Efficient Mosta knock out holders Balzan

BALZAN    1

Debono 73 og

MOSTA       3

Kaljevic 14, 80

Naah 47

BALZAN     

V. Vranes; A. Loof; S. Arab; M. Duric; P. Fenech; G. Camilleri (68 M. Grima); S. Dimic; A. Andrejic; S. Cipriott (68 E. McWoods); M. Kamara (52 M. Johnson).

MOSTA

S. Bitseki; D. Debono; C. Ememe (77 G. Sciberras); M. Mifsud (90 G. Sant); J. Bezzina (77 C. Failla); T. Farrugia; D. Naah; M. Muchardi; Rafael; B. Kaljevic (88 L. Vella); J. Ekani.

Referee Matthew De Gabriele

Yellow cards Rafael, Arab, Cipriott, Duric, Sciberras.

Missed penalty Rafael (Mosta) 59.

Mosta put aside their recent poor form in the league to dump out holders Balzan from the FA Trophy to advance into the last 16.

The result does not do justice with Balzan who had created the better chances throughout the 90 minutes, but their lack of cutting edge came back to haunt them as Mosta punished them with a Bojan Kaljevic brace and a goal from Divine Naah.

Balzan dominated the first 45 minutes but were unable to convert their pressure into goals. At the other end, Mosta stunned Balzan at their first time of asking and managed to preserve their one-goal lead until the half-time interval.

In fact, Kaljevic’s long-range effort after 14 minutes was the only difference between both sides.

Moments prior the goal, Aleksa Andrejic almost struck for Balzan but his firm strike from the edge of the area was diverted into corner.

Balzan kept pushing after the goal and Stefan Dimic fired straight into Stephan Bitseki’s hands from inside the penalty area.

Naah, in his second game with the Blues, let fly a strike from long-range but sailed over the bar.

In the closing stages of the first half, Dimic missed a couple of quick chances, with two shots from the edge of the box both finishing wide of Bitseki’s goal.

Andrejic had the final chance of the opening half when he darted into the box, fired a shot but failed to hit the target.

However, it was Mosta who once again found the net on their first opportunity in the second half when Naah found the target from the edge of the area.

Brazilian defender Rafael attempted his traditional long-range free-kick but could not divert the ball into the net.

Close to the hour mark, Rafael had the chance to wrap up qualification after Mosta were awarded a penalty.

However, Vukasin Vranes denied the Brazilian from the spot.

Moments later, Balzan almost pulled one back through Dimic but goalkeeper Bitseki managed to block his close-range chance.

Milan Duric forced Bitseki into action again as the Gabon goalkeeper diverted the Serbian’s effort into corner.

Balzan were given a lifeline when Eric McWoods’ header struck the crossbar before the ball ricocheted onto Dejan Debono and back into his own net.

Mark Miller’s clan remained the better team on the field with Andrejic having another go at Bitseki but his header went inches wide over the bar.

Yet again, Lady Luck was with Mosta as the Blues managed to find a third and wrap up the win.

 Kaljevic and Michael Mifsud combined together, with the Montenegrin capitalising to slot past Vranes.