MOSTA 0
BIRKIRKARA 1
Maia 87
MOSTA
U. Akpan, P. Afriyie (88 C. Okereke), L. Coulibaly, R. Luca (62 S. Kone), C. Failla, N. Agius, J. Agyemang, J. Teixeira, J. Vassallo (62 M. Gomes), Z. Brincat, L. Fernandes.
BIRKIRKARA
G. Volpe, M. Morello (75 M. De Souza), A. Sandona, P. Gaitan, S. Dimech (60 A. Zammit), A. Satariano, L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, A. Coppola, M. Maia, O. Siafa (59 G. Yipke).
Referee: Ishmael Barbara.
Yellow cards: Afriyie, Gaitan, Yipke.
Maxuell Samurai was the hero for Birkirkara as he scored a late goal to hand them a narrow win over Mosta.
Birkirkara therefore extended their winning streak to five matches to make sure of retaining sole leadership.
It was no easy match for the Stripes as the Blues shared the exchanges with their opponents throughout the 90 minutes. In fact, Mosta, who were coming from back-to-back wins over Ħamrun Spartans and Marsaxlokk, confirmed their recent improvement.
Birkirkara coach Stefano De Angelis named an unchanged side while Joseph Grech opted to make two changes or Mosta as Richard Luca and Zachary Brincat were preferred to Souleymane Kone and Chisom Sunday Okereke.
The Stripes had the first attempt at goal on 10 minutes as Maia had a shot from the right parried by Akpan.
Two minutes later, Leo Fernandes delivered a cross from the right and Leandro Lacunza deflected the ball into a corner with Joshua Agyemang failing to intercept. On 21 minutes, Prince Afriyie had a powerful shot from outside the area blocked by goalkeeper Giacomo Volpe.
The Blues threatened once again with a through pass by Nathan Agius for Richard Luca on the right but the Birkirkara goalkeeper intercepted the ball before the Mosta midfielder could conclude on 34 minutes.
Four minutes later, a freekick by Clayton Failla was blocked by Alexander Satariano and off the rebound, the Mosta defender hit just wide.
Five minutes from the end of the first half, Satariano had a good run on the left blocked by a defender but following an erratic clearance, Maia gained possession of the ball and rounded a defender and hit wide.
Six minutes into the second half, Mosta went close as Afriyie sent Zachary Brincat through but his conclusion, after avoiding Coppola, ended just over the bar.
Birkirkara replied with an Alessandro Coppola header off a corner from the right on 67 minutes.
Two minutes later, Leandro Lacunza concluded a good run with a diagonal shot from the right ending just wide.
Gislain Yipke headed just wide off a Pablo Gaitan freekick on 73 minutes but a minute later, substitute Souleymane Kone went close for Mosta with a fine curling shot from the left which scraped past the post.
However, three minutes from time, Birkirkara notched the winner. Maicon delivered a corner from the right and Maia headed the ball home past goalkeeper Akpan.
Two minutes in added time, Leo Fernandes brought the best out of goalkeeper Giacomo Volpe as the latter turned his fine freekick into a corner and from the resulting corner, the Brazilian had an attempt from outside the area turned into another corner.
