Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Britto 79;
Birkirkara 3
Bissi 40; Camenzuli 90; Liliu 90+;
Birkirkara needed two stoppage-time goals to overcome the challenge of a resolute Żebbug Rangers side.
It was far from a vintage performance from the Stripes who, despite outplaying their opponents for much of the match, failed to add to Mattheus Bissi’s first-half goal.
Their inability to make their supremacy count almost came back to haunt them as Żebbuġ pulled level with 11 minutes to go but the Stripes somehow managed to find the energy to stage a late rally.
Goals from Ryan Camenzuli and the returning Liliu spared Birkirkara’s blushes as Paul Zammit’s team moved above Valletta in second place, leaving Żebbuġ rooted to the bottom of the standings.
Zammit handed Mirza Hamzabegovic his first start since the Bosnian goalkeeper joined Birkirkara in January.
Camenzuli dropped to the left-back role to replace the suspended Joseph Zerafa while Rafael Ledesma started up front to fill the void left by the injured Shola Haruna.
Bissi was given the nod to replace Mauricio Mazzetti Latini who was serving a one-match ban.
Żebbuġ Rangers were forced to make do without Argentine defender David Reano, suspended. Coach Alfonso Greco deployed Brazilian striker Mauricio Britto up front with Matthew Bartolo also back in the starting formation ahead of Kurt Zammit.
The match offered little entertainment for much of the opening 30 minutes as both sides huffed and puffed without creating any decent scoring chance.
Birkirkara produced their first opportunity on the half-hour when Ledesma switched the ball towards Nassir Maachi who evaded his marker but his curling drive finished over.
Four minutes later, Zach Muscat connected to Ledesma’s delivery but his header was pushed over by Jeffrey Farrugia, the Żebbuġ goalkeeper.
Zach Muscat should have done better on 37 minutes when pouncing on a poor intervention by Farrugia but the Birkirkara wing-back fired wide in front of a gaping goal.
The Stripes struck on 40 minutes. In a corner action, Bissi was first to Ledesma’s cross and his dipping header had the better of Farrugia.
Żebbuġ’s struggles continued on the restart and Birkirkara thought they had doubled the lead on 63 minutes.
Nikola Vukanac’s backheel seemed to have beaten Farrugia but the Żebbuġ goalkeeper did just enough to push the ball away.
The Stripes remained on top and on 67 minutes Zach Muscat stabbed the ball over from a Camenzuli cross.
Farrugia then produced a one-handed save to tip over an effort from Edmond Agius, who had come on Ryan Scicluna.
Birkirkara paid dearly for their failure to take their chances as the Rangers equalised on 79 minutes.
Matias Muchardi picked Britto inside the area and the Żebbuġ forward headed past Hamzabegovic.
Here, Zammit brought on Liliu for Zach Muscat as he looked to boost his team’s attacking drive.
Yet, it was Żebbuġ who almost struck again but Luke Montebello, another substitute, was blocked by the onrushing Hamzabegovic as the game opened up.
Birkirkara went close when Paul Fenech burst clear only to be dispossessed by the onrushing Farrugia.
Żebbuġ failed to heed the warning and, deep into injury time, Camenzuli found himself in ample space in the area to hit a rasping drive that flew past Farrugia.
More woes followed for Żebbuġ as, moments later, Liliu outmuscled his marker and scored with a firm drive to seal Birkirkara’s win.
Żebbuġ Rangers
J. Farrugia-6, M. Muchardi-6.5, C. Monti-5 (78 L. Montebello), M. Bartolo-6, M. Britto-6.5 (90 K. Zammit), R. Yussuf-5, J. Borg-5, L. Galea-5, P. Barbetti-5, T. Paris-5.5, Y. Camilleri-6.
Birkirkara
M. Hamzabegovic-6, R. Ledesma-7, N. Vukanac-6.5, M. Bissi-6.5, N. Maachi-5.5 (66 K. Zammit-6), E. Herrera-5.5, P. Fenech-6.5, Z. Muscat-5 (80 Liliu), R. Muscat-6, R. Camenzuli-7, R. Scicluna-6 (57 E. Agius-6.5).
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Yellow cards: Camilleri; Galea.
BOV player of the match: Rafael Ledesma (Birkirkara).