SENGLEA 5 MOSTA  2    

 

Senglea A: M. Farrugia, S. Bonnici, S. Uyi, J. Bondin (R. Vella), M. Garzia, G. Virano (G. Braga), I. Azzopardi, A. Caseres (H. Vella), I. Paz, T. Vella, P. Sammut

Mosta: A. Vella, G. Trovade (J. Tanti), E. Agyemang (G. Nuti), T. Veronese, K. Frendo , D. Mansi, T. Farrugia, M. Soare (Z. Brincat), D. Xuereb, K. Magro, D. Bartulovic

Referee: M. Apap

Asst.refs: D. Sultana, R. Vella

4th official: S. Spiteri

Scorers: A. Caseres 19, D. Bartulovic 25, G. Virano 43, 56, T. Farrugia 79, T. Vella 84. P. Sammut 86

Yellow cards: T. Farrugia, Z. Brincat

Player of the match: G. Virano (Senglea A)

TMI top 3: 1. G. Virano  2. D. Bartulovic  3. M. Garzia

Attendance: 185

The BoV Premier League resumed this evening, following a two-week break, with Senglea Athletic beating Mosta soundly 5-2.

Senglea came out with their first league victory in almost six weeks, and were inspired by their midfielder Gonzalo Virano, who scored a brace and provided two other assists.

This win will almost guarantee Senglea playing in the highest level again next season, but leaves Mosta still im mirky waters.

Mosta and Senglea have had their wobbles of late. The former were winless in six matches, having suffered four consecutive defeats, while Senglea were without a win in the previous three matches, having scored only once.

Yesterday Senglea always  looked capable of improving on that dismal run, fielding a strong line-up, including Gonzalo Virano, as well as Augusto Caseres in attack from the start, with Jonathan Bondin back in defence instead of the suspended Julian Leyton.

Mosta had Ivan Maric suspended but their captain Kurt Magro was back in the side, playing in front of the defence, with Emmanuel Agweyang and Giordano Trovade giving Scicluna's side more solidity in midfield.

But, for the opening 20 minutes, both teams lacked enough fluency in attack, with both goalkeepers remaining inoperative.

Then, Mosta's central defender Tyrone Farrugia blocked shots from Garzia and Virano inside the area, before the ball fell to the unmarked Augusto Caseres who slotted it low past keeper Matthew Farrugia to give Senglea the lead.

Mosta were level only six minutes later, also upon their first real threat. The action started from a Veronese free kick that the Senglea defence cleared, only for Damir Bartulovic to score with a shot on the turn from inside the area.

However Senglea managed to regain the lead two minutes before the break after Mosta keeper Farrugia parried Terence Vella's fierce drive and Gonzalo Virano pounced on the loose ball to hit it in.

But the manner of Virano's finish for Senglea's third goal 11 minutes after the restart, underlined his talent. The Argentine midfielder beat the Mosta keeper with a dipping shot from outside the area to increase his side's advantage.

This brought Mosta's tally of goals conceded in their last five matches to 17. But it actually served to spark them into life.

On 68 minutes, substitute Zach Brincat headed a Veronese corner just over.

Mosta again went close a couple of minutes later when Bartulovic's header, off an Afgyemang cross, was cleared by Bonnici on the line.

Senglea failed to score again on 76 minutes as their substitute Hubert Vella's shot from outside the area was palmed by the keeper Vella against the upright and then the Mosta keeper denied Virano blocking at his feet.

That allowed their opponents back intop things and on 79 minutes Tyrone Farrugia, who ahd moved in attack, made contact on a low cross inside the area and hit low past keeper Farrugia to reduce the deficit.

Senglea however were not to be denied. They scored twice within 60 seconds to put the issue beyond doubt when first Terence Vella cut inside the area, on Virano's pass, to beat keeper Vella, who was beaten for the fifth time, one minute later, by Peter Sammut, with the excellent Virano again the provider.