VALLETTA 0
BIRKIRKARA 0
VALLETTA
Adison, S. Borg, A. Ciolacu (58 Jefferson), B. Paiber (86 R. Muscat), Y. Yankam, K. Brewer (76 Z. Cassar), N. Micallef, Y. Messias (86 A. Zammit), S. Radic, Thaylor, J. Mendoza (76 J. Azzopardi).
BIRKIRKARA
M. Martinez, F. Garrone Lopez, I. Morello, K. Reid (79 J.Busuttil), S. Dimech (61 N. Micallef), K. Zammit, L. Lacumza, F. Sasere (61 Acheampong), D. Makoma, Macula.
Referee: Ishmael Barbara.
Yellow cards: Micallef, Zammi, Radic.
Valletta marked their return to the Premier League with an entertaining goalless draw against Birkirkara.
The return of this classic fixture in the local football calendar was met with enthusiasm, as supporters of both sides turned out in force at the National Stadium.
A rivalry that once lit up Maltese football in the late 1990s and beyond was reignited on a lively evening that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
It was exactly the kind of curtain-raiser the Malta Premier League had hoped for, setting the tone for what promises to be a thrilling season ahead.
Only three players, namely Andrei Ciolacu, captain Brandon Paiber, and Neil Micallef, who was part of Valletta’s promotion campaign, were included by Thane Micallef, the Valletta coach, for the Lilywhites’ return to the Premier League.
The sight of Steve Borg donning the white jersey once again, after lifting several trophies with the club during the glory times, will have raised the spirits of the numerous Valletta fans present at the National Stadium.
With eight new faces in the team, including Yannick Yankam, formerly of Birkirkara, as well as Yuri Messias and Jackson Mendoza, the team understandably needed time to gel together as a cohesive side.
Birkirkara, on the other hand, fielded familiar names from last season, including the returning Kurt Zammit, and started stronger.
In the opening minutes, Savic Radic lost possession cheaply, allowing Macula to set up Kemar Reid, whose low drive was dealt with by Adison, the Valletta goalkeeper.
And as Birkirkara’s early energy began to lose their early intention, Ciolacu, timed his run to perfection to meet Micallef’s throughball before he arched the ball over the bar.
Borg had to go off for treatment to a head wound after a collision with an opponent and returned heavily bandaged.
Mendoza spurned a good opportunity before half-time when he played a neat one-two with Messias but his shot finished narrowly wide.
After the break, Valletta put more emphasis on the attack.
Yankam supplied an inviting cross for Keith Brewer, timing a back-post run to perfection to meet the cross, but his effort crashed against the post early in the second half.
Then, Paiber hit a free-kick which was blocked by Miguel Angel Martinez.
This was the cue for Micallef to add more weight upfront by throwing in Jefferson de Assis as his counterpart Stefano de Angelis responded in kind by introducing Geoffrey Acheampong.
On 70 minutes, Reid created space for himself on the left and hit a swerving shot which finished just wide of the far post of Adison.
The Valletta defenders were in constant difficulty to get a grip with Acheampong.
Birkirkara’s best chance came on 81 minutes.
The Stripes had driven the ball on the right side of the pitch thanks to Neil Micallef’s speed and agility. His perfectly weighted cross found Macula inside the six-yard box, whose glancing header drifted just wide of the near post – momentarily giving the Stripes’ supporters the illusion of a goal.
Birkirkara threatened again two minutes later when newcomer Jan Busuttil, in for Reid, created space for himself on the right channel, but his effort was repelled by Borg.
In the end, substitute Rowen Muscat’s free-kick sailed towards Sava Radic, whose header finished wide.
