Comfortable win for Birkirkara on opening day

MOSTA 0

BIRKIRKARA 3
Jeferson 55
Aguirre 90, Falcone 90+

MOSTA: C. Mafoumbi-6.5; D. Debono-6; C. Ememe-6 (85 M. Mifsud); C. Failla-6 (85 W. Donkin); K. Nsumoh-6 (60 L. Igbineweka); G. Sciberras-6 (60 Z. Brincat); O. Edhere-6; T. Farrugia-6; I. Doric-6.5; Rafael-6.5 (76 L. Portelli); J. Ekani-6.

BIRKIRKARA: D.Fernandes-6; E. Pepe-6; Y. Yankam-6 (84 L. Aguirre); L. Montebello-6.5; K. Zammit-6; D. Venancio-6.5; F. Falcone-5; C. Attard-6; C. Bonanni-6 (64 R. Briffa); O. Carniello-6; Jeferson-6.5 (73 P. Mbong).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Yellow cards: Carniello, Failla, Doric, Ekani, Venancio.

BOV Player of the match: Diego Venancio (Birkirkara).

A second-half goal from Jeferson handed Birkirkara a winning start as they launched their 2021/2022 BOV Premier League campaign against Mosta.

Jeferson scored Birkirkara’s opening goal early in the second half before two late goals from Leandro Aguirre and Federico Falcone handed the Stripes a much comfortable win.

Mosta, on their part, created some interesting chances but failed to pile pressure and salvage at least a draw on the opening day of the league.

Luke Montebello had the first chance of the game when he headed wide a Diego Venancio corner kick after four minutes.

Moments later, Mosta replied through Johnson Nsumoh who tried a first timer after receiving from Okosi Edher but went wide.

Chances were at a premium but in the closing stages of the game, Birkirkara missed a flurry of chances. First, Venancio had a trademark freekick saved by Christoffer Mafoumbi.

Afterwards, Montebello squandered a glorious chance when he headed wide from point-blank range.

The Birkirkara striker attempted a curling effort from the edge of the area that also went wide.

On the other hand, Mosta had chances through Edhere whose header was saved by Daniel Fernandes before defender Rafael let fly a long-range freekick just to be denied by inches.

At the restart, the script remained the same with Birkirkara dictating proceedings and Montebello missing yet another open chance when his close-range header sailed over the bar.

Mosta almost forged ahead when Edhere connected on a
Gianluca Sciberras inviting cross but he failed to hit the target.

Nonetheless, Birkirkara broke the duck when Jeferson struck a shot past Mafoumbi to open his account at the Stripes.

Mosta tried to stage a reaction to level terms with forward Luiz Igbineweka, who joined the club together with Edhere on a loan deal from Latvia’s Spartaks who was given his debut.

Mosta suffered a blow when veteran defender Rafael was forced off injured.

Late in the game, Birkirkara continued to press and it was the Stripes who scored the next goal with substitute Aguirre doubling the lead.

In stoppage time, Federico Falcone wrapped up the win as he slotted into empty net for Birkirkara’s first three points of the season.