Mosta           0

Birkirkara    3 

Mosta: A. Vella, K. Hirose, D. De Oliveira, M. Sammartino, R. Morisco Da Silva, M. Gomez, T. Farrugia, S. Bonnici, Z. Brincat (J. Brincat 37), J. Cisotti, R. Romeu (D. Xuereb 69)

Birkirkara: K. Naumovski, D. Chapoval, M. Guillaumier (T. Agius 88), M. Andelkovic, P. Orlandic (U. Calistus 74), J. Grech (P. Fenech 74), E. Ferreira, M. Mifsud, C. Attard, M. Franca, M. Beerman

Referees: M. Degabriele

Asst Refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: M. Spiteri

Scorers: M. Franca 56, 84 pen, M. Mifsud 86

Yellow cards: M. Gomez 29, M. Guillaumier 43, D, Chapoval 66, T. Farrugia 84

Player of the match: M. Franca

TMI Top 3: M. Andelkovic, 2. M. Sammartino, 3. M. Franca

Three second half strikes enabled an improved Birkirkara side to beat a resilient Mosta side yesterday at the Hibernians Stadium.

Man of the match Marcelo Franca broke the deadlock and late goals from the same Franca from a penalty and Michael Mifsud gave them a victory which they needed to get some relief following the recent internal turmoil.

Birkirkara remain 7th in the standings on 18 points, just one behind Balzan and Hamrun, while Mosta remain in 12th place on seven points from 11 matches.

In the first half, Birkirkara saw more of the ball, but they had little to show at the end. They failed to create one single moment of anxiety in the Mosta defence, well marshalled by central defender Tyrone Farrugia.

The Stripes were also let down by themselves on several occasions with several passes going astray.

Mosta appeared to be well organised at the back and in midfield, but up front, they lacked any kind of flair which might have seen them going past a strong Birkirkara defence which inspired confidence through the excellent handling of goalkeeper Naumovski.

In the second half, the much improved Birkirkara were all over their opponents and pressed continuously in search of a goal. They created much more than they did in the first half especially after taking a richly deserved lead.

Mosta, now facing the wind, found it difficult to move forward and it became an uphill strugglealthough in the final 20 minutes they moved forward consistently and also missed two good opportunities.

They finally had to throw in the towel when the Stripes added two more goals near the end, first through a disputed penalty and another from veteran striker Michael Mifsud.

New Mosta coach Mark Miller did not make any radical changes to the side, while Birkirkara’s Paul Zammit had all players at his disposal with the exception of flank defender Kurt Zammit.

The Stripes made all the early running and in the 12thminute, a dangerous Cain Attard cross was cleared by Farrugia before Orlandic could connect.

On 20 minutes, Mifsud pinpointed a perfect pass to Orlandic who controlled the ball badly and even shot weakly with an open goal at his mercy.

In the 30th minute, a Franca freekick did not surprise the well positioned Andreas Vella in the Mosta goal.

Mosta tried hard to get going, but they never managed to create a decent chance with Birkirkara goalie Naumovski only having to deal with some crosses from both flanks.

Just before the interval, Birkirkara went close when from a Guillaumier cross, it was Eduardo Ferreira who had a header landing on the crossbar.

In the 51st minute, Birkirkara missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when Andelkovic set Michael Mifsud beautifully; the striker advanced unhindered but did not control the ball well when faced by the onrushing Vella and the chance went abegging.

The Stripes finally took the lead on 56 minutes when Franca received the ball in three quarters pitch, advanced a few steps before unleashing an unstoppable grounder which beat Vella all ends up.

On the hour, from a Grech freekick, an Orlandic good header was turned to corner by Vella who also saved a Franca humdinger moments later.

On 65 minutes, a Cain Attard cross was headed backwards by Morisco, but luckily for the Mosta defender, the ball just missed the far upright.

On 69 minutes, it was Mifsud who tried his luck with a great effort from the edge of the area which just missed the target.

Three minutes later, at the other end, substitute Dexter Xuereb went close with a grounder in Mosta’s first real scoring opportunity.

The same Xuereb was guilty of missing another good chance in the 77th minute when he fired wildly and wide from inside the area.

In the 84th minute, referee Degabriele awarded Birkirkara a penalty when Farrugia appeared to have pushed Guillaumier in the area. From the resultant spotkick, Franca made no mistake despite Vella’s brave attempt to save.

Two minutes later Michael Mifsud added a third for good measure as he indulged in a personal action in the Mosta area before beating goalie Vella.