Andrea Zammit’s last-gasp penalty comes to Birkirkara’s rescue

Mosta put Valletta in more relegation trouble

BIRKIRKARA 1

G. Zammit 90+

HIBERNIANS 1

Chukunyere 85

BIRKIRKARA

M. Zapytowski, E. Pepe, P. Mbong (64 M. Maia), K. Zammit, A. Satariano (73 A. Zammit), E. Pena Beltre, N. Micallef (81 O. Elouni), A. Coppola, E. Sarpong (64 Adailton), S. Zibo, A. Diakite.

HIBERNIANS

I.Kone, K. Shaw, L. Caruana, J. Degabriele (81 I. Chukunyere), A. Radchenko (76 A. Bruno), G. Artiles, C. Bonanni (81 F. Apap), M. Bagayoko, G. Bastianos, R. Antwi (68 R. Bairam), H. Alves.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Yellow cards: Fernandes, K. Zammit.

For the second week running, Birkirkara had to rely on a last-gasp goal to save the game and take a point following a 1-1 draw against Hibernians.

Contrary to what happened last week when Alessandro Coppola’s header gave the Stripes all points against Valletta, on Saturday, the Stripes were chasing the result against Hibernians when trailing to an Isaiah Chukunyere goal.

But in the second minute of stoppage time substitute Gianluca Zammit procured a penalty which he duly converted much to the relief of coach Josè Borg as he kept his side fifth in the standings alongside the Paolites.

It was in Birkirkara who enjoyed the better chances late in the first half when Paul Mbong was put through by Alexander Satariano, but saw his effort blocked by the onrushing Ibrahim Kone.

Josè Borg made two changes to his side following last week’s win against Valletta, leaving out Maxuell Maia, Andrea Zammit and Andrei Ciolacu who was again on the bench.

But the introduction of Maia and Zammit appeared to add some bite to the attack.

The Stripes were in the ascendancy when Maia, the Brazilian striker, intercepted a back pass by Claudio Bonanni, formerly of Birikirkara, only to hit his effort straight at Kone.

But it was Hibernians who took the lead through the unlikeliest of source. Eighteen-year-old Isaiah Chukunyere hit a rising shot behind Marcel Zapytowski with virtually his first touch of the ball.

More drama was to follow when five minutes into the injury time, Higor Fernandes floored Zammit inside the area and referee Ishmael Barbarara ordered a penalty. The onus of taking the spot-kick fell to Zammit who kept his cool to beat Kone.

MOSTA            1

Nwoga 90

VALLETTA      0

MOSTA

U. Akpan, J. Vassallo, G. Chara, B. Aziz, W. Britto, P. Tenebe, E. Aneni, N. Agius, A. Hovhannisyan, C. Nwoga, Z. Brincat (46 J. Scerri).

VALLETTA

J. Galea, J. Bolanos, G. Vieira, E. Ruiz, V. Luiz, B. Paiber, F. Barrientos, M. Jezdimirovic, S. Dimech (79 J. Azzopardi) , D. Cardos, Jhonnattann (85 K. Ewurum).

Referee

Yellow cards: Aziz, Chara, Tenebe.

Mosta FC bagged a crucial victory over relegation rivals Valletta as Henry Nwoga struck at the death to hand his team a 1-0 win at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

It was a stunning outcome in this relegation clash that saw Mosta move out of the relegation zone and moved up to eighth in the standings on 20 points while on the other hand, Valletta slipped into further trouble as they are now sharing fourth from bottom with Gżira United on the 18-point mark.

Valletta will surely have a lot of recriminations from this match as they had the opportunity to return home with the three points in their bag.

Their best chance came three minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty when Jake Vassallo fouled Brandon Paiber inside the area. But from the spot, Diego Cardoso saw his shot saved by Udoh Akpan.

When it looked as though the match would finish in a goalless draw, Mosta struck the winner when Henry Nwoga was first to a corner and hit past Jake Galea.