VALLETTA-   0

MOSTA-       1

Valletta: M. Bartolo, D. Falzon, I. Azzopardi, J. Caruana, W. Barbosa, E. Agius (I. Zammit), R. Fenech (M. Mifsud), D. Dos Santos, L. Almeida (R. Barreto), J. Gabriel, R. Briffa

Mosta: J. Haber, M. Micallef, S. Bezzina, S. Chiemeka, L. Dimech, C. Campagnoli, R. Grech (F. Aboulezz), O. Zongo, D. Bogdanovic, O. Obiefule, J. Bajada (A. Cini)

Referee:   G. Tonna

Asst.refs:  M. Debono, T. Debono

4th official: F. Zammit

Scorers: O. Obiefule 54

Yellow cards: C. Campagnoli, R. Briffa, R. Grech, J. Gabriel, F. Aboulezz

Player of the match: D. Bogdanovic (Mosta)

TMI top 3:  1. D. Bogdanovic  2. D. Doas Santos  3. L. Dimech

Attendance: 1,585

 

Valletta’s aspirations lie in tatters after this damaging first league defeat against plucky Mosta, which sees the champions knocked off the perch for the first time this season. They have now surrendered the leadership to Birkirkara.

The flamboyant football which served Valletta so well earlier in the season, when they blazed a trail at the top of the table, looks like going into hibernation for a period.

The champions have garnered a poor tally of four points from their last five winless matches and have always conceded in the process. For the first time this season they even failed to score.

Obinna Obiefule scored the all important goal in the second half as Valletta looked scrappy and tame, despite their myriad of talent in their squad.

Electing for caution, Mosta were well drilled defensively ands always threatening on the counter attack. They deserve praise for their defensive organisation and sheer obduracy. Daniel Bogdanovic, in particular, showed glimpses of his qualities, both in defence and attack.Besides providing the assist for the winning goal, he showed expertise with his possession when and how much required.

Valletta had Dyson Falzon and Roderick Briffa starting as wide backs, with Ian Azzopardi and Jonathan Caruana in the centre. Joao Gabriel and Edmond Agius were given starts in midfield as Valletta relegated Kurt Magro, Ricardo and Shawn Bajada to the bench.

Following defeat against Hibernians, Mosta also deemed it fit to make some changes. Danail Mitev, Firas Aboulezz and Bryan Agius were all named among the substitutes with Steve Chiemeka, Daniel Bogdanovic and Jonathan Bajada replacing them.

Before the half hour, the teams had struck the post on three occasions. Twice the woodwork came to Mosta’s rescue as Barbosa’s free kick after eight minutes, rebounded off the post  and on 28 minutes Denni turned well inside the Mosta area on Fenech’s pass but his shot clipped the upright and went out.

In between, Mosta  were also unlucky when on Bajada’s pass, Bogdanovic shot against the upright to the keeper’s left.

But those were the only highlights of a barren first half, during which Valletta had more possession but could not translate it into goals. Keeper Haber was only called to save Almeida’s shot on Denni’s pass past the half hour and then Azzopardi found some opening to advance from the back but shot narrowly over.

Valletta again put in Michael Mifsud at the start of the second period and the Malta international could at least carry some threat as Valletta started to play with some urgency. They raked several crosses inside the area but the Mosta defence stayed composed and could head out.

The goal came on the other end though after 54 minutes. Bogdanovic delivered a testing cross from the right and Obinna Obiefule connected well to hit the ball in from close range.

Valletta were rattled but worryingly unable to make a decent reaction. On 69 minutes, a Denni free kick was palmed out by keeper Haber for Agius to head over. Agius again tried his luck two minutes later but his effort from a distance lacked precision.

Mosta put in defender Alex Cini for the last quarter hour as Valletta introduced Ian Zammit in attack. Keeper Haber could save the latter’s effort with little difficulty on 76 minutes.

Barbosa miscued the ball on Mifsud’s pass and Briffa shot over after making progress down the right flank.

Mosta sought securtity in a five-man midfield and could defend their precious win with minimal difficulty as their opponents carried little threat and remained impotent going forward.

At the end Valletta were a sorry, ragged bunch and were justly booed and jeered off the field by their disgruntled fans. Some of them even made their way outside the stadium’s main gate, protesting loudly and  hurling abuse at the players.