Gżira Utd. 3
Mosta 3
Gżira Utd.: J. Haber, N. Muscat, (L. Brincat 46') , Scerri, R. Soares, A. Cohen, C. Gatt Baldacchino, E. Bilbao Zarate, R. Briffa, J. Da Silva Pereira, S. Borg ( T. Veronese 65' ), F. Barbosa Pereira
Mosta: A. Vella, K. Frendo, M. Sammartino, D. Xuereb ( J, Brincat 90') , R. Morisco Da Silva, D. Angan N'Guessan ( Z. Brincat 82' ) S. Bonnici, G. Roach Akeem, J. Cisott, R. Romeu, F. Mazzavillani
Referee: Stefan Pace
Asst refs: Edward Spiteri, Jurgen Spiteri
4th official: Etienne Mangion
Scorers: R. Morisco Da Silva 9', G. Roach Akeem 58' , 90' , E. Bilbao Zarate 84' , A. Cohen 87', 90'
Yellow cards: S. Borg, D. Xuereb, C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Cisotti, M. Sammartino, R. Briffa, S.Bonnici, G.Roach Akeem
Red Card: G. Roach Akeem
Player of the match: D. Angan N'Guessan (Mosta)
TMI Top 3: 1. D. Angan N'Guessan 2. J. Cisotti 3. A. Cohen
Gżira were seconds away from their first defeat of the campaign but Andrew Cohen had other ideas scoring a scorcher to remain unbeaten. So near but yet so far for Mosta who could have registered their third win but failed in the last minutes.
Gżira were missing three important players with Amadou Samb still out injured whereas Haruna Garba and Juan Carlos Corbalan were both missing through suspension They defeated Floriana in their last match by a solitary goal and last week they easily disposed of Rabat Ajax making it to the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy.
On the other hand Mosta lying third from bottom went into this match on a negative run of six defeats on the trot though they made it to the next round of the FA Trophy beating Senglea after extra time.
After some nervous moments in the first minutes it was Mosta who went ahead after only nine minutes. Off a Cisotti corner in came Rafael Morisco Da Silva who headed into the corner of the net.
Gżira reacted immediately and in the 14th minute Zarate brought the best out of Cassar who tipped his shot over the bar. And five minutes later Briffa opened play on the right flank towards Gatt Baldacchino his cross being partially saved by Cassar only for Jorginho's shot to be blocked by a defender.
On 22 minutes Sacha Borg set Nikolai Muscat whose shot sailed just over the bar. And two minutes later Mosta responded when Angan supplied the cross towards Cisotti who flicked from inside the area but Haber saved.
And in the 29th minute a triangular move between Cohen, Scerri and Jorginho ended up with the Brazilian's shot saved by Cassar. In first half stoppage time a Sach Borg inswinger was punched away by Vella.
After the break on 49 minutes Mosta went near through a Romao shot from the edge of the area which just missed the target. Zachary Scerri tried a shot from the distance which went wide on 56 minutes.
But it was Mosta who increased their lead in the 58th minute when Xuereb passed towards Angan who dummied finding Garner Roach Akeem with the latter after making his way past two defenders slotting the ball past a helpless Haber.
The Maroons were now a dejected lot and Mosta could have added a third but Haber was alert to turn Sammartino's free kick into a corner. On 66 minutes Cohen crossed towards Briffa whose headed effort was saved by Vella.
In the space of two minutes goalkeeper Vella was the protagonist saving on Scerri and Cohen. Gżira reduced the defiċit in the 84th minute when off a Briffa corner Barbosa Pereira's header hit the upright and Edison Bilbao Zarate heading home from close range.
More goals were to come and in the 87th minute the Maroons drew level through a good diagonal strike from Andrew Cohen. But this was not the end with Mosta forging ahead once again on 90 minutes when Cisotti found Garnet Roach Akeem who had the easiest of tasks to slot home.
Gżira didn't throw in the towel and deep into stoppage time Cohen saved the day when he volleyed a Veronese cross past Vella.