Mosta 2

Floriana 3

Two goals in the final three minutes yesterday helped Floriana turn defeat into a dramatic victory against Mosta.

With three minutes to go, Mosta appeared heading towards an unlikely victory. Leading 2-1, they were defending with purpose and seemed to be confident.

But a deflection off a Grabowski shot brought about an equaliser and soon a Mosta defender turned the ball from a Christian Cassar cornerkick into his own net to the delight of the Floriana fans.

The victory kept Floriana alone in third place, three points ahead of Qormi, who have today’s match against Hibernians in hand.

It was a clear case of how unlucky Mosta are this season!

Both sides had players missing through injury or suspension. Floriana had Manuel Bartolo returning between their posts after serving his one-match suspension. But they were lacking suspended coach Michael Woods and injured striker Ivan Woods, Tyrone Farrugia and Christian Caruana (the latter made a welcome re-appearance in the second half), while Mosta missed Jonathan Debono, Luca Martinelli and Brian Agius – all three were on the reserves bench - the suspended Magro and the injured Bogdanovic. Returning to the Mosta side was Tisbi who missed the last match through suspension.

In the first half, Mosta surprisingly led 2-0, but they richly deserved it. The Greens were only a shadow of the team that showed such determination in holding Hibernians to a draw last week.

Although there was a lot of running, they did not have any idea of what was going on and it is only fair to say that they rarely, if ever, appeared to have the better of the Mosta defence, in which Ossok was a hugely dominant figure.

In the second half, the Greens quickly got back into contention, by pulling back an early goal, but then had to wait till those final dramatic moments to secure the three points.

Mosta had the first chance when on six minutes, Gilbert Martin advanced into the Greens area, but his shot was saved by Bartolo.

Soon after, at the other end, from a Doffo freekick, the ball was cleared by a Mosta defender before Darmanin could conclude from a favourable position in front of goal.

Mosta replied with an Ian Zammit shot going just wide. They eventually took the lead on the 18th minute when off a fine cross by Jonathan Bajada, it was Gilbert Martin who controlled the ball beautifully and fired home past Bartolo.

Mosta were again very dangerous on the 27th minute when off an Mvondo cross, Martin’s fine first timer skimmed the upright before going dead.

In the 43rd minute, Bartolo was Floriana’s saviour as he denied Martin a second goal, saving his shot in spectacular fashion. But Mosta were not to be denied. Soon after, in fact, it was 2-0 as a fine freekick by Ian Zammit finished at the back of the net despite Bartolo’s valiant attempt to save.

Floriana were back in contention on the 47th minute. It was Ryan Darmanin who set Joseph Borg for the latter to beat goalie Glenn Zammit with a low shot.

.Floriana went nearest to scoring on the 76th minute when off a Doffo freekick, Darmanin’s header was only centimetres over the bar.

Mosta could have added a third goal on 79 minutes when off an Mvondo cross, Martin went through on the right, only for his effort to be saved by Bartolo.

Seven minutes from time, Grabowski missed a sitter for Floriana, hitting well over the bar from the centre of the area.

It was the same player who, however, turned saviour for Floriana three minutes from the end, when his 20-metre shot hit Kane Farrugia’s head and went past Zammit into the net for the equaliser.

And three minutes later, it became sweeter for the Greens when off a Christian Caruana cornerkick, it was a Mosta defender who unluckily hit the ball which ended at the back of the net.

After a nail-biting 90 minutes, the Greens fans could go home satisfied with three more points safely tucked in their pockets.

Mosta: G. Zammit, A. Borg, K. Farrugia, F. Tisbi, YD Ossok, A. Mello da Silva (S. Grech), A. Cini, J. Bajada (L. Martinelli), G. Martin, I. Zammit, MB Mvondo.

Floriana: M. Bartolo, T. Paris, P. Doffo, M. Micallef, D. Pisani, J. Borg (C. Caruana), L. Pessanha (J. Mintoff), A. Grabowski, R. Darmanin, C. Cassar, C. Borg.

Referee: T. Farrugia Cann

Asst refs: W. Debattista, T. Debono

4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: G. Martin 18, I. Zammit 44, J. Borg 47, A. Grabowski 87, C. Cassar 90

Yellow cards: C. Borg, I. Zammit, J. Borg, J. Bajada, F. Tisbi, L. Martinelli, P. Doffo, T. Paris, C. Cassar.

Player of the match: G. Martin (Mosta)

TMI Top 3: 1. YD Ossuk; 2. G. Martin, 3. P. Doffo

Attendance: 677