Mosta 0
Birkirkara 2
Mosta: Y. Cini, F. Onwudinjo, N. Jackson, K. Magro, L. Oseghale, K. Frendo (N. Frendo), N. Atkinson, Z. Brincat (L. Martinelli), G. Bezak, D. Djoufack, ND Reid.
Birkirkara: I. Akpan, G. Sciberras, M. Andelkovic, S. Dimitrov (R. Scicluna), GD Malan (S. Bajada), V., Plut (M.Desira Buttigieg), N. Vukanac, F. Temile, J. Zerafa, C. Attard, P. Jovic.
Referee: F. Zammit.
Asst refs: P. Apap, P. Abela.
4th official: S. Pace.
Scorers: V. Plut, P. Jovic
Yellow cards: N. Atkinson, J. Zerafa, Z. Brincat.
Player of the match: S.Dimitrov.
TMI Top 3: 1. V. Plut, 2. S. Dimitrov, 3. G. Sciberras.
Attendance: 250.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Birkirkara proved to be too strong for a weak Mosta side yesterday, winning 2-0, returning to winning form after two successive defeats and moving back into fifth place in the standings.
The Stripes now have 27 points, seven behind leaders Balzan. They lie two points behind fourth placed Floriana and are three points ahead of sixth placed Sliema. Mosta remain bottom of the table together with Pembroke on nine points.
Both sides were in need of points after having gone through a bad patch. Birkirkara distanced themselves from the top four and dropped to sixth place after two consecutive defeats and just one win from the last six encounters.
Birkirkara had Ini Akpan between the posts taking the place of Kopric who is suspended. And making his debut for them was Uruguayan striker Gonzalo Daniel Malan who did not cut a bad figure despite this being his first appearance.
On the other hand, under new coach Szolt Hornyak, Mosta failed to leave the least of impressions – they had striker Njongo Priso suspended.
The match was far from pleasant to watch, but Birkirkara appeared to be a superior side – much better organised at the back - with Jovic and Vukanac outstanding, the former also scoring the second goal.
The Stripes also created the only real goal-scoring chances in the first half as Mosta were forced in their own half for most of the time.
The Blues did not even test the Stripes goalie at least once, so pronounced was Birkirkara’s superiority.
In the second half, it was an almost complete assault on the Mosta goal by Birkirkara who, however, continued to show a certain lack of incisiveness in front of goal, creating a good number of chances, but rarely able to turn them into goals.
The Stripes were completely in command as Mosta’s reaction to suffering that first half goal never materialised. The Blues, in fact, left much to be desired and it had to be goalie Cini who stood out with a string of fine saves that kept Birkirkara’s lead to just two goals.
Unless they show a vast improvement, they seem certain to face a very difficult time between now and the end of the campaign.
The first action of note arrived in the 19th minute. Mosta’s central defender Djoufack passed badly to a team-mate, the ball was intercepted by Stripes newcomer Malan who quickly set Dimitrov, but the latter’s effort went over the bar.
Birkirkara broke the deadlock on the 24th minute. It was Frank Temile who received a through ball on the right flank to cross into the Mosta area where Vito Plut was on hand to beat goalie Yenz Cini with a hard drive.
Two minutes later, Malan set Temile on the edge of the area, but the latter’s effort was weak and wide.
Mosta replied through an Oseghale effort on 29 minutes, but the ball was well over the bar.
Soon after, at the other end, Malan was again a protagonist as he set Zerafa beautifully in the Mosta area, but the flank player’s effort from the angle was also well over the bar.
In the 34th minute, Birkirkara again went close through a Dimitrov first timer which was deviated dangerously by a Mosta defender to a corner.
In the 45th minute, Temile was involved in a mazy run down the right flank, but his final effort went wide.
Seven minutes into the second half, Dimitrov set Temile just outside the area, but the latter’s effort went high over the bar.
Soon after, Malan set Gareth Sciberras in the area, but Cini did well to dive at his feet to avoid an awkward situation for the Blues.
Birkirkara again threatened seriously on the 57th minute, first through Temile and then through Dimitrov, but on both occasions, Yenz Cini covered himself with glory saving on both occasions.
A minute later, Birkirkara had the ball in the Mosta net when from a Temile cross, it was Plut who fired the ball home, but the point was disallowed on the flagging of the assistant referee for a dubious offside infringement.
Birkirkara finally scored a second goal on the 65th minute. From a Dimitrov freekick, it was the towering Jovic who flicked the ball into the net past a forest of feet.
Three minutes later, it was almost 3-0 as a Cain Attard cross saw Atkinson hitting his own crossbar in an effort to clear his lines.
On the 71st minute, Dimitrov found Malan unmarked in the Mosta area, but the Uruguayan mishit the ball which went wide.
In the 78th minute, Plut headed the ball towards Malan, but the latter’s close range header was excellently saved by Cini.
Two minutes from the end, it was Cini who avoided another goal for Mosta as he brilliantly saved a close range shot from Temile.