Floriana 0
Mosta 2
Floriana – M. Camilleri, J. Briffa, R. Gangortsa, R. Newell (C. Cassar), I. Azzopardi, T. Cilia, W. Gomes, M. Micallef, C. Caruana, A. Buhagiar (M. Gauci), S. Da Silva.
Mosta – J. Galea, M. Abela, B. Agius, S. Borg, C. Camenzuli (C. Pace), P. Camilleri, M. Farrugia, B. Galea, A. Muscat, S. Rufai (M. Borg), C. Tabone (M. Brincat)
Referee – K. Azzopardi, Ass. Referees – K. Borg, E. Spiteri, 4th official – J. Attard.
Scorers – C. Camenzuli 2
Yellow cards – S. Borg, W. Gomes, R. Newell, Da Silva
Carlos Camenzuli scored a brace in the second half as Mosta knocked out last season’s beaten finalists Floriana from the U*Bet FA Trophy. Mosta took sweet revenge over Floriana, for last season’s decisive relegation match when Mosta squandered a three-goal lead as Floriana kept their Premier status.
But yesterday it was a different story as Mosta, who are struggling in the Division One league, played their best match so far this season to spring a deserved surprise.
On the other hand Floriana have no one to blame but themselves, as their performance yesterday was appalling to say the least. Da Silva made a quite debut and his presence was never really felt in midfield. Striker Angus Buhagiar was the main culprit in Floriana’s downfall as he missed some easy chances in the first half.
Carbonaro’s Mosta were yesterday very effective especially in defence with goalkeeper Galea playing a blinder with his clean handling and youngster Steve Borg playing his heart out. Striker Carlos Camenzuli did the rest scoring the decisive goals that put Mosta in the second round.
Rufai wasted a good opportunity on four minutes shooting wide after a good Philip Camilleri move. Two minutes later it was Floriana’s turn to miss a golden opportunity when Angus Buhagiar hesitated in front of Joshua Galea wasting a good pass by Caruana.
The same Buhagiar could have done better on 16 minutes shooting over the bar a good through ball by the in-form Christian Caruana.
Mosta continued to share the exchanges with their opponents who lacked punch in front of goal. Mano Micallef’s shot on the turn went well over the bar and Wendell Gomes’ freekick was saved by Galea.
Just before the break Angus Buhagiar was again at fault missing another incredible chance in front of goal, heading wide from two metres.
The second half started with Mosta unlucky not to forge ahead, when Carlos Camenzuli beat a Floriana defender on the run and his shot beat Camilleri but slammed against the crossbar. From the rebound Rufai’s weak header was blocked by Camilleri.
On 54 minutes Trevor Cilia created havoc in the Mosta penalty area, but Buhagiar’s final shot went sky high. Mosta continued to give Floriana a good run for their money and had a good Bryan Agius shot well saved by Camilleri.
On 59 minutes Mosta deservedly took the lead. Steve Borg did the running on the right and crossed to Carlos Camenzuli who slid the ball between Camilleri’s feet and into the net.
This goal baffled the Greens as Mosta went very close to add a second goal through Bryan Agius and a glorious header by Steve Borg blocked by Camilleri. Floriana introduced Christian Cassar in an effort to revive the midfield sector.
The Greens kept their opponents under pressure as Mosta elected to defend their slender and precious lead. On 77 minutes the Greens were unlucky when a Wendell Gomes header was stopped by the crossbar.
Six minutes from time, with Floriana surging forward for the equaliser, Mosta scored their second goal. Philip Camilleri passed to Carlos Camenzuli who dribbled past Camilleri to score in an empty net.