Sloppy Birkirkara need late goal to take point against Mosta

BIRKIRKARA 2

Bevis 48; Attard 76

MOSTA 2

Akinbule 12; Nsumoh 56

Birkirkara

D. Fernandes-6, E. Ruiz-5.5, E. Pepe-5.5, Y. Yankam-6.5, L. Montebello-5, R. Scicluna-5.5 (78 C. Bonanni), C. Attard-7, O. Carniello-5, L. Aguirre-5, K. Bevis-7 (72 J. Machedo), D. Venancio-6.

Mosta

C. Mafoumbi-6, R. Briffa-6.5 (75 L. Riascos), C. Failla-6, J. Nsumoh-6.5 (75 W. Donkin), J. Bezzina-6 (87 G. Sciberras), T. Farrugia-6, I. Doric-6, R. Morisco-6, Z. Brincat-6.5 (58 D. Bonnici), S. Akinbule-7, R. Ekani-7.

Referee Slobodan Petrovic.

Yellow cards Farrugia, Doric, Ruiz, Scicluna.

BOV Player of the match Sunday Akinbule (Mosta).

Birkirkara needed a Cain Attard late goal to salvage a point against Mosta at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

It was a disappointing performance from the Stripes who struggled throughout against a physical Mosta side who had managed to twice take the lead in a scrappy match.

Despite their struggles, Birkirkara kept fighting and manage to take home a point with Cain Attard’s goal. However, the final outcome has seen miss a chance to win all three points that would boost their hopes of closing the gap with the Premier League leaders Hibernians.

Birkirkara threatened after only ten minutes of play when from a Leandro Aguirre corner-kick, the ball fell to Kilian Bevis who saw his thumping drive finish just past the upright.

However, it was Mosta who struck first after 12 minutes. The Blues were awarded a free-kick and Ivan Doric’s cross was met by Sunday Akinbule who directed a firm header past Daniel Fernandes

Birkirkara’s response arrived on 19 minutes when Enzo Ruiz’s header was not withheld by Christoffer Mafoumbi and from the rebound Enrico Pepe fired over.

Two minutes later, the Mosta no.1 did well to keep out Luke Montebello’s shot from inside the area.

Montebello missed a huge chance to pull Birkirkara level 11 minutes from the break when Bevis stormed inside the area and teed up the Malta striker, who in front of a gaping goal, incredibly fired over.

Four minutes from the break, Mafoumbi again had to be alert to push away Oscar Carniello’s headed effort.

Birkirkara enjoyed a perfect start to the second half when they managed to draw level on 48 minutes.

The Stripes were awarded a free-kick on the right channel and Diego Venancio hit a rasping drive that Mafoumbi could only push into the path of Bevis who bundled the ball into the net.

When it looked as though Birkirkara would take charge of the match it was Mosta who struck following a quick transition.

Akinbule powered his way past Carniello and served Johnson Nsumoh who hit a deflected shot that flew past Fernandes.

One expected Birkirkara to launch a strong reaction but they looked timid in their efforts.

However, 14 minutes from time Birkirkara made the most of some hesitant defending from Mosta to draw level.

Yannick Yankam’s cross found substitute Jefferson Machedo whose shot was deflected towards Cain Attard who bundled the ball home.

Mosta could have won it late on when in a quick break Will Donkin was clean through but was denied by the onrushing Fernandes.