Maia’s goal keeps Birkirkara in the hunt

BIRKIRKARA 1

Maia 44

MOSTA             0

BIRKIRKARA

G. Volpe, M. Morello, A. Sandona, P. Mbong, K. Reid, S. Dimech, N Micallef, A. Coppola, N. Cross (46 L. Cordova), S. Makoma, M. Maia.

MOSTA

A. Ngoubi Demba, M. Bolanos, P. Afrfiyie, S. Cachia, G. Goncalves, C. Failla, G. Sciberras, E. Chibuzor, S. Chiemezie, S. Okereke, J. De Souza.

Referee: Glen Tonna.

Yellow cards Volpe, Micallef, Sandona, Mbong, Teixeira.

Missed penalty: Maia (B) 60.

Birkirkara reignited their hopes of a top two finish when they battled past Mosta at the Tony Bezzina Stadium.

Maxuell Maia was the Stripes hero as the league top scorer netted the winner from the spot to propel Birkirkara onto the 22-point mark, just three points adrift of leaders Marsaxlokk and two behind Marsaxlokk.

For Mosta it was a disappointing result after showing a lot of promise during the match but their lack of cutting edge in the final third came back to haunt them to remain sixth in the standings.

Mosta came close to taking the lead on 14 minutes when Sunday Okereke picked Prince Afriyie and the forward turned past his marker but fired just over.

Three minutes later, the Blues threatened again through Okereke who headed from close in but the ball finished over.

Birkirkara soon responded when Nathan Cross fed Maxuell Maia whose shot on the turn just missed the upright.

The match remained a hard-fought affair but scoring chances suddenly dried up and we had to wait until the 39th minute for the next scoring opportunity.

Birkirkara forward Paul Mbong went ona  surging run and his shot was brilliantly kept out by Mosta goalkeeper Ngoubi Demba.

Three minutes later, the Stripes thought they had taken the lead when in a swift counter attack Kemar Reid teed up  Manuel Morello who fired home but the goal was annulled for offisde.

It was Birkirkara who scored just before the break when Morello’s low cross was turned home by Maia.

Mosta came out well for the second half and on 47 minutes goalkeeper Gianluca Volpe was alert to tip away Goncalves’ free-kick.

At the other end, Maxuell Maia almost got his second but his header finished over.

Birkirkara had a golden chance to double their lead 66 minutes when Shaun Dimech was upended inside the area by Sasha Cachia but from the spot Maia saw his effort brilliantly saved by Ngoubi Demba.

On 75 minutes, Birkirkara missed another huge opportunity when Maia pulled the ball back towards the unmarked Kemar Reid but the Malta forward was denied by Ngoubi Demba.

Mosta tried to step up the pressure late on but it was Birkirkara who came close when Mbong’s inswinger was saved by Ngoubi Demba.