Valletta defeat Birkirkara to take top spot

Valletta were made to work hard for the three points after they played an entire second half with ten men.

Valletta went close to scoring on the 12^th minute when a direct freekick by William Barbosa hit the woodwork to deny Valletta the opening goal.

On the 41^st minute, Valletta's Denni Rocha dos Santos was sent of for retaliation.

On the 44^th minute, even though Valletta were playing with ten man, they managed to score the all important goal that would give them the three points. Off a cross by Joao Gabriel da Silva, Ian Zammit headed the ball past goalkeeper Reuben Gauci to make the score 1-0.

Birkirkara almost scored the equaliser on the 21^st minute when a powerful shot by Paul Fenech hit the woodwork.

Both sides continued to share exchanges and even though Birkirkara had the one-man advantage, they could not break down Valletta's defence to score the equaliser.

Joao Gabriel da Silva was voted BOV Player of the Match.

VALLETTA: Yenz Cini, Roderick Briffa, Luke Dimech, Jonathan Caruana, Jason Lee Vandelannoite, William Barbosa, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Joao Gabriel da Silva (90' Joseph Jo Jo Ogonuppe), Dyson Falzon (87' Kurt Magro), Ian Zammit (53' Michael Mifsud), Ian Azzopardi.
Subs not used: Reuben Debono, Edmond Agius, Gilbert Agius, Llywelyn Cremona.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Keith Fenech

BIRKIRKARA: Reuben Gauci, Ryan Scicluna, Alejandro Mendoza Corujo, Rowen Muscat, Joseph Zerafa, Edward Herrera, Paul Fenech, Yoismiar Hernandez (75' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Harun Shola Shodiya, Zach Muscat, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao.
Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Ian Schembri, Antoine Borg, Roderick Taliana, Fabian Zammit, Bernard Borg.
Coach: Paul Zammit
Asst. Coach: Peter Pullicino

Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Alex Grech
Fourth Official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: Denni, Z. Muscat, R. Scicluna, Fenech, Barbosa
Red Cards: 41' Denni
Scorers: 44' Ian Zammit