Mosta-Pieta 3-1

Mosta: M. Farrugia, R. Newell, M. Spasic, D. Okonkwo (M. Borg), P. Camilleri, J. Caruana, M. Bartolo, I. Chibueze (B. Galea), U. Nwoko, D. Falzon, I. Bilocca (P. Sciriha)

Pieta H: A. Hogg, B. Sciberras, I. Deanov, A. Spiteri, D. Camenzuli, D. Mifsud, C. Sammut (A. Deceasre), M. Deanov, R. Camilleri, C. Calleja (D. Gatt), R. Grech (S. Ciscaldi)

Referee: A. Zammit. Asst refs: K. Borg, A. Arena 4th official: L. Sammut

Scorers: C. Calleja, U. Nwoko, I. Bilocca, D. Falzon

Yellow cards: I. Deanov, C. Calleja, D. Okonkwo, D. Camenzuli, D. Falzon

Red card: D. Camenzuli

Player of the match: U. Nwoko (Mosta)

TMI top three: 1. U. Nwoko 2. I. Chibueze 3. B. Sciberras

Lady luck seems to have deserted the Pieta side, since that glorious win against champions Sliema Wanderers on the last match of the first round.

Only three days after their defeat by Hamrun Spartans in midweek, yesterday Pieta were beaten by bottom side Mosta, conceding three second half goals, after taking an early lead but failing to keep their grip on the game to halt their slump of late.

Inspired by the individual flair and talent of an uncontainable Udo Nwoko, and well supported by Chibueze and Falzon up front, Mosta’s win was more than deserving for a superlative second half showing.

Although still anchored at the bottom of the standings, yesterday’s win gives them an added impetus in their struggle against relegation.

Mosta had the not fully fit Sciriha on the bench while Sciuto was missing from Pieta’s line-up and Ciscaldi was again used as a second half substitute.

The early exchanges were delightful to watch with Pieta starting the match in lively fashion and within the first three minutes Mosta’s keeper Farrugia was twice put to test by insidious efforts from Martin Deanov and Calleja.

Gradually Mosta also began to find pace and movement and on the quarter hour they were unlucky when Chibueze’s looping header, on Falzon’s flick, thumped against the crossbar with keeper Hogg completely beaten.

Hardly two minutes later Claudio Calleja put the Hotspurs in front with a piece of clinical finish. He went past two opponents from outside the area and slided the ball past a helpless Farrugia.

That goal apart, there was little else of note to warm a bleak wintry afternoon at Kordin for the rest of the half, except for tame efforts from Falzon and Martin Deanov: both failed to find the target.

Mosta were a revitalised side after the interval. Another piece of individual flair from their Nigerian striker Udo Nwoko brought them level within six minutes of the second half. Nwoko started his resourceful run from midfield with a string of dribbles that saw him go past five or six opponents, including the goalkeeper, with alarming ease before planting the ball into an unattended goal.

Mosta’s revival continued, despite Ciscaldi’s inclusion for Pieta, as Falzon’s effort went tantalisingly wide. They even forged ahead towards the hour. Ives Bilocca chased Chibueze’s back-heeled pass on the left flank and beat Hogg at the near post.

Pieta were jolted as they suddenly found themselves struggling to catch up with their opponents.

Hard as they tried, they found the Mosta rearguard composed and resolute. Pieta effected all three substitutions but Mosta’s keeper remained mostly untested.

To add to Pieta’s woes, their central defender Camenzuli was sent off three minutes from time, for fouling the mercurial Nwoko, earning him the second caution.

In the dying minutes Mosta also went close to increasing their lead as substitute Sciriha’s meaty free-kick forced keeper Hogg into a difficult save.

The Hotspurs’ fate was sealed in added time when Dyson Falzon caught keeper Hogg out of place, as he went forward to help his team mates in attack, and lobbed the ball inside an empty goal from a distance for Mosta’s third goal.