Birkirkara make it eight wins in a row

BOV-Premier-LeagueBirkirkara registered their eighth successive win as they beat Mosta 2-1 to returned on top the BOV Premier League table.

Mosta therefore stay in the fifth place, six points behind Sliema Wanderers and four ahead of Naxxar and Floriana.

The Blues lacked Mark Brincat and Alex Cini but Tyrone Farrugia was back after serving a one-match ban. Ryan Scicluna and Matheus Bissi da Silva were missing for Birkirkara.

The Blues managed to take the lead on the 13th when off a Cristian Martins Fernandes freekick, Lukas Duriska headed the ball home past Justin Haber.

Birkirkara equalised less than two minutes later when off a cross by Terence Vella from the left, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao’s first-timer beat Omar Borg from close range.

The Stripes went close with a shot from the right by Haruna Shola Shodiya which scraped past the post. Mosta replied with a well-taken freekick by Gianmarco Piccioni ending just over the bar on 66 minutes.

Birkirkara regained the lead on 68 minutes when off an inviting pass by Jhonnattann from the left, substitute Frank Temile who had replaced Terence Vella a few seconds earlier, hit low past Omar Borg.

Two minutes later, Ishmael Grech was sent off for Mosta as he floored Temile as he was about to enter the penalty area.

A powerful drive by Shola Shodiya was turned into a corner by Omar Borg on 73 minutes. A minute later, Joseph Zerafa was sent off for Birkirkara after receiving a second yellow card for a foul in midfield. However Birkirkara maintained the pressure and went close with a Jhonnattann effort from the right ending just wide.

B’KARA Justin Haber, Daniel Zerafa (46′ Gareth Sciberras), Alejandro Mendoza Corujo, Nikola Vukanac, Paul Fenech, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao, Edward Herrera, Haruna Shola Shodiya (78′ Ryan Camenzuli), Terence Vella (67′ Frank Temile), Rowen Muscat, Joseph Zerafa.
Subs not used: Reuben Gauci, Zach Muscat, Demba Toure, Kurt Zammit.
Coach: Paul Zammit

MOSTA Omar Borg, Kane Farrugia, Tyrone Farrugia, Ishmael Grech, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, Ryan Grech, Lukas Duriska (72′ Ricardo Silva Faria), Yuri de Jesus Messias, Cristian Martins Fernandes, Manolito Micallef (90′ James Brincat), Gianmarco Piccioni.
Subs not used: Kurt Rizzo, Giancarlo Sammut, Kurt Zammit, Kyle Frendo, Steve Schembri.
Coach: Danilo Doncic

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Thomas Debono
Additional Assistant Referees: Andre Arciola, Sandro Spiteri
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: Piccioni, Fenech, T. Farrugia, J. Zerafa, F. Temile
Red Cards: 70′ Ishmael Grech; 74′ Paul Fenech
Scorers: 13′ Lukas Duriska (M); 15′ Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao (B); 68′ Frank Temile (B)
BOV Player of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao