Mosta 2

Hamrun S 2

Mosta surrendered a two-goal lead as they succumbed to Hamrun Spartans’ late rally to draw this first battle against relegation. Mosta looked cruising towards an important win after leading by two goals at halftime but they were finally made to pay for their laid back approach in the second period.

Hamrun left it late but were finally rewarded for the many scoring opportunities they carved out in the first half despite falling behind to their opponents.

A point apiece, means Mosta move one point above Tarxien Rainbows in second place of the Relegation Pool, behind Qormi, while Hamrun also lift themselves above Mqabba in fourth.

Mosta were buoyed by the return of Federico Tisbi and Yannick Ossok, although they were bereft of the suspended Raimy and Ian Zammit.

They went into the game with more self belief and broke the deadlock with practically their first genuine attack after only ten minutes play.

Martin sent a deep cross from the left towards the far end for the unmolested Magro to roll the ball in the path of Aboulezz who beat keeper Borg with a low drive.

Soon after, Martin again tested Borg with a shot from outside the area.

Hamrun, who included Steve Bonnici as centre back and moved Grima in front of the defence, looked too disjointed in the opening stages and allowed too much space between their defence and the midfield as both Grima and Zerafa were often caught off the pace against the movement of Martin, Aboulezz and Obiefule.

But gradually the Spartans started to find some rhythm of their own. A Gauci shot was turned into a corner by the Mosta keeper Debono and a Sammut free kick caused some anxious moments for the Mosta rearguard but Ossok blocked Grima’s effort.

Midway through the half, Shields headed Sammut’s cross over and then the former’s firm header, on a Spiteri cross, forced keeper Debono to produce a smart save.

And past the half hour, a Ribeiro half volley went over.

Still, Mosta resisted the cranking pressure although they showed less urgency. The Spartans, however, were finding it extremely difficult to breach the opposing defence, also because keeper Debono denied them again on 37 minutes, deflecting Sammut’s effort into a corner.

With half time looming, Mosta were awarded a free kick outside the area on the left, for Zerafa’s foul on Obiefule. Aboulezz played a high floating ball, which keeper Borg dropped at the feet of Mirceta who was felled by Spiteri inside the area to concede a penalty. Obinna Obiefule tucked it away to double Mosta’s lead at an optimum time.

The game turned out much to Mosta’s liking in the second half as they retreated deeper to defend their lead. Jaded Hamrun were unable to reproduce their first half offensive play as they were visibly demoralised.

Zerafa shot wide on Sammut’s square pass and past the hour Grima shot his free kick against the Mosta wall and Hartwig shot the rebound wide.

Hamrun kept possession but Mosta defended well and allowed them very few gaps. Hamrun did exploit one to hand themselves a lifeline 12 minutes from time. Anderson Ribeiro chested a long ball inside the Mosta area, turned and beat keeper Debono with a diagonal shot.

That raised Hamrun’s damp spirits although they went through some anxious moments on 85 minutes when substitute Dyson Falzon, who had just gone in after a long absence, forced keeper Borg to tip his shot over the bar into a corner.

On the other end, Zerafa put his shot tantalisingly off target before Hamrun levelled matters in dramatic fashion, with only three minutes of normal time remaining. Massimo Grima scored with a powerful header off a Sammut corner to revamp Hamrun’s spirits.

The Spartans could have also won the game in added time but Shields shot over and Ribeiro’s effort was blocked.

Mosta J. Debono, A. Borg, K. Farrugia, F. Tisbi, Y. Ossok, S. Grech (D. Falzon), K. Magro, P. Mirceta, F. Aboulezz, G. Martin (J. Bajada), O. Obiefule

Coach S. D’Amato

Hamrun S O. Borg, G. Calabretta, M. Gauci, R. Hartwig, M. Grima, S. Bonnici, D. Zerafa, G. Spiteri (R. Spiteri), D. Shields, K. Sammut, A. Ribeiro

Coach S. Sultana

Referee C. Lautier

Asst.refs E. Spiteri, M. Debono

4th official T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers F. Aboulezz 10, O. Obiefule 43 pen, A. Ribeiro 78, M. Grima 87

Yellow cards M. Gauci, D. Shields, F. Aboulezz, G. Spiteri, D. Zerafa, A. Ribeiro, M. Grima, L. Agius, K. Magro

Player of the match Firas Aboulezz (Mosta)

TMI top 3 1. F. Aboulezz 2. K. Sammut 3. G. Martin