MELITA 0
BIRKIRKARA 3
Maia 20 pen, 80 pen; Morello 55
MELITA
G. Mizzi, Aldair (68 P. Galea Testaferrata), J.P. Attard, K. Mohnani (60 N.Cutajar), C. Penha, M. Debattista (84 A. Attard), M. Van de Font Bovenkamp, D. Xuereb ( 60 G. Barone), J. Yepez (60 J. Romero), K. Bondin, H. Motta.
BIRKIRKARA
G. Volpe, I. Morello (86 Maicon), A. Sandona, L. Gaitan, S. Dimech (78 A. Zammit), A. Satariano, L. Lacunza, N. Micallef (86 N. Cross), A. Coppola, M. Maia, J. Etoha (G. Yikpe).
Referee Ezekiel Barbara.
Yellow cards: Sandona, Etoha, Maia, Debattista.
Maxuell Maia led Birkirkara back to the top of the 360 Sports Malta Premier as they crushed Melita at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.
The Brazilian gave the Stripes the lead by slotting home a penalty after Lauturo Lacunza had been fouled by Marc Van De Font Bovenkamp. The Stripes doubled their lead after Ignacio Morello slotted home after Agustin Sandona’s run.
Maia made it three from another spot kick, to take his personal tally to seven goals so far this season.
Melita competed manfully and enjoyed a lot of possession but had no answer to Birkikara’s blistering attacking prowess.
Stefano De Angelis’s side, keen to get back on top of the standings, got off to a flying start,
Birkirkara had snatched the advantage on 20 minutes following an initial spell of pressure. Ignacio Morello’s cross was deflected off Henrique Motta, but the Melita defence failed to clear their lines.
Lauturo Lacunza pounced on the loose ball before tumbling over the legs of a static Van de Font Bovenkamp. From the ensuing spot kick, Maia hit the ball behind Gosef Mizzi.
Some positive attacking play followed from Melita but the result did not change.
Jesus Yepez raced down the left flank and outmuscled Lacunza before he hit the ball into the side-netting.
Birkirkara needed a win to return to the top of the table, and they came out after the break, determined to add to their tally.
On 55 minutes, Agustin Sandona produced a piece of magic for the Stripes’ second. The skilful Argentine defender went on a jinking run that ran the Melita rearguard ragged, before linking up with Alexander Satariano and Morello was on hand to convert his pass past Mizzi.
Morello then burst away down the left and although Pablo Gaitan managed to make contact with the ball, Mizzi blocked his weak effort.
Ten minutes from time, Birkirkara made it 3-0 as Mizzi was adjudged to have brought down Maia inside the area and the Brazilian picked himself up to slot home the resulting penalty.
Melita did not let their third goal deflate them and credit must go to Clive Mizzi for forging a team prepared to fight on.
But in this form, leaders Birkirkara are irresistible, and they opened a two-point gap at the top of the table.
