivan Woods, Gabriel Aquilina, Beppe Muscat.

Coach: Alfonso Greco

Referee: Clayton Pisani

Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Peter Abela

Additional Assistant Referees: Mario Apap, Philip Farrugia

Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi

Yellow Cards: R. Briffa, M. Scerri, S. Bianciardi, H. Barry, R. Fenech, Barbetti

BOV Player of the Match: Admir Vladavic