Mosta 2

Mqabba 2

Mosta: J. Debono, A. Borg, A. Cini, F. Tisbi, Y. Ossok, F. Raimy, J. Bajada (I. Zammit), K. Magro (S. Grech), G. Martin, O. Obiefule, D. Falzon

Coach: S. D’Amato

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Potezika, P. Grima, B. Timotic, R. Duca (J.P. Muscat), D. Azzopardi (C. Calleja), T. Mazitelli (B. Mamic), M. Bonnici, R. Sammut, J. Nwoba, D. Fenech

Coach: C. Mizzi

Referee: P. Caruana

Asst.refs: M. Debono, S. Attard

4th official: M. Spiteri

Scorers: O. Obiefule 40, 47, J. Nwoba 51, B. Mamic 90+

Yellow cards: M. Potezika, D. Azzopardi, S. Grech, A. Cini, A. Borg, F. Raimy, Y. Ossok

Player of the match: Dyson Falzon (Mosta)

TMI top 3: 1. D. Fenech 2. P. Grima 3. D. Falzon

Attendance: 1,187

Bojan Mamic went in as a second half substitute to score a late equaliser for Mqabba in added time, against Mosta, who like them are still embroiled in the struggle for survival.

It was a tense match, with three points separating the two teams before kick off. Mosta, who remain unbeaten in four matches, took the lead against the run of play five minutes before the break and added a second shortly after the resumption. But Mqabba held their nerves as they fought back to reduce the arrears and then score a dramatic equaliser they richly deserved.

This point may not be enough for Mqabba, who still trail Mosta by three points and are adrift four points of Tarxien Rainbows, who play Qormi today, but at least it keeps their flickering hopes alive.

Mqabba dropped four players after their defeat against Tarxien Rainbows, with Julian Briffa, Mark Anthony Psaila, Claudio Calleja and Bojan Mamic all exiled to the bench as Branislav Timotic made his return in defence after suspension.

Ominously for their opponents, Mosta were at full strength and started the match in the unusual role of favourites against opponents in distress.

But Mqabba made the early running, although the initial exchanges were competitive rather than cohesive.

A Timotic free kick after 22 minutes skimmed the bar and on the half hour, Azzopardi’s central shot from a distance failed to trouble keeper Debono.

Past the half hour, Fenech exchanged the ball with Bonnici before shooting low from near the byeline on the left for keeper Debono to foot out the danger.

And on 37 minutes the Mosta custodian lost the ball, when challenged by Nwoba on a Grima high cross, but Fenech’s effort on the loose ball was blocked by Debono.

A minute later, Magro was substituted by Sheldon Grech and Mosta went ahead against the run of play five minutes from the break. Falzon crossed from the left and Obinna Obiefule put his foot to the ball, although challenged by Potezika, to beat keeper Calleja.

It was a hard blow for Mqabba, who suffered another setback hardly two minutes from the start of the second half.

Falzon was again provider of the cross for Obiefule to beat keeper Calleja, caught slightly off his line, with a looping header.

Mqabba pulled one back four minutes later. On a Duca cross, John Nwoba headed past keeper Debono to hand his team a lifeline.

Mqabba regained some self belief. They put in Claudio Calleja for Azzopardi and remerged with some vigour, as Mosta took a more laid back approach. Mqabba however were found wanting in their finishing.

Mosta were the ones to threatened towards the hour, when Martin went inside the Mqabba area but shot weakly in the keeper’s hands.

Efforts by Bonnici and Calleja failed to find the target for Mqabba, who struggled to produce sufficient incisive movement among their attacking players.

On 67 minutes they even put in Mamic for Mazitelli but Mosta remained a potent force in attack. On 81 minutes, Obiefule arrived late on substitute Zammit’s free kick and four minutes later, Raimy played a good ball to Obiefule, who advanced on the right but was denied by keeper Calleja’s smart save into a corner.

When Mosta looked heading towards a win and edging closer to safety, Mqabba struck a dramatic equaliser in added time. Keeper Debono could only parry Nwoba’s shot from the edge of the area and Bojan Mamic pounced on the loose ball to blast it at the roof of the net to the delight of their noisy supporters.