Mosta: J. Haber, M. Micallef, A. Cini (R. Grech), L. Dimech, S. Bezzina, S. Chiemeka, C. Campagnoli, F. Aboulezz, D. Bogdanovic, O. Zongo, O. Obiefule

Birkirkara: R. Gauci, R. Scicluna, N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa, R. Camenzuli, R. Muscat, P. Fenech, Jhonnattan, A. Mendoza, Z. Muscat, J.P. Mifsud Triganza

Referee:   T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs:  M. Debono, M. Scerri

4th official: C. Lautier

Scorers:  Jhonnattan 52 pen

Yellow cards: L. Dimech, S. Chiemeka, R. Scicluna, D. Mitev, F. Aboulezz, Jhonnattan

Player of the match: J. Haber (Mosta)

TMI top 3:  1. J. Haber  2. Jhonnattan  3. R. Muscat

Attendance: 1,080

This fight for second place in the BOV Premier League standings was won by Birkirkara who now go two points adrift of leaders Valletta at the end of the first round.

A penalty, scored by Jhonnattan at the start of the second half, decided the issue but it was more than Birkirkara deserved for all their efforts and better organisation. They were also frustrated on a couple of occasions by Justin Haber’s superlative goalkeeping in the Mosta goal.

The match only got to life in the second period, eclipsing a dull first half lacking goalmouth action and excitement.

Birkirkara had Gareth Sciberras and Edward Herrera both suspended, with Shola Shodiya and Joselito still out injured. They gave starts to Zach Muscat and Jhonnattan instead, following their 1-1 draw against Qormi.

Mosta left Danail Mitev on the bench for the first half but he replaced Campagnoli for the second. Alex Cini’s appearance lasted only 21 minutes as he was substituted by Ryan Grech.

Mosta tried to impose themselves high on the pitch, to  mitigate Birkirkara’s early pressure.  Zongo and Bogdanovic, using the whole width of the pitch, were meant to prey on some defensive vulnerability from Birkirkara but the Stripes’ stranglehold in midfield ensured that Mosta were reduced to ineffectual back tracking.

Still, the movement of Camenzuli, Jhonnattan and Mifsusd Triganza in Birkirkara’s attack was always a cause of concern for the Mosta rearguard and Justin Haber was the busier goalkeeper in a barren first half that offered very few noteworthy episodes.

Camenzul’s early shot forced Haber to turn into a corner as the Mosta keeper again denied Mifsud Triganza on the quarter hour.

Mosta failed to bother Birkirkara’s keeper Gauci. On a Bogdanovic free kick after 20 minutes, Obiefule headed well over the bar and towards the half hour, Obiefule played the ball wide to Bogdanovis, whose tame efforted was neither a good cross nor a decent shot.

The second half promised to be slightly better as Birkirkara broke the deadlock after only seven minutes. That came courtesy of a penalty, tucked away by Jhonnattan after Chiemeka had pulled down Mifsud Triganza inside the Mosta area.

Towards the hour, Rowen Muscat put Mifsud Triganza through, but the latter missed the target completely and the chance went to waste.

Mosta kept fighting gamely, although they lacked bite up front, with Obiefule having an off day. An Aboulezz shot from outside the area failed to trouble keeper Gauci. On 69 minutes Obiefule cut in dangerously from the right of the Birkirkara area but played the ball behind the advancing Zongo. The latter’s cross was headed out by Zach Muscat before Bogdanovic could connect.

On 78 minutes a Chiemeke short back pass to Haber, forced the keeper to rush out and foot the ball, hitting Jhonnattan but rebounding off target.

Birkirkara should have closed the match withh 11 minutes remaining. Jhonnattan ran inside the Mosta area from the right, but Haber was up to task to parry his low diagonal drive and then recover in time to block Mifsud Triganza on the loose ball.

The Stripes nearly paid for that miss in added time. The Birkirkara keeper dropped the ball on Aboulezz’s long free kick, but  Chiemeke’s goal bound effort was only cleared on the line by Zach Muscat to Birkirkara’s relief.