Hibernians 3

Mosta 2

For all their frenzy on the transfer market in the summer, Mosta failed to win their first match against Hibernians.

Their side needs to gel into a team but coach D’Amato can draw encouragement from his team’s response to a dismal opening , their efforts admirable, even if recovering from a sloppy start that saw them concede three goals within six minutes before the break, looked improbable against opponents of Hibernians’ calibre.

Featuring eight newcomers, with the likes of Justin Haber, Luke Dimech, Steve Bezzina, Daniel Mitev, Carlos Campagnoli and Daniel Bogdanovic, and with last season’s best league scorer Obiefule in their starting line-up, many would suggest that new -look Mosta would cause opponents several problems.

That was not the case. Mosta initially appeared clumsily one-dimensional, too static to make progress and over reliant on an ineffective barrage of long balls.

By contrast, Hibernians were an understrength side compared to last season. Without Luis Edison who left the Premier League, the suspended Clayton Failla , with Jason Vandelannoit watching from the stands, new recruit Andersen Ribeiro on the bench and Jean Paul Farrugia and Adrian Pulis not even included in the squad, last season’s runners-up were a reshuffled side.

The returning Zoran Levnaic played as centre back alongside Soares. Pearson and Camilleri were the wide backs with Johan Bezzina given a start in midfield alongside Kristensen, Lima, Cohen and Dias on the flank.

Steve Pisani was given an unusual role of main striker and missed the first golden opportunity when unmarked in front of goal, the ball fell to his feet on Lima’s cross, but he was taken by surprise and Dimech could clear the danger.

But Hibernians kept the early momentum showing more confidence and fluidity to keep the Mosta rearguard under pressure. Lima’s free kick caused keeper Haber few worries as he tried to instill confidence in the players in front of him.

Mosta remained composed and ventured into enemy territory after 13 minutes. Aboulezz’s shot took a wicked deflection and rfebounded off keeper Muscat’s body. Dias’ bursts down the flanks, scorching Bezzina and Cini on separate occasions, left Mosta vulnerable. Alex Cini was the weakest link on the right flank and Hibernians soon capitalised, scoring three times in the space of swix minutes.

On 34 minutes Cohen ran down the left flank, lifted the ball over the onrushing Haber and crossed for the unmolested Steve Pisani to tap in.

The Mosta keeper was forced to rush out and block at Dias’ feet before being beaten again on 38 minutes by Marcelo Dias’ header as he ran from the lft to coinnect to Lima’s deepe cross.

Two minute later, Cohen played the ball forwarddown the left for the advancing Dias who nonchalantly let fly a rising shot with his outstep past keeper Haber.

Mosta re- emerged in a more fluid, broadly 4-3-3 configuration after the resumption, to maximise Bogdanovic’s menace as Obeifule remained only a peripheral figure throughout.

Clear inside the Hiberenians’ area, Bogdanovic fell under Levnaic’s challenge from behind as he was about to shoot inside the area. The referee was away from the action but his assistant Apap saw nothing untoward.

Hibernians had substituted Kristensen with Ayrton Azzopardi and the substitute went close in a Hibernians’ dangerous break on 54 minutes. Pisani played a through ball which was intercepted before Cohen could connect and Azzopardi ran in for the loose ball and shoot against the upright.

Mosta pulled one back two minutes short of the hour. Jonathan Bajada, who had just gone in for Aboulezz, shot from the edge of the area, the ball taking a slight deflection to deceive keeper Muscat.

Ribeiro went in for Dias on the hour but Hibernians had lost most of their flair. On 65 minutes Cohen was unlucky though with a left foot curling shot that had Haber saved again by the upright.

Mosta pulled up some courage. Mitev’s effort went tantalisingly wide on 72 minutes and five minutes later the Bulgarian sent the ball curling imperiously at the top corner from a direct free kick some 25 metres out.

That gave the match an exciting finale with Mosta summoning the final efforts and Hibernians running out of ideas, only to hold on frantically to their slender lead till the very end.

Hibernians: M. Muscat, R. Camilleri, J. Pearson, S. Pisani (B. Muscat), R. Soares, M. Dias (A. Ribeiro), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen (A. Azzopardi), J. Bezzina, Z. Levnaic, J. Lima

Mosta: J.Haber, F. Apap, A. Cini, L. Dimech, S.

Bezzina (B. Agius), R. Grech, D. Mitev, F. Abdoulezz (J. Bajada), C. Campagnoli, D. Bogdanovic, O. Obiefule

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: I. Spiteri, M. Apap

4th official: P. Caruana

Scorers: S. Pisani 34, M. Dias 38, 40, J. Bajada 58, D. Mitev 77

Yellow cards: M. Dias, O. Obiefule, R. Camilleri, Z. Levnaic, C. Campagnoli

Player of the match: Marcelo Dias (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Cohen 2. M. Dias 3. D. Mitev