Birkirkara bounce back despite early scare

After suffering back-to-back defeats to Balzan and Hibernians, Birkirkara bounced back with a most comfortable 6-3 win over Mosta.

The Blues took an early lead and missed an excellent opportunity to double the score. For this they paid dearly as the Stripes turned the score in their favour with L’Imam Seydi notching a hat-trick.

Missing for Birkirkara were the injured Nikola Vukanac, Mauricio Mazzetti and Joseph Zerafa apart from Edward Herrera. Mosta, on the other hand, lacked the suspended Onyekachi Okonkwo.

Mosta took the lead on the 2nd minute when there was a through pass for Godwin Mensha who beat Christian Bubalovic on the run and beat goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric with an angled shot.

Godwin Mensha could have easily doubled the score on the 15th when he advanced all alone and rounded the goalkeeper but incredibly hit wide with the open goal at his mercy.

Birkirkara equalised on the 20th when off a Goran Mujanovic cross, the unmarked L’Imam Seydi headed home past goalkeeper Yenz Cini.

Five minutes from the end of the first half, the Stripes forged ahead when off an assist by Seydi from the right, Matija Smrekar slotted the ball home past goalkeeper Yenz Cini.

Two minutes later, Birkirkara made it 3-1 when Smrekar returned the complement to L’Imam Seydi who advanced before beating the Mosta custodian with a powerful drive from outside the area.

Mosta reduced the gap seven minutes in the second half when Adrian Borg headed the ball over goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric following a freekick by Guobadia.

However hardly a minute later, Birkirkara restored a two-goal lead when L’Imam Seydi’s effort was tipped by goalkeeper Yenz Cini onto the crossbar and off the rebound, the Senegalese striker tapped the ball home.

Ryan Camenzuli increased the lead further on the 62nd minute with an angled shot from the left.

The Stripes scored a sixth goal on the 86th minute thanks to a header by Matija Smrekar off a cross by Edison Bilbao Zarate.

But one minute from time, Godwin Mensha was on target once again for Mosta with a low shot from the edge of the area.

B’KARA Miroslav Kopric, Cain Attard, Ryan Camenzuli (63′ Matthew Guillaumier), Gareth Sciberras, Christian Bubalovic, Mislav Andelkovic, Goran Mujanovic, Ryan Scicluna (79′ Kurt Zammit), Edison David Bilbao Zarate, Matija Smrekar, L’Imam Seydi (87′ Andrea Curmi).
Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Ryan Darmanin, Fabien Lufi, Zack Cassar.
Coach: Drazen Besek

MOSTA Yenz Cini, Edile Micheletti Awoh (75′ Zachary Brincat), Adrian Borg, Tyrone Farrugia, Fatai Alabi, Leonard Njousso (46′ Dexter Xuereb), Osa Guobadia, Kyle Frendo (46′ Lyden Micallef), James Brincat, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, Godwin Mensha.
Subs not used: Omar Borg, Sibi Gwar, Sheldon Vassallo, Gordon Saliba.
Coach: Anton Cremona

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Martin Borg
Additional Assistant Referees: Marco Borg, Glen Tonna
Fourth Official: Edward Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Camenzuli, Ekani
Scorers: 2′ Godwin Mensha, 20′ L’Imam Seydi, 40′ Matija Smrekar, 42′ L’Imam Seydi, 52′ Adrian Borg, 53′ L’Imam Seydi, 62′ Ryan Camenzuli, 86′ Matija Smrekar, 89′ Godwin Mensha
BOV Player of the Match: L’Imam Seydi