Mosta maintain break into the top four with Sirens victory

SIRENS            1         

Sano 26

MOSTA           2

Akrong 45, Okoh 54

SIRENS

M. Grech-6.5, M. Muniz (39 D. Jackson-5.5), K. Sano-6, R. Tachikawa-6, A. Borg-6.5, J. Walker-6.5, A. Vaikainah-6, A. Cini-6 (83 A. Vella), R. Correa-6.5, P. Bento-6 (83 I. Kolev), S. Sessegnon-5.5 (69 S. Arab).

MOSTA

I. Akpan-6.5, R. Briffa-6 (80 G. Sciberras), C. Ememe-7 (90 N. Agius), C. Failla-6, K. Yamazaki-5.5 (46 P. Tenebe-5.5), B. Diarra-6, J. Akrong-6, J. Vassallo-6, Z. Brincat-6 (80 D. Bonnici), J. Ekani-6, F. Dore-5.5 (46 M. Okoh).

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

Yellow Cards: Sessegnon, Akrong, Walker, Sciberras, Vaikainah.

BOV Player of the match: Christ Ememe (Mosta).

Mosta collected another three precious points in their bid to make it to the top-four as they came from behind to beat Sirens 2-1.

The Blues, are now fourth, two points behind third-placed Birkirkara and two ahead of Hibernians but both Birkirkara and Hibernians have a game in hand.

For Mosta, this was the third win in four matches.

On the other hand, Sirens were hoping for another positive result following the 3-3 draw with Valletta in mid-week but this defeat leaves them just four points ahead of Marsaxlokk.

Mosta threatened on 13 minutes with Boubakary Diarra having an angled shot from the right blocked by goalkeeper Matthew Grech.  

Sirens replied with a Marcelo Pereira Muniz freekick which was saved by Ini Akpan on 23 minutes.

Three minutes later, the St. Paul’s Bay side forged ahead.

Sano received an assist inside the area and avoided a defender before unleashing a powerful rising shot from the right which saw the ball hit the upright before ending into the back of the net.

This goal shocked Mosta who only managed to react towards the end of the first half. A powerful drive by Kasha Yamazaki on 42 minutes was partially saved by Matthew Grech and off the rebound, Christ Ememe hit wide.

However, a minute in added time, Mosta levelled matters.

Ememe delivered a corner from the left and Jacob Akrong slotted the ball past goalkeeper Grech.

Four minutes in the second half, the Blues missed an excellent opportunity to take the lead when off an inviting cross from the right, Boubakary Diarra controlled the ball but hit wide from an ideal position inside the area.

However, they were not to be denied on 54 minutes.

Ememe provided a perfect assist from the right and substitute Michael Chidera Okoh had his first attempts blocked by the goalkeeper and by the upright before depositing the ball into the net. 

Following a cross by Jacob Walker from the right, Paulo Vyctor Bento had a close-range header for Sirens saved by the Mosta goalkeeper on 70 minutes.

At the other end of the pitch, Jonas Ekani delivered a cross from the right and Jacob Akrong’s header was parried by

Grech. 

Grech, then managed to neutralise a closerange effort by Ememe on 75 minutes.

In added time, Sirens pushed hard for the equaliser but Akpan came to the rescue blocking a cross by Andreas Vella from the left before Ivan Kolev could conclude.

Then he managed to turn into a corner a Ricardo Correa header following a cross by Degran Jackson from the right.