FA Trophy - Mosta FC 1-2 Birkirkara FC

by Ayrton Galea - 4th May 2019

Birkirkara FC advanced to the semi-final of the FA Trophy when they defeated Mosta FC with a 2-1 score.

The Stripes kept their hopes alive of ending their disappointing season on a high by winning the FA Trophy and earn a spot in the UEFA Europa League after advancing to the last four of this competition.

Birkirkara surged ahead late in the first half but Mosta equalised early in the second half. With the Mosta goalkeeper sent off few minutes after the hour-mark, Birkirkara took full advantage and scored the winning goal.

Coach John Buttigieg made three changes from the last league match against Senglea Athletic FC as Cain Attard Eduardo Dos Santos and Nikola Vukanac replaced Gianluca Bugeja, Danilo Chapoval, and Paul Mbong.

The First Half

The Stripes produced the first scoring opportunity of the match after just three minutes. Thiago Brito and Cain Attard combined well before Attard picked Michael Mifsud inside the box who his diagonal shot saved by the Mosta goalkeeper, Yves Stephane Moto.

Mosta replied on the tenth minute. Rafael Morisco hit a fierce shot from a direct long-distance free-kick that was blocked by the alert Birkirkara goalkeeper, Andrew Hogg.

Mosta were denied from the opening goal after eighteen minutes. A delightful pass towards Dexter Xuereb beat the offside trap and concluded a good move but his effort hit the upright with Hogg beaten.

The Blues continued to show better-attacking ideas and Vukanac came to the rescue with a perfectly-timed tackle to block a shot by Garnet Roach Akeem. A few moments later, the same player failed to hit the target from a good position.

Birkirkara started to gain some composure and went close on the thirty-eighth minute. Johann Bezzina produced a fine solo-action and tried his luck from outside the box with a fine shot that ended wide by inches.

However, the Stripes still went ahead hardly a minute later. It was Bezzina involved in the action again as the Birkirkara midfielder supplied an excellent through-ball towards Mifsud and hit a low shot past goalkeeper Moto.

The Second Half

The Stripes started the second half brightly. Vella served Bezzina who darted inside the box but his close-range shot was blocked by the on-rushing Moto three minutes inside the second half.

Birkirkara went close again just a few moments later. A neat combination between Mifsud and Jorginho saw the two forwards exchanging possession before Mifsud's shot from an ideal position ended wide.

However, against the run of the play, Mosta grabbed the equalising goal on the fifty-second minute. Jonas Ekani Rodriguez unzipped the defence with a perfect pass towards Akeem Garnet Roach who anticipated the onrushing Hogg and slot home in an empty net.

Mosta's joy lasted only ten minutes as they had goalkeeper Yvest Stephane Moto sent off following a late tackle on Jorginho following a fast break-away for the Stripes. Goalkeeper Andreas Vella replaced James Brincat.

The Stripes took full advantage of their numerical advantage and regained the lead on the seventy-fourth minute. Michael Mifsud concluded a good move on the right before his low cross took a deflection by Bob Tobi Jnohope past substitute goalkeeper Vella for an own goal.

Birkirkara easily maintained their lead and could have put the match with the third goal on several occasions but substitutes Kurt Zammit and Luke Montebello, as well as Mifsud, failed to convert their scoring chances.

The Stripes will face Balzan FC in the semi-final after the latter defeated Tarxien Rainbows FC in one of the other quarter-final matches.

MOSTA: Yves Stephane Moto, Jonas Ekani Rodriguez (86' Kurt Zammit), Gianluca Como (77' Kyle Frendo), James Brincat (66' Andreas Vella), Duane Bonnici, Dexter Xuereb, Rafael Morisco, Tyrone Farrugia, Akeem Garnet Roach, Demir Imeri, Bob Tobi Jnohope.

BIRKIRKARA: Andrew Hogg, Maurizio Vella (86' Kurt Zammit), Johann Bezzina, Clayton Failla, Eduardo Dos Santos, Nikola Vukanac, Michael Mifsud, Cain Attard, Terence Agius, Thiago Brito (73' Luke Montebello), Jorge Pereira (82' Danilo Chapoval).

Referee: Philip Farrugia.
First Assistant Referee: Paul Apap.
Second Assistant Referee: Thomas Debono.
Fourth Official: Mario Apap.

Yellow Cards: 90+4' Demir Imeri

Red Cards: 63' Yves Stephane Moto.

Scorers: 52' Akeem Garnet Roach (Mosta), 39' Michael Mifsud, 74' Own Goal - Bob Tobi Jnohope (Birkirkara).

comments powered by Disqus