This battle of the basement provided seven goals and plenty of excitement, finally going Msida’s way. Both side’s willingness to take full points guaranteed an entertaining match with some flowing football which kept the final score in the balance.

In the final analysis, a draw would have been a fair result. Mqabba were unlucky when twice denied by the woodwork.

Msida gave debuts to two new Brazilian strikers – Gilberto Dos Santos played as the main striker and saw little of the ball throughout the entire 90 minutes – while Pedro Dos Santos Calcado was more involved in his side’s success and exhibited some technical skills, dangerously roaming on the edge of the opponents’ area, scoring two of his side’s goals in the process before being sent off in the late stages for two bookable offences.

Msida could have taken an early lead as they carved out three good opportunities by the first five minutes.

Mqabba keeper Calleja rushed off his line to block Doding Prso’s incursion on a Spiteri pass. Gatt Baldacchino’s providential tackle thwarted Dos Santos Calcado as he was about to shoot at goal after a Nogueira defensive slip. Then Dos Santos shot over after avoiding Galea’s tackle from near the byeline.

Unscathed Mqabba gradually settled into the game and could have even taken the lead themselves before the quarter hour when a Tyrone Farrugia clearance fell to Pereira who drilled his volley against the bar with keeper Bartolo beaten.

The tempo became fast as Mqabba were trading equal punches with their opponents although they fell behind after 22 minutes.

Doding Prso, playing wide on the right flank, took possession on the edge of the Mqabba area in the middle and, after exchanging the leather with Dos Santos Calcado, beat two defenders and the keeper before steering the ball low into an unattended goal.

However, equilibrium was restored within two minutes. Claudio Calleja beat keeper Bartolo with a curling free kick at the top corner.

Mqabba again hit out with another Calleja free kick, comfortably saved by Bartolo an shortly before the break, Doding Prso tested keeper Calleja with a powerful shot on Adrian Farrugia’s through ball.

Mqabba forged ahead within three minutes of the second half as Briffa played the ball to the advancing Marcelo Pereira who beat the keeper with a powerful shot. That heralded Mqabba’s best spell in the match as they attacked Msida’s goal incessantly, with their resourceful running and crisp passing, leaving the Saints in a tizzy.

Pereira’s grounder was blocked by Bartolo as Mqabba were firing shots from all distances.

When Msida looked running out of sorts, they suddenly drew level on 68 minutes. From a Farrugia corner kick, Patrick Borg headed the ball in despite Zarb’s futile attempt to palm out.

And hardly two minutes later, Mabba were undone by a piece of artistry from Pedro Dos Santos Calcado’s execution of his free kick from some 25 metres out, the ball hitting the inner side of the post on the goalkeeper’s left and curling against the back of the net.

Msida’s confidence was restored and looked capable of controlling the proceedings until the 81st minute when they were caught out by Mqabba’s equaliser from another set piece. This time Italo Nogueira rose high to head Busuttil’s free kick past the helpless Bartolo.

Both sides tried to win the game in the final minutes as the match offered more excitement. After Doding Prso’s effort went wide, Mqabba went close with a Muscat low drive, saved by the keeper and from a Zarb corner, Muscat’s first timer was blocked providentially by Cachia.

Mqabba paid dearly for those misses as Msida struck the winner, three minutes from time, through Pedro Dos Santos Calcado, shooting low when surrounded by three opponents.

In added time, the woodwork denied Mqabba a more than deserved equalizer, holding out Calleja’s perfectly executed free kick, which deserved better fate, as Msida were reduced to ten men after Dos Santos Calcado’s sending off for two cautions.

* * *

Msida SJ: M. Bartolo, P. Sciriha, S. Grima, P. Borg (S. Vella), T. Farrugia, D. Cachia, A. Farrugia (R. Baldacchino), A. Spiteri, N. Doding Prso, G. Dos Santos, P. Dos Santos Calcado

Mqabba: K. Calleja, G. Busuttil, I. Nogueira, M. Briffa (E. Borg), F. Silva (J. Mintoff), M. Pereira, C. Calleja, J. P. Muscat, C. Gatt Baldacchino, L. Galea, D. Zarb

Referee: J. Attard asst. refs: I. Spiteri, M. Mercieca 4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: Doding Prso, C. Calleja, M. Pereira (2), P Borg, P Dos Santos Calcado (2)

Yellow cards: C. Calleja, M. Pereira, P. Dos Santos Calcado

Red card: P. Dos Santos Calcado

Player of the match: Marcelo Pereira (Mqabba)

TMI top three: 1. C. Calleja 2. M Pereira 3. A. Farrugia