Mosta secured their first point of the Closing Round after holding Birkirkara to a goalless draw in a largely uneventful encounter.

The Stripes entered the match on the back of consecutive victories, including a win over Valletta, and were aiming for a third straight success. However, they were met by a resilient Mosta side determined to halt a five-match losing streak and register their first positive result of the phase.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between throughout the first half, with both teams struggling to create openings. The first attempt on goal arrived after just three minutes when Manuel Morello tried his luck with a cross-shot from the left, but Mosta goalkeeper Udoh Akpan dealt with it comfortably.

Mosta responded on 36 minutes through Prince Chibuzor Emmanuel, whose angled effort from the left was parried by Birkirkara goalkeeper Miguel Ángel Martínez, who was starting in place of Matthew Grech. Shortly after, Donovan Makoma fired narrowly wide from outside the area for Birkirkara.

Pedro Cacho went close for Mosta four minutes before the break, his diagonal shot from the right flashing just past the post.

The second half followed a similar pattern, though Birkirkara applied more pressure. Geoffrey Acheampong tested Akpan with a powerful long-range effort on 59 minutes, and the Mosta custodian was again called into action on 78 minutes, producing a fine save to deny the same player from distance.

Deep into added time, Akpan preserved the clean sheet with another crucial stop, blocking a fierce drive from Alessandro Coppola, while Kemar Reid’s follow-up effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Birkirkara made one change from the side that defeated Valletta, with Martínez deputising in goal. Mosta handed debuts to new signings Gilson Costa and Azer Kozić, who replaced Nathan Agius and Charles Oderinde.

Despite Birkirkara’s late pressure, Mosta held firm to claim a valuable point, thanks largely to Akpan’s assured performance between the posts.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Yellow Card: Geoffrey Acheampong