ST ANDREWS - 1
MOSTA - 1
St Andrews: J. Galea, D. Camilleri, B. Che, D. Brandle (J. Walker), K. Kesinovic, M. Johnson, F. Udoh, I. Paz, J. Farrugia, Z. Kastrevec (N. Belacevic), K. Nwoko (G.McKay)
Mosta: Y. Cini, K. Magro, N. Frendo, J. Repa (J. Grech), G. Bezak, D. Djoufack, F. Onwudinjo, L. Oseghale (Z. Brincat), L. Martinelli (A. Caruana), J. Degran, K. Reid
Referee: S. Pace
Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, S. Attard
4th official: A.M. Sant
Scorers: Z. Kastrevec 1, L. Oseghale 30
Yellow cards: D. Brandle, F. Onwudinjo, K. Magro, J. Repa, F. Udoh, B. Che, Y. Cini
Player of the match: G. Bezak (Mosta)
TMI top 3: 1. G. Bezak 2. J. Galea 3. L. Oseghale
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Mosta fought back from their haphazard opening and grabbed a deserved equaliser in the first half, showing impressive character in the second and carved out enough chances that could have also won them the game against St Andrews yesterday.
The last time Mosta won in the Premier League was way back in September against the same opponents. Since then they have slid to 11 winless matches, garnering only four points in the process.
St Andrews maintained their positive run, with this third draw from their last four matches.
The Saints were already one up within the first minute but their fast start created a false impression.
Although St Andrews played the better, more coherent football, especially in the first half, they suffered from a lack of concentrated cutting edge and they only threatened again in the dying minutes, only to be denied by the woodwork.
Yesterday, Mosta displayed plenty of the spirit in their fight for Premier League survival and this point may serve as a kick-start for the New Year.
New coach Hornyak, in his second outing with Mosta, introduced Neil Frendo, Jaroslav Repa and Luca Martinelli from the start, following defeat against Birkirkara in midweek. Njongo Priso was still suspended for the Blues.
St Andrews were also bereft of two suspended key defenders in the likes of Beltre and Bakmaz.
St Andrews took only 26 seconds to score one of the fastest goals in domestic football as Ziga Kastrevec advanced through the open Mosta defence and when Martinelli failed to clear the ball, he had his first effort parried by keeper Cini, only for the Saints’ forward to find time to head low into an unattended goal.
That early setback unsettled Mosta as St Andrews dominated the early exchanges. Past the quarter hour Camilleri picked Kastrevec with an inviting pass but the effort went wide.
Oseghale was the first to test the Saints’ keeper Galea midway through the half, blocking his shot into a corner.
Towards the half hour Mosta won a penalty after Brandle felled Bezak inside the area. Saints’ keeper Galea held out Bezak’s weak shot but Lucky Oseghale tapped in the rebound to level matters.
Mosta improved considerably in the second period and after a short spell of artless skirmishes, they created three good scoring opportunities that could have won them the match.
Towards the hour Reid played the ball to Bezak who went past the Saints’ defence but then missed the target by inches.
Three minutes later Bezak again went close with a long drive that was deflected by keeper Galea before hitting the foot of the post.
Mosta were playing the better football and created another chance on 69 minutes Bezak played the ball forward to Reid who went past Udoh but keeper Galea was again prominent, blocking with his feet.
St Andrews could have also grabbed full points with three minutes remaining. Johnson headed a Farrugia corner agaisnt the bar and the chance went begging.
FLORIANA - 5
HAMRUN SPARTANS - 1
Floriana: J. Haber, E. Ruiz, C. Borg (A. Monticelli), I. Varela, M. Vella (A. Scicluna), J. Pisani, A. Cini, A. Samb (B. Farrugia), N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella, R. Camenzuli
Hamrun S: F. Tabone, S. Nanapere, P. Chircop (L. Rodriguez), L. Sciberras, J. Neto, M. Giusti (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), L. Grech (M. Micallef), L. Motta, J. Grech, S. Raphael, P. Texeira
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, M. Scerri
4th official: E. Mangion
Scorers: A. Samb 5, L. Grech 53 og, N. Chiesa 58 pen, P. Texeira 60, E. Ruiz 65, 88
Yellow cards: I. Varela, A. Samb, M. Vella, J. Neto
Player of the match: M. Vella (Floriana)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Vella 2. J. Pisani 3. J. Grech
Attendance: 548
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Jacques Scerri’s debut in charge of Hamrun Spartans started with a heavy defeat against an ever improving Floriana side, bursting with enthusiasm.
Thanks to this comfortable win, Floriana stretch their unbeaten streak to ten matches and now lift themselves into third place, two points above Valletta and one behind Hibernians, who play each other this afternoon.
An early lead through Samb put Floriana in the driving seat and after resisting Hamrun’s brief fightback, the Greens scored four more goals, courtesy of a brace from Enzo Ruiz, a Nicolas Chiesa penalty and an own goal by Luke Grech, in the second period to put the issue beyond doubt.
Except for a brief spell in the opening stages, Hamrun were never at the races.
Floriana had the same familiar look about them, since their derby draw against Valletta before the festive break, with the exception of the returning Amadou Samb, replacing the suspended Steve Pisani.
Floriana opened the score in bizarre style after only five minutes play. As Amadou Samb chased a high ball inside the Hamrun area, both the keeper Tabone and defender Raphael allowed the ball to drop between them and the Nigerian forward could head in with relative ease.
After going behind, Hamrun did not take long to adjust and before the quarter hour they could have even drawn level. From a Jake Grech corner, Luke Grech’s header rebounded off the upright with Floriana keeper Haber beaten.
There was another scare three minutes later as Jake Grech’s shot on the turn forced Haber to stretch himself and tip the ball over the bar into a corner.
Floriana meanwhile sought defensive security in an otherwise uneventful first period where there was little in the way of clear-cut chances as the Greens ventured inside enemy territory less often even after Hamrun’s fury abated.
But three goals before the hour mark made the second half look more entertaining although little enterprising.
Floriana managed to increase their lead soon after the start of the second period, again in a fortuitous manner. A Vella free kick from the left was cleared short towards Fontanella, whose cross shot was deflected by Hamrun defender Luke Grech into his own goal.
On 58 minutes Floriana were also awarded a penalty after Vella was brought down by the Hamrun keeper who rushed out to block him. Nicolas Chiesa made no mistake from the spot.
Hamrun’s response was immediate. On the hour Patrick Texeira pulled one back for the Spartans, beating keeper Haber with a low strike.
Hamrun even put in their new recruit Manolito Micallef for Luke Grech three minutes later but goals continued to flow as Floriana scored their fourth and assuring goal on 65 minutes. A Vella free kick was only parried by Hamrun keeper Tabone and Enzo Ruiz was quick to shoot in from close range.
That was a comfortable lead for the Greens who needed not stretch themselves any further. As Hamrun looked demoralised, there was still time for lanky defender Enzo Ruiz to score a fifth, two minutes from time, heading in another corner form the industrious Vella.