Sasere at the double as Birkirkara notch first win

Birkirkara claimed their first victory of the season with a deserved 2-0 triumph over Mosta.

The Stripes look a much-improved side under the helm of new Italian coach Gianluca Festa, though their current seventh-place standing still leaves them outside the coveted Top Six in this Opening Phase.

Jan Busuttil was the first to threaten, testing the waters with a low drive that whistled just wide of Jorgen Demba’s near post.

Birkirkara continued to dictate play and took the lead after 11 minutes when Stephane Makoma delivered a precise pass from the right for Franklin Sasere, who got ahead of Jake Vassallo to prod the ball home.

The Stripes pressed for more.

From a left-sided corner, Makoma broke free of his marker but directed his effort straight at the goalkeeper.

Mosta almost equalised when Joaquim Leonardo Fernandes almost found the net with a rasping strike that Francisco Lopez cleared off the line.

Soon after, another pinpoint Busuttil cross found Sasere in space, but his effort flashed agonisingly wide.

Birkirkara resumed the second half in the same dominant vein.

Within two minutes, Ignacio Morello unleashed a rising drive that crashed against the crossbar. Mosta looked most dangerous from set-pieces, but Birkirkara were intent on wrapping up the points with a second goal.

Past the hour, Makoma hauled down Fernandes just outside the box, and the latter’s resulting free-kick shaved the upright.

Moments later, Macula cut in from the right before sending a looping effort just over the bar.

The Stripes thought they had doubled their advantage on 69 minutes when Luis Cordova rose highest to meet Shaun Dimech’s corner and nodded it towards Sasere, who finished from close range.

However, the goal was ruled out as Cordova was adjudged to have climbed over Chizubor Prince.

Birkirkara continued to press.

On 76 minutes, Macula controlled well before unleashing a fierce shot, but Demba was equal to it.

Four minutes later, controversy arose when Kemar Reid appeared to be nudged from behind by Joao Victor Dias inside the area, but the referee waved play on.

The loose ball fell to Macula, whose rising drive struck substitute Hurtado Herrera’s hand.

The defender was shown a red card, and Sasere calmly slotted the penalty to seal the Stripes’ first win of the campaign and hand Mosta a third defeat in five matches.