Thiago Mazitelli was not even included in Mqabba’s starting line-up for yesterday’s match against Balzan Youths. But he went off the bench towards the half hour to substitute the injured Mauro Bonnici and ended up the match winner, scoring two late goals to give his side a second win in their last three outings. They have now seven points and climb to sixth place in the standings.

Mqabba turned the tables on their opponents, in this direct encounter between newly promoted teams, after going behind on the hour. Mqabba equalised a quarter of an hour from the end and, after Balzan had Calcado sent off in the last ten minutes, they scored the winner from a free kick deep into three minutes of added time.

The match never reached great heights. On the contrary it was a shambolic affair that remained goalless until the hour and only came to life in the late stages, as both teams were mostly predictable in their build-ups and erratic in their finishing.

Despite the absence of defenders Renie Forace and Jonathan Francica due to injury and suspension, Balzan started brightly and ran like demons. Within the first two minutes they had already threatened with testing crosses by the debutant Kris Bright from New Zealand and the returning Guga, which caused embarrassing moments to the Mqabba rearguard.

On the quarter hour, Grima put Miguel Ciantar through to test keeper Kris Calleja with a low diagonal shot, deflected into a corner.

Mqabba also had their moments. Muscat failed to put his effort on target before Calcado’s free kick from the left, on 20 minutes, was fisted out by keeper Matthew Camilleri towards Micallef who shot over.

Mqabba missed a good opportunity four minutes later. Mamic shot wide from a promising position after playing a deft one-two with Muscat.

On 26 minutes, Mqabba were forced to substitute injured defender Andrew Scicluna and only two minutes later, Mauro Bonnici was also injured after a head collision with Grima in midfield. Mqabba put in Mark Anthony Psaila and Thiago Mazitelli.

Unfortunately, the pattern did not change much in the second half as play remained bottom-of-the-table stuff. Mqabba continued to fluff chances when Muscat ran from the right, on Calleja’s pass, but shot against the side netting.

On 53 minutes Mamic headed Grima’s inviting cross over.

The goal came on the other end though. On the hour, Tasic played a splitting pass to put Miguel Ciantar clear and beat keeper Calleja with a low diagonal drive.

Ciantar was stretchered off five minutes later.

Mqabba managed to draw level on 74 minutes when the Balzan defence failed to clear a Muscat cross and Thiago Mazitelli capitalised to beat keeper Camilleri from close range.

Balzan went through further misery six minutes later when their Brazilian Pedro Calcado was sent off for a lunging tackle on Psaila.

The match was heading for a draw when Mqabba struck the fatal blow in three minutes of added time. Mazitelli earned a free-kick when fouled on the edge of the Balzan area on the left. He steaded himself to beat keeper Camilleri at the top left hand corner and give his side a dramatic victory.

Balzan Y M. Camilleri, B. Guga, Y. Camilleri, C. Ciantar, B. Bondin (F. Bernardes), D. Grima, N. Tasic, L. Micallef (D. Fenech), M. Ciantar (S. Ciscaldi), P. Calcado, K. Bright

Coach I. Zammit

Mqabba K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Potezika, A. Scicluna (M.A. Psaila), B. Timotic, D. Azzopardi, C. Calleja (M. Briffa), J.P. Muscat, M. Bonnici (T. Mazitelli), C. Micallef, B. Mamic

Coach C. Mizzi

Referee G. Tonna

Asst.refs K. Borg, A. Camilleri

4th official M. Borg

Scorers M. Ciantar 60, T. Mazitelli 74, 90+

Yellow cards A. Scicluna, C. Ciantar, M. Potezica, M.A. Psaila, S. Ciscaldi

Red cards P. Calcado

Player of the match J. P. Muscat (Mqabba)

TMI top 3 1. B. Timotic 2. N. Tasic 3. J.P. Muscat