Hamrun Spartans 2
Mosta 2
Mosta yesterday squandered a healthy-looking 2-0 lead by the 84th minute, allowing Hamrun to level matters with two goals in the final seven minutes.
It was a fair result, even if Mosta were denied victory, first by their own tactics in allowing their opponents to get back into the match, then by the flagging of the assistant referee who deemed that Ian Zammit was in an offside position as he received the ball from Obiefule to score in the final minute of added time. It was a controversial decision which left Mosta furious.
Hamrun had lost five of their last seven outings and were seeking a morale boosting win to improve their position in the standings.
The same applied to Mosta, but the latter were coming from two victories from their last three outings.
Mosta were in much better shape showing the better ideas and inspired not only by Obiefule, but also by the rapidly emerging Jonathan Bajada who played splendidly on the left flank.
In the first half, play was more or less balanced but Mosta appeared sharper in front with Obiefule causing havoc in the Hamrun rearguard whenever he had the ball at his feet.
Hamrun, perhaps, had more possession, but were weak in their conclusions and never appeared dangerous except on one occasion – a shot from a freekick.
In the second half, Hamrun’s performance did not improve and although they again enjoyed more possession, they seemed to be facing another defeat as they suffered a second goal.
After some more suffering – they were also unlucky to hit the posts on two occasions – they finally got back strongly to earn a point with two goals in the final seven minutes.
After a quiet start from both sides, it was Mosta who opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Jonathan Bajada’s shot was only partially parried by Andrea Cassar and Obinna Obiefule was on hand to hit home from close range.
On 19 minutes Hamrun appealed in vain for a penalty when Calabretta appeared to have been floored in the Mosta area, but referee Caruana, close to the action, waved play on.
Hamrun went close to equalising on the 25th minute when a Massimo Grima freekick ended against the side rigging giving a false impression of a goal.
In the 29th minute, Mosta were unlucky not to have doubled their lead. From an Ian Zammit cross, the ball went to Obiefule whose shot hit the upright. A few moments later, it was Ian Zammit who beat the offside trap only to see the onrushing Cassar blocking his effort.
Hamrun’s reply arrived on the 37th minute – from a Grima freekick, Steve Bonnici’s header just missed the target.
At the other end, on the 44th minute, a Kurt Magro went just over.
Soon after the restart, Obiefule was again a protagonist as he sped his way past some opponents, but his effort hit the post.
Hamrun went closest to levelling matters on 61 minutes when off a Shields pass, Ribeiro saw his excellent overhead kick hitting the upright.
Five minutes later, Obiefule made it 2-0 for Mosta as he went past his direct opponent and scored from an angle with the ball hitting the upright before glancing into the net.
In the 74th minute, Zammit set Bajada who advanced only to see his shot blocked by Cassar. From the rebound, Obiefule, skied the ball.
Two minutes later, at the other end, Ribeiro was again unlucky to see his shot hitting the upright.
With 12 minutes to go, from a Sammut corner, Bonnici’s header was cleared off the line by Kane Farrugia.
Hamrun were awarded a penalty on the 84th minute when goalie Debono floored Gaetan Spiteri. From the spotkick Shields scored to get his team back in contention.
Four minutes later, Spartans’ rally bore more fruit as Kevin Sammut scored an equaliser, giving Debono no chance with a fine volley.
In the final moments, Bonnici missed his clearance allowing Obiefule a direct path towards goal, but the latter passed to the unmarked Zammit who scored. The point, however, was disallowed for an offside, with Mosta protesting in vain.
Hamrun S.: A. Cassar, S. Bonnici, M. Grima, D. Camilleri, M. Gauci, R. Mangion (C. Polli), K. Sammut, G. Calabretta (L J. Agius), D. Shields, G. Spiteri (R. Spiteri), A.M. Ribeiro
Coach: J. Zammit
Mosta FC: J. Debono, A. Borg, K. Farrugia (L. Martinelli), F. Tisbi, Y. Ossok, F. Raimi, A. Cini, K. Magro, I. Zammit, O. Obiefule, J. Bajada.
Coach: S. D’Amato.
Referee: P. Caruana
Asst. referees: W. Debattista, A. Grech
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: O. Obiefule 15, 66, Shields pen. 84. K. Sammut 88,
Yellow cards: G. Calabretta, A. M. Ribeiro, A. Borg, L. J. Agius, J. Debono, I. Zammit.
Player of the match: O. Obiefule
TMI Top 3: 1. O. Obiefule; 2. J. Bajada; 3. S. Bonnici