Birkirkara ease past Mosta to get back to winning ways

BIRKIRKARA           2         

Satariano 6; Mbong 67

MOSTA          0

BIRKIRKARA

G. Volpe, M. Morello, Lecao, K. Reid (60’ P. Mbong), T. Paparazzo, A. Satariano, L. Lacunza, N. Micallef, A. Coppola, D. Makoma (71 P. Gaitan), M. Maia.

MOSTA

U. Akpan, M. Bolanos, P. Afriyie (86 E. Chukwuemeka), S. Cachia, J. Arthur, G. Goncalves (70 J. Scerri), C. Failla, N. Agius (62 G. Sciberras), J. Agyemang (62 S. Kone), S. Chiemezie, J. Teixeira.

Referee: Alex Johnson.

Yellow Cards: Makoma, M. Bolanos

Red Cards: J. Teixeira

Birkirkara returned to winning ways as an early goal by Alexander Satariano paved the way for a 2-0 win over Mosta.

The team led by Stefano De Angelis, who had earned three points in three draws after beating Balzan in the first game of the Closing Round, now share top spot with Marsaxlokk, who face Floriana today.

Mosta, on the other hand, suffered their third defeat in five matches.

The Stripes had one change from the last league game against Ħamrun Spartans as Pablo Gaitan made way for Manuel Morello.

On the other hand, James Arthur and Stephen Gabriel Chiemezie were preferred to Eke Junior Chukwuemeka and Salomo Ojala.

Birkirkara managed to take the lead after six minutes.

Lecao tried to serve Maxuell Maia on the right, who was surrounded by two Mosta defenders, but Alexander Satariano took the ball and with a powerful drive from outside the area, he gave goalkeeper Udoh David Akpan no chance.

Mosta replied with a close-range effort by Stephen Chiemezie which was blocked by Volpe on 12 minutes and three minutes later, a fierce shot by Giancarlo Goncalves from the left ended wide.

Maxuell Maia tested Apkan with a shot from the edge of the area, off a cross by Manuel Morello,  which was turned into a corner by the Mosta goalkeeper on 34 minutes.

Two minutes later, direct from a corner, Failla had a conclusion ending just over the bar.

One minute into the second half, Mosta were reduced to ten men after Joao Victor Teixeira was sent off for brining Satariano down as he was heading into area.

Maia threatened with a diagonal shot from the right which was saved by Akpan on 58 minutes and a minute later the Mosta goalkeeper tipped into a corner a cross-shot by the same player.

Birkirkara doubled the score on 67 minutes. Manuel Morello delivered a cross from the left and Lecao served Paul Mbong who hit home from close range.

On 75 minutes Mbong went close again with a fine shot from the left which was turned into a corner by Akpan.

From the resulting corner by Lecao, Maia headed just wide.

Clayton Failla had a direct freekick for Mosta ending just over the bar on 79 minutes while in added time, Yipke had an angled shot from the left turned into a corner by Akpan.