Mosta, Birkirkara share spoils in draw

Birkirkara continue to chase their first win as they could only rescue a point in a 1-1 draw with Mosta at the Centenary Stadium on Friday.

Mosta, therefore, obtained a point after suffering back-to-back defeats to Sirens and Senglea to move on the four-point mark. On the other hand, Birkirkara continue to disappoint as they have now collected just two points from the first four matches.

The Stripes had three changes from the team which drew with Birkirkara as Kurt Zammit, Roderick Briffa and Tarabai replaced Isaac Ntow, Maurizio Vella and Michael Mifsud. Sergio Leonardo Villareal, on the other hand, was preferred to Momodou Jallow for Mosta.

Matias Muchardi had two attempts at goal early in the game, first hitting wide off a cross by Duane Bonnici and then with a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked by Hogg. Birkirkara replied with a Caio Henrique effort, when saved by Ryan Fenech, which was parried by Andreas Vella.

Mosta managed to take the lead on the 18th minute when off an assist by Akeem Roach, Edin Murga hit past goalkeeper

Caio Henrique Prado concluded a good move with a shot from the edge of the area ending just wide early in the second half. Federico Falcone then had a close-range shot parried by Vella.

Birkirkara levelled matters on 73 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Kurt Zammit was fouled inside the area by Zachary Brincat and from the penalty spot, Miguel Angel Alba made no mistake.

Brincat, served by Murga, had a shot cleared off the goal line by Cain Attard eight minutes from the end of the first half and two minutes later, the same player tried his lcuk with a shot from outside the area ending wide. On the other side of the pitch, a Roderick Briffa effort from the edge of the area was deflected into a corner. A powerful drive by Michael Mifsud ended high and deep into added time, Edin Murga had a close-range effort blocked by Hogg.

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Edin Murga, Akeem Garnet Roach (88’ Gabriel Aquilina), Weverton Gomes, Duane Bonnici (90’ Kyle Gatt), Nikita Kotlov (62’ Zachary Brincat), Dexter Xuereb, Rafael Morisco, Tyrone Farrugia, Sergio Villareal, Matias Muchardi.
Subs not used: Andre Spiteri, Matthew Attard, Liam Portelli, Christian Grech.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Joe Grech

B’KARA Andrew Hogg, Enrico Pepe, Edison Luis dos Santos (59’ Maurizio Vella), Kurt Zammit, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Caio Henrique Prado, Oscar Matias Carniello, Miguel Angel Alba (81’ Michael Mifsud), Ryan Fenech.
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Gianluca Bugeja, Neil Friggieri, Lian Formosa, Jacques Vella Critien.
Coach: Andre Paus
Asst. Coach: Jonathan Holland

Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Assistant Referees:Paul Apap, Ivan Galea
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Cards: Carniello, Murga, Tarabai, Villareal, Z. Brincat
BOV Player of the Match: Caio Henrique Prado

Attendance: 849