Mqabba 1

Mosta 0

Mqabba clinched a victory in their second match of the Relegation Pool through agoal by Nwoba at the end of the first half with Mosta strangely quiet.

Mqabba and Mosta were both chasing their first win in the Relegation Pool. Mqabba had lost the last four matches - suffering no less than fourteen goals - including a 3-0 defeat to Mosta. Therefore the Reds are keen to obtain a positive result from this game. Marko Potezica managed to make it to the starting lineup.

Mosta, on the other hand, threw away a two-goal lead against Hamrun Spartans to earn just one point from the game. Against Mqabba, they hope to bounce back with a win to move on top the Relegation Pool. Kurt Magro is suspended but Dyson Falzon started after recovering from an injury.

The first minutes did not see much action with both sides showing a certain amount of closure in their defensive areas. Mqabba had a hopeful lob into the box on 10 minutes by Mamic but the ball was easily saved by Debono. On 20 minutes a hopeful cross by Mamic found Grima who nodded on to Nwoba whose header was blocked by the Mosta custodian.

Mqabba continued pressing forward and on the half hour forced a succession of corners with Debono coming out to block one of them just before Mamic. On 38 it was Timotic who hit the side netting from another dangerous corner. Another corner by Calleja saw Debono fluff his effort to catch the ball with the Mosta defence clearing off the line.

That was only the prelude to the goal which deservedly came for Mqabba on 42 minutes when from another corner by Fenech, Nwoba rose imperiously to head past a hapless Debono.

Mosta created their first real chance on 51 minutes when a corner by Falzon found Obifuele whose header ended up saved by Calleja. Raimy had a fine free kick on 63 minutes which was well saved by Calleja. Mosta continued making the running with Ian Zammit coming close on 67 minutes with a dipping shot that ended up grazing the roof of the net.

Mqabba replied with a fine free kick by Calleja which was then tipped over by Debono. Mosta also came close on 82 minutes when a Sheldon Grech corner was headed wide by Raimy. Although Mosta attempted to forge ahead in the dying minutes, Mqabba resisted bravely to garner an important victory.

Mqabba K Calleja, P Grima, M Potezica, B Timotic (Sammut R), M A Psaila, C Calleja (D Azzopardi), J Briffa, M Bonnici, D Fenech, J Nwoba, B Mamic (Mazitelli)

Mosta J Debono, A Borg, K Farrugia, F Tisbi (G Martin), Y Ossok, S Grech, F Raimy, D Falzon, F Aboulezz (J Bajada), O Obifuele

Referee F Zammit

Scorer Nwoba 42’

Yellow cards D Falzon, Nwoba, J Briffa, J Bajada, G Martin, Psaila,

BOV Player of the Match J Nwoba (Mqabba)

TMI Top 3 Nwoba, Fenech, Falzon