BIRKIRKARA 2 MOSTA 0

With two-second half goals, Birkirkara saw off Mosta still unbeaten and flying high in the table.

Hardly four minutes from the start of the game had elapsed when a looping free-kick from Ryan Grech unsettled Birkirkara. Justin Haber, the Birkirkara goalkeeper, came out to block the effort but flapped as he tried to clear the danger, Tyrone Farrugia was on hand to pounce on the drop ball but the rearguard cleared.

Signalling their attacking intent from the outset, Mosta continued to dictate matters. Few moments later, Manolito Micallef embarrassed Herrera as the midfielder breezed past the tame challenge of the Malta winger as he drifted into the box from the left. But this cross was blocked by Haber.

The inclusion of Agius gave Birkirkara a more compact look as the former Valletta midfielder partnered with Paul Fenech in a central midfield that combined graft and craft.

And after a shaky start, Birkirkara beamed signs of improvement. In fact, Mosta were lucky not fall behind when a quick Birkirkara move saw Herrera embarked on a mazy run on the right flank and his cross-cum-shot from an angled position rattled the crossbar.

Yet the danger for Birkirkara refused to abate as Bueno slipped a through-pass to Kurt Magro but the former Valletta midfielder shot straight at Haber’s hands.

At the other end, after 36 minutes, Liliu’s volley was high after he got on the end of Ledesma’s delivery. Moments later, Magro did well to put his body in front of Ledesma to deflect the latter’s effort into corner.

Mosta could have taken the lead soon after the break. Fenech’s back-pass was horribly heavy and Micallef nipped in to rob possession before setting up Kaljevic but Haber went down to block the effort. A sigh of relief passed through the Birkirkara players and fans. And moments later, Ledesma’s dipping free-kick sailed towards Ryan Sciclina who hit a fierce shot that cannoned off the cross bar as the woodwork again thwarted again Birkirkara.

Marcus Bernal, the Mexican goalkeeper needed two touches to tame a free-kick by Ledesma. And in the 55th minute, Eliandro darted into the box but Bernal went down to his right to block his effort into the path of Ledesma. Nemanja Milovanovic, reading the Brazilian’s intentions got behind him to clear off the line.

But Birkirkara were not to be denied six minutes later. Ledesma’s teasing corner from the left arced towards the near post and in the direction of Matheus Bisso who nodded the ball towards Liliu and the Brazilian headed the ball past Bernal.

Another inviting chance fell to Kaljevic soon after Birkirkara’s lead but his effort was blocked by the Birkirkara rearguard.

Birkirkara served up a reminder of their attacking ability when Eliandro beat the offside trap to latch on to man of the match Ledesma’s defence-slitting pass before hitting straight at Bernal.

Eliandro made amends for his miss as, with 10 minutes remaining, he produced a rising shot that sailed above Bernal and dropped into the net after receiving from Kurt Zammit, coming on for Liliu earlier on.