Birkirkara 2
Jhonnattann 14; Temile 68;
Mosta 1
Duriska 13;

Birkirkara’s quicksilver forward Frank Temile turned out to be his team’s hero yesterday.

The Nigerian rounded off a fine move to hit a late winner as Birkirkara made it eight wins on the trot and stayed top of the Premier League after edging past the gritty Mosta 2-1.

Temile had only emerged as a second-half substitute after starting on the bench but his introduction produced the desired rewards for coach Paul Zammit.

His speed and scoring instincts were in evidence as Temile taunted his opponents every time he touched the ball, forcing the dismissal of Mosta defender Ishmael Grech and helping his attacking team-mates Jhonnattann and Shodiya Shola Haruna to step up their game.

Zammit made only one change from the team that performed so well in the 3-1 victory over Sliema Wanderers, midfielder Daniel Zerafa taking the place of Ryan Scicluna who was not among the substitutes.

Temile again had to settle for a place on the bench as Zammit opted to deploy Terence Vella alongside Haruna and Jhonnattann in attack.

Wingers Edward Herrera and Joseph Zerafa were detailed to push on high up the pitch.

Tyrone Farrugia, back after serving a one-match ban, alleviated Danilo Doncic’s defensive worries as he played alongside Grech in the heart of Mosta’s rearguard with the recalled Rodriguez Ekani taking up the left-back role.

Lukas Duriska was given a rare start to replace Mark Brincat, suspended.

Two minutes into the game, Yuri Messias surged down the right before picking out the unmarked Manolito Micallef but his effort was saved by Justin Haber, the Birkirkara goalkeeper. The former Floriana midfielder and Messias were playing in support of GianMarco Piccioni and Christian Martins in a 4-4-2 formation.

Their early enterprise augured well for Mosta. In fact, the scoreboard marked 13 minutes when Martins swung in a measured free-kick from the right and Duriska headed home.

Yet, Mosta’s lead was shortlived as the Stripes jolted their opponents with an instant equaliser.

Vella muscled his way down the left and Jhonnattann met his cross on the volley, the ball bouncing on the turf and whistling into the net with Mosta goalkeeper Omar Borg helpless.

The Stripes enjoyed a territorial edge but the gritty Mosta defence annulled their attempts to gain their typical grip on the game.

Farrugia was a rock at the back but credit should be given to Grech, Ekani and Kane Farrugia for some very sound defensive covering. As a result, Birkirkara could never run into their usual smooth gear.

So it was inevitable that the champions relied on set-pieces to apply some pressure on the Mosta goal. In the 22nd minute, Jhonnattann’s teasing free-kick sailed over the bar.

The Brazilian tried to get his team going. On 37 minutes, the nippy striker embarked on a surging run through the middle but his shot was deflected away for a corner.

Birkirkara remained the smarter side early in the second half but a series of crosses was all they could muster with the Mosta rearguard dominant in the box.

The Blues did not defend en masse and tried hard to keep possession, at times managing to come out of their area confidently.

After 66 minutes, Piccioni came close but lifted his free-kick over the bar.

The match shifted decisively towards Birkirkara a few moments later with Temile coming on for Vella midway into the second half.

The change, intended to supply the Stripes with fresh ideas, reaped instant dividends as Temile got on the end of a low Jhonnattann cross before hitting home after Haruna’s feint had stunned the Mosta defence.

The Nigerian’s qualities were proving to be effective for Birkirkara and three minutes later, Grech had to resort to a last-man foul to tame Temile, leaving Mosta with ten men.

Birkirkara suddenly rediscovered their confidence. In the 73rd minute, Haruna, who raised his game after the introduction of Temile, produced a delightful left-foot volley which Borg parried away for a corner.

Despite surrendering their numerical advantage after Joseph Zerafa was given his marching orders for two bookable offences, Birkirkara still continued to enjoy more possession.

Ten minutes from time, Jhonnattann showed great skills as he lifted a cheeky lob over Borg from a tight angle but the ball finished wide of the far post.

Birkirkara
J. Haber-6, D. Zerafa-5 (46 G. Sciberras-5), A. Mendoza-6, N. Vukanac-5.5, P. Fenech-5.5, Jhonnattann-6.5, E. Herrera-6, S. Shodiya Haruna-6 (78 R. Camenzuli), T. Vella-6 (67 F. Temile-7), R. Muscat-6, J. Zerafa.

Mosta
O. Borg-6, K. Farrugia-6, I. Grech, M. Micallef-6 (90 J. Brincat), R. Grech-5.5, R. Ekani-6, Y. Messias-6, C. Martins-6.5, T. Farrugia-6, G. Piccioni-4, L. Duriska-6 (71 R. Faria-5).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Yellow cards: Piccioni; Fenech; T. Farrugia; Zerafa; Temile.

Red cards: Grech (M) 69; Zerafa (B) 74.

BOV player of the match: Jhonnattann (Birkirkara).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	15	12	2	1	28	12	38
Valletta	15	12	1	2	36	9	37
Hibernians	15	11	2	2	39	16	35
Sliema	15	8	4	3	31	19	28
Mosta	15	7	1	7	31	28	22
Floriana (-6)	15	7	3	5	23	18	18
Naxxar Lions	15	5	3	7	20	23	18
Qormi	15	4	2	9	19	29	14
Balzan	15	3	4	8	15	25	13
Tarxien	15	3	3	9	17	32	12
Vittoriosa	15	2	3	10	16	35	9
Rabat Ajax	15	1	2	12	11	40	5