The Malta Independent on Sunday
Dimitrov lifts Birkirkara as Mosta remain in danger
No doubt, Birkirkara had been the superior side for the entire game on yet another frustrating afternoon for lowly Mosta, who struggled to bring a save from Birkirkara keeper Henry Bonello.
With Hornyak handing in his resigantion and his assistant Johann Scicluna suspended, youths’ mentor David Vella as- sumed coaching duties on the Mosta bench yesterday.
Birkirkara, displaying a threeman defence, had James Brincat starting on the left flank instead of the absent Joseph Zerafa. Miguel Alba was deployed wide on the right instead of Edward Herrera while Mathew Guillaumier started in midfield as Edmond Agius was named among the substitutes.
They forged ahead after only seven minutes play when Mosta’s central defender Tyrone Farrugia tried to clear Brincat’s free kick but ended up heading the ball into his own net.
It was clear from the outset that Mosta were having difficulty having to deal with the pace and invention of Srdan Dimitrov and Gonzalo Malan.
Starting with some assurance, Birkirkara had Alba causing regular trouble down the right with his speed and trickery.
Sciberras tested goalkeeper Cini again with his shot from outside the area.
Mosta, who struggled to create clear chances in the first half, were forced to make two substitutions within seven minutes. Farrugia limped off midway through the half and Emerson Vella was also injured and replaced by Heron Miranda past the half hour.
On 28 minutes Malan persisted inside the Mosta area, was blocked by the Mosta defenders but the loose ball was picked up by Dimitrov, whose shot was well saved by Cini.
The superior Stripes doubled their lead on 34 minutes. Angel Alba went down the right, got the better of his opponent before beating the Mosta custodian with a low diagonal strike.
The interval came at an opportune time for Mosta, who tried to rally after the resumption but their attack looked so frail that they failed to trouble the Birkirkara keeper at all.
Birkirkara also showed some mercy and slowed down a gear, rarely working keeper Cini again although they still held to possession.
On 73 minutes Malan drilled his shot from the edge of the area against the bar.
Mosta fell further behind three minutes later though. Sciberras, wide on the right, caught the Mosta defence wide open, played a square ball to Srdan Dimitrov, who went past Toth and directed a curling shot past Cini at the far post.
Mosta had been long dead and buried.