Mosta punish sloppy Birkirkara to secure remarkable victory

BIRKIRKARA    1

Zibo 7

MOSTA            2

Brincat 31; Akrong 35

BIRKIRKARA

G. Nava-4, O. Iorio-5 E. Pepe-5, D. Pires Dall’Oca-6 (61 K. Tulimieri), Y. Yankam-5.5, P. Mbong-5.5 (61 J.P. Farrugia-5), K. Zammit-5 (81 J. Valletta), F. Falcone-5.5 (46 A. Alves-6), C. Attard-4, E. Cabrera-5, S. Zibo-6.

MOSTA

I. Akpan-7, C. Ememe-6, D. Bonnici-5 (52 J. Ibe), C. Failla-7.5, G. Sciberras-6.5 (83 N. Agius), B. Diarra-6, J. Akrong-6.5 (77 R. Briffa), G. Acheampong-6.5 (77 P. Tenebe), S. Kingue-6, J. Vassallo-6, Z. Brincat-7 (77 T. Akiti).

Referee Ishmael Barbara.

Yellow cards Bonnici, Akiti, Ememe, Cabrera, Ibe.

BOV Player of the match Zachary Brincat (Mosta).

Mosta punished some sloppy defending from Birkirkara to secure a stunning victory at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

It looked as though the Blues were set for a difficult afternoon when they found themselves behind after seven minutes when Simon Zibo put Birkirkara ahead.

But the Stripes were authors of their own downfall as they committed two defensive howlers in the space of four first-half minutes to enable Mosta turn the match in their favour.

From then on, Mosta defended stoutly to secure another three vital points that lifted them to fifth place on 14 points, level with Gudja United and Balzan while condemning Birkirkara to their second successive defeat.

Birkirkara were off to a fast start and took the lead on seven minutes. From a long throw-in, Federico Falcone teed up Zibo who hit a low drive that flew past Akpan and into the net.

It was all Birkirkara in these early minutes and Yannick Yankam was unlucky to see his low drive kiss the upright.

Mosta finally threatened on 22 minutes and they almost drew level when from a central free-kick, Clayton Failla’s inswinger came off the upright.

Parity was restored on 31 minutes when Cain Attard’s backpass was intercepted by Zachary Brincat and the Mosta striker kept his poise to drill the ball past goalkeeper Giacomo Nava.

Another defensive howler cost dear Birkirkara three minutes later when from a Failla free-kick, goalkeeper Nava failed to hold onto the ball and in came Jacob Akrob who fired into the roof of the net.

Birkirkara tried to respond and Yankam hit a long-range shot that finished over.

Stripes started the second half more aggressive but it was Mosta who threatened to Christ Ememe but his shot was saved by Nava.

On the hour, Akpan had to be alert when he pushed over Diego dall’Oca‘s shot from a free-kick. Minutes later the Mosta no.1 again distinguished himself to push over the bar Osvaldo Iorio’s headed effort.

Birkirkara thought they had equalised on 76 minutes when Yankam put substitute Alex Alves in space and the Brazilian fired home. But the ‘goal’ was annulled for offside.

At the other end, Ememe found Precious Tenebe in space but the Nigerian forward flicked the ball over the bar.

Two minutes from time, the Mosta failed to clear the ball from an Alex Alves free-kick, with the ball falling into the path of Cabrera who, however, was anticipated by Failla.