Birkirkara 3
Avila 10, 43; Cilia 61;
Mosta 1
Buhagiar 83 og;
Ten-man Birkirkara cruised to their second successive victory yesterday when they easily disposed of Mosta in a one-sided affair at the Hibs Stadium.
Inspired by the incisive finishing of Spanish forward Moises Avila, scorer of a brace, the Stripes were in control right from the outset.
In fact, Mosta struggled to make an impact and once they fell behind to Avila’s opener, the Blues had a mountain to climb to get back into the match.
Not even the second-half dismissal of Andrew Decesare could hamper Birkirkara’s day as Patrick Curmi’s men were still strong enough to open a three-goal lead and run out comfortable winners.
Curmi yesterday kept faith with the same players that negotiated a 2-0 win over Qormi last week as the returning Paul Fenech had to settle for a place on the bench.
Curmi’s counterpart, Oliver Spiteri, handed a debut to three new foreigners – Brazilian brothers Diego Petriaggi and Rivelino and Cameroon striker Bertrand Mvovo.
Serbian midfielder Nikola Bogdanovic was back in the fray after missing the 5-2 upset to Marsaxlokk to serve a one-match ban.
Birkirkara threatened first after eight minutes when Decesare sent a swerving cross into the area and Avila’s shot on the turn rolled wide.
That was just the prelude of what was to come as the Stripes drew first blood on 10 minutes.
From a corner, Leighton Grech played a short ball with Alan Tabone. He immediately centred towards Avila who quickly fired low past goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.
Mosta were hardly in the match and on 18 minutes Angus Buhagiar’s delivery found Cilia but his first-time shot flashed wide.
Rodrigo Pereira came close to doubling Birkirkara’s lead on 21 minutes when the Brazilian defender connected to Tabone’s free-kick but his header went out.
The match lost much of its intensity as the half wore on. Mosta looked short of ideas upfront thus leaving Birkirkara untroubled to administer their slender advantage.
Mosta’s first attempt at goal arrived three minutes from the break when Mvovo nodded the ball into the path of Ian Zammit but the Blues’ forward fired his shot over the bar from a good position.
The Blues paid dearly for that miss as a minute later Birkirkara doubled their lead.
Grech’s throughball found Cilia who despite the challenge of Luca Martinelli did well to direct the ball itno the path of the unmarked Avila who had little difficulty in planting the ball past Debono.
After the interval, Mosta withdrew Diego Petriaggi and introduced Gilbert Martin as Spiteri tried to revitalise his team’s forward line.
The Blues’ hopes of a recovery were boosted on 56 minutes when Decesare received his second booking of the match and was subsequently dismissed.
Curmi moved quickly to shore up his defence when he withdrew Tabone and roped in Fenech.
Mosta’s aspirations were short-lived though as Birkirkara added a third goal on 61 minutes.
The Stripes were awarded a corner and Cilia’s inswinger eluded the Mosta defence with the ball bouncing into the back of the net.
Mosta did manage to pull a goal back seven minutes from time when Zammit headed the ball into the box and Buhagiar inadvertently headed into his own net in a bid to anticipate Mosta substitute Martin.
But that goal came too late as Birkirkara were long home and dry.
Birkirkara
J. Mora-6, R. Pereira-6, G. Sciberras-6.5, T. Cilia-7.5, A. Tabone-6 (58 P. Fenech-6), A. Decesare, M. Avila-8, L. Grech-6 (87 T. Vella), J. Zerafa-6.5 (80 R. Camenzuli), A. Buhagiar-5.5, R. Muscat-6.5.
Mosta
J. Debono-5, A. Borg-5, K. Farrugia-5, L. Martinelli-5, K. Spiteri-5 (68 F. Tisbi-5), N. Bogdanovic-5.5, K. Magro-5.5 (65 J. Bajada-5), Rivelino-6, I. Zammit-6, D.M. Petriaggi-4.5 (46 G. Martin-6.5), B. Mvovo-5.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Decesare, Avila, Martinelli, Tisbi, Zerafa, Martin.
Red card: Decesare (B) 56.
BOV player of the match: Trevor Cilia (Birkirkara).