Watch: Birkirkara, Marsaxlokk settle for a point in balanced encounter

BIRKIRKARA              1         

Maia 11

MARSAXLOKK           1         

Aguirre 28

BIRKIRKARA

G. Volpe, M. Morello, A. Sandona, P. Mbong, S. Dimech (80 N. Cross), T. Papazov (80’ P. Gaitan), L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, A. Coppola, M. Maia, G. Yipke (57 Lecao).

MARSAXLOKK

F. Marchetti (71’ M. Calleja Cremona), K. Micallef, Dodo (90 M. Adamec), N. Muscat, Y. Messias, J. Corbalan (90 D. Torres), L. Lopez, A. De Aguiar, E. Pena Beltre (65 D. Bonnici), L. Aguirre, R. Scicluna.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Muscat, Dimech, Papazov, Maia, Scicluna. Bonnici.

Birkirkara and Marsaxlokk shared the spoils in a clash between two of the three teams who were sharing the top spot in the 360Sports Malta Premier Closing Round.

The Stripes managed to take an early lead but by the half hour, the Southseasiders notched a deserved equaliser. The two teams shared the exchanges throughout the 90 minutes and all in all, a draw was a fair result.

Birkirkara had three changes from the team which defeated Hibernians last week as Tomislav Papazov, Shaun Dimech and Gnamien Yipke were named in the starting line-up.

Marsaxlokk, on the other hand, welcomed back Nikolai Muscat and Lucas Lopez in the starting XI.

Marsaxlokk had a close-range header by Lucas Lopez after just four minutes saved by Volpe.

Birkirkara took the lead on 11 minutes.

Gnamien Yipke delivered a cross from the left and Paul Mbong took full advantage of Lucas Lopez’s short clearance, serving the unmarked Maxuell Samurai who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.

Two minutes later, Marsaxlokk missed a good opportunity when Dodo was too altruistic when he served Nikolai Muscat rather than conclude himself and the latter’s attempt was blocked by a defender.

The Southseasiders threatened with a Leandro Aguirre cross from the left which sailed along the goal line on 26 minutes.

Marsaxlokk, however, levelled matters on 28 minutes. Aguirre beat goalkeeper Giacomo Volpe with a direct freekick from the right with the ball ending in the top right corner.

Birkirkara replied with a Shaun Dimech effort from the left which was deflected into a corner.

On 36 minutes later, Yuri concluded a good run with an angled shot from the left hitting the upright.

Two minutes from the break, Volpe blocked a fine freekick by Aguirre on 43 minutes and two minutes later, Aguirre went close once again with his attempt ending just over the bar, direct from a corner.

Six minutes in the second half, Marchetti blocked a Shaun Dimech freekick from the right and two minutes later, the former Italy national team goalkeeper saved a corner by the same player from the left.

Yuri went close for Marsaxlokk with a powerful first-time effort ending high on 64 minutes.

Paul Mbong had a shot from outside the area ending just wide on 79 minutes.

Birkirkara had one final chance in stoppage time when substitute Lecao delivered a corner from the right, Alessandro Coppola headed the ball in the direction of Leandro Lacunza whose header was neutralised by substitute goalkeeper Matthew Calleja Cremona, who had replaced the injured Marchetti.