BOV Premier League - Mosta FC 1-1 Birkirkara FC
by Ayrton Galea - 21st September 2019
Frustrated Birkirkara FC were unable to go beyond a 1-1 draw against Mosta FC as their winless start in the BOV Premier League now stretches to four matches.
The wait for the first victory continues for the Stripes as despite dominating most of the match, they could only rescue a point through Miguel Alba's penalty.
The Stripes were forced to chase the result like all the previous matches and when Alba got the equalising goal, the Stripes put everything forward, but they failed to convert their scoring chances to settle for just a point.
Birkirkara coach, Andre Paus, who was taking charge of his first match, handed a debut to Edison Luis Dos Santos while Kurt Zammit and Roderick Briffa replaced Maurizio Vella and Michael Mifsud.
The First Half
Mosta went close twice in the opening stages through Muchardi who first hit wide from an ideal position inside the box and on the sixth minute, his shot was blocked by Andrew Hogg.
The Stripes replied on the sixteenth minute. Fenech supplied an excellent through-ball towards the on-running Rocha who had his close-range shot denied by a good save of goalkeeper Andreas Vella.
From the resulting corner, a short clearance fell into the path of Ryan Fenech who went past his opponent, but his well-placed shot ended wide by inches.
However, it was the Blues who surged ahead on the eighteenth minute. Roach served the unmarked Murga whose strike bounced off the ground and surprised goalkeeper Andrew Hogg.
The Stripes struggled after this goal. For all their possession, the Stripes were struggling to penetrate past the organised Mosta defence as their transition to attack was relatively slow.
Their only shot arrived through Miguel Alba who after was served by Falcone, the Argentinean had a low shot easily saved by Vella.
The Second Half
The Stripes' intentions of the second half were made clear after just thirty seconds, as they went close to make score level. Falcone headed the ball in the path of Rocha and the latter's strike ended wide by a whisker.
Hardly three minutes later, the Stripes had another good opportunity as the Mosta defence failed to clear inside the box and Falcone was first to connect to the loose ball, but his effort was denied by Vella.
Roderick Briffa saw his header ending over the bar following an excellent cross by Kurt Zammit, while moments later, the Stripes had a penalty-shout turned down after Rocha went down inside the box to the challenge of Villareal.
The Stripes finally got the equalising goal on the seventy-first minute. Zachary Brincat fouled Zammit inside the box and the refereed ordered the penalty. From the spot, Alba made no mistake to score his third goal in the last two matches.
Mosta threatened to regain the lead on two attempts when first, substitute Zachary Brincat saw his shot ending wide by inches and moments later, in a great opportunity, the same player saw his shot cleared off the goal-line.
The Stripes were all over their opponents in the closing stages. Six minutes from time, Briffa's deflected shot ended just over the bar and moments later, substitute Mifsud's fierce shot ended over with Vella.
Federico Falcone should have notched the winning goal three minutes from time after served by Mifsud, but the Argentinian forward incredibly fired over from an ideal position as the Stripes were forced to settle for a disappointing draw.
Birkirkara's rapid winger, Caio Rocha was named the BOV Player of the Match.
MOSTA: Andreas Vella, Edin Murga, Akeem Garnet Roach (88' Gabriel Aquilina), Weverton Gomes, Duane Bonnici (90' Kyle Gatt), Nicolaevich Kotlov (62' Zachary Brincat), Dexter Xuereb, Rafael Morsico, Tyrone Farrugia, Leonardo Villareal, Matias Muchardi.
BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Enrico Pepe, Edison Luis Dos Santos (59' Maurizio Vella), Kurt Zammit, Roderick Briffa, Federico Falcone, Cain Attard, Caio Rocha, Oscar Matias Carniello, Miguel Alba (80' Michael Mifsud), Ryan Fenech.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele.
Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Ivan Galea.
Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara.
Yellow Cards: 25' Edin Murga, 27' Leonardo Villareal, 71' Zachary Brincat (Mosta), 14' Oscar Matias Carniello, 25' Edison Luis Dos Santos.
Scorers: 18' Edin Murga (Mosta), 71' Miguel Alba (Birkirkara).
BOV Player of the Match: Caio Rocha (Birkirkara).
Photo: Dominic Borg.
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