Birkirkara 7
Jhonnattann 4, 30, 59; Shodiya 25, 71; Herrera 70; Mifsud Triganza 87;
Mosta 1
Mitev 45;
Mosta started life without Justin Haber in a traumatic way yesterday as Birkirkara put the lame showing against Valletta behind them to turn on the style and thump Steve D’Amato Blues 7-1.
Jhonnattann and Haruna Shola Shodiya took centre-stage but this was a superb collective display by Birkirkara with Ryan Camenzuli, Paul Fenech and Edward Herrera also producing a five-star performance.
The upset to Valletta sent the alarm bells ringing and coach Paul Zammit boldly reshuffled his starting line-up.
Buoyed by the return of Rodrigo Pereira, Gareth Sciberras and Camezuli, all three were handed a first-team call-up but Yosimar Hernandez and Joseph Zerafa lost their place and Ryan Scicluna did not make the squad.
Mosta, without Haber who completed his move to Birkirkara on Friday, and with the injured Alex Cini absent, made two changes from their previous match. D’Amato deployed latest addition Jeffrey Farrugia in goal as the return of Steve Chiemeka provided the team with some experience at the back.
The Blues committed the mistake to sit back in a 4-4-1-1 module and absorb the pressure but they were swept off their feet by Birkirkara’s blistering start.
Zammit favoured a 4-1-3-2 with Shodiya and Jhonnattann leading their attack but without Haber who was not in the squad.
Birkirkara put their noses in front after only four minutes.
Fastening on to an inviting ball from the right, Jhonnattann outpaced the Mosta defence before hitting past Farrugia.
On the quarter of an hour mark, the Stripes should have increased their lead when they were awarded a penalty after Fernando Apap was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
Shodiya’s first attempt was a lesson in how to take a penalty, sending Farrugia the wrong way. However, referee Chris Lautier ordered a re-take and this time the Nigerian stuttered with the keeper blocking the spot-kick.
Mosta were let off the hook but not for long.
On 25 minutes, Fenech’s shot hit the crossbar and the rebound fell kindly to the midfielder. He squared to the unmarked Shodiya who flicked home – 2-0.
Mosta’s early toils came to the fore and five minutes later Fenech picked up the ball near the half-way line and released the pacey Jhonnattann who scored with a cute lob.
Just before half-time, Mosta pulled one back. The Blues won a free-kick on the right from which Danail Mitev directed a 30-metre shot in under the bar and off Reu-ben Gauci’s outstretched hands.
But there was no reprieve for a confused Mosta side after the break when Jhonnattann completed his hat-trick just before the hour mark.
Receiving a pass from Shodiya, the Brazilian cut in from the right before guiding a diagonal shot past Farrugia.
That was to be his final contribution as he soon made way for Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, receiving a standing ovation on his way out.
On 70 minutes, Hernandez threw Mosta’s Manolito Micallef off balance before serving Edward Herrera who headed the ball into the Mosta net for a fifth time.
Birkirkara struck again through Shodiya as Zammit then deemed it fit to introduce Joselito who was making a comeback after a lengthy absence.
The Brazilian soon got in the thick of things as his pass for Herrera caught the Mosta defence cold. Herrera chested the ball before releasing Mifsud Triganza who beat Farrugia with a well-struck shot from a tight angle.
Birkirkara
R. Gauci-6 R. Pereira-6, Z. Muscat-6, A. Mendoza-6, G. Sciberras-6 (68 Y. Hernandez-6.5), R. Muscat-6.5, P. Fenech-8, E. Herrera-7, S. Shodiya Haruna-6.5 (83 Joselito), Jhonnattann-7.5 (60 J.P. Mifsud Triganza-6), R. Camenzuli-7.5.
Mosta
J. Farrugia-4, F. Apap-4, T. Farrugia-5, B. Agius-5, M. Micallef-5, R. Grech-5 (78 S. Schembri), S. Chiemeka-5, J. Bajada-6 (54 W. Chetcuti), D. Mitev-6, C. Campagnoli-5, D. Maia dos Santos-5.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Missed penalty: Shodiya (B) 15.
BOV player of the match: Jhonnattann (Birkirkara).