Birkirkara moved second in the BOV Premier League table, three points behind leaders Hibernians, as they defeated Mosta 2-0 thanks to two second half goals. For the Stripes, this was the fifth win in six matches.

For Mosta, on the other hand, this was the first defeat as they had only dropped two points from the previous five matches in a draw with Naxxar. They now share the third place with Balzan.

The Stripes had four changes from the team which defeated Qormi as Edward Herrera, Edmond Agius, Eliandro and Rafael Ledesma replaced Antoine Borg, Ryan Camenzuli, Alejandro Mendoza Corujo and Vyacheslav Shevchenko in the starting line-up. On the other hand, Mosta coach Enrico Piccioni maintained his faith in the same eleven players which had defeated Balzan 1-0 last week.

Birkirkara were unlucky not to take the lead on 16 minutes with a cross shot by Edward Herrera hitting the crossbar. Mosta replied with a powerful shot from the right by Kurt Magro which was parried by Haber.

One minute in the second half, an erratic pass by a Birkirkara player allowed Manolito Micallef to provide Bojan Kaljevic with a fine assist but the latter’s conclusion was neutralised by Haber. Birkirkara replied with a Ryan Scicluna powerful drive which hit the crossbar.

A shot by Edmond Agius was then saved partially by Bernal on the 49th and off the rebound, Liliu’s overhead kick ended wide. On the 56th, an Eliandro effort was blocked and off the rebound, Rafael Ledesma’s goal-bound shot was cleared off the goal line by Milovanovic.

The Stripes managed to break the deadlock on 62 minutes when off a corner by Rafael Ledesma, Matheus Bissi da Silva rose high with the ball reaching Liliu who headed the ball home from close range.

Eliandro tested Marcos Bernal with a powerful shot from outside the area on 74 minutes.

Ten minutes from time, Birkirkara sealed the issue with a second goal as a perfect assist by Kurt Zammit saw Eliandro pull to the right and enter the penalty area before chipping the ball over goalkeeper Marcus Bernal.

B’KARA Justin Haber, Matheus Bissi da Silva, Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais (72′ Kurt Zammit), Nikola Vukanac, Eliandro dos Santos Gonzaga (87′ Antoine Borg), Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma (84′ Leighton Grech), Paul Fenech, Zach Muscat, Ryan Scicluna, Edward Herrera, Edmond Agius.
Subs not used: Ini Etim Akpan, Alejandro Mendoza Corujo, Andrea Curmi, Dylan Aquilina.
Coach: Paul Zammit

MOSTA Marcus Bernal, Tyrone Farrugia, Manolito Micallef, Jonas Ekani Rodriguez (67′ Mateus Ribeiro dos Santos), Adrian Borg, Dyson Falzon (82′ Karl Pulo), Ryan Grech, Kurt Magro, Daniel Mariano Bueno, Bojan Kaljevic (90′ James Brincat), Nemanja Milovanovic.
Subs not used Emmanuel Borg, Mark Brincat, Ishmael Grech, Kurt Zammit.
Coach: Enrico Piccioni

Referee: Chris Lautier
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: Matheus, Bueno, Kaljevic, Liliu, Ekani, R. Grech, Eliandro
Scorers: 62′ Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais, 80′ Eliandro dos Santos Gonzaga
BOV Player of the Match: Rafael Ledesma
Attendance: 1,056