Mosta-Sliema 3-2
Mosta: O. Borg, T. Farrugia, A. Cini, G. Piccione, Y. Messias, C. Fernandes, R. Ekani, A. Dos Santos (F. Calcagna), K. Farrugia, M. Micallef (I. Grech), M. Brincat
Sliema W: H. Bonello, A. Muscat, J. Mintoff, M. Scerri (A. Xuereb), A. Bello-Osagie, C. Gatt Baldacchino, T. Cilia (J. Borg), A. Navarra (P. Gueye), P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi, S. Bianciardi
Referee: P. Agius
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, P. Abela
4th official: A. C. Lautier
Scorers: A. Bello-Osagie 7 pen, T. Farrugia 28, G. Piccione 37, 56, M. Muchardi 70
Yellow cards: M. Micallef, P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi, M. Scerri, A. Cini, C. Fernandes
Player of the match: G. Piccione (Mosta)
TMI top 3: 1. Y. Messias 2. G. Piccione 3. T. Cilia
Attendance: 513
Mosta came back form a goal down to score three times and win this match against Sliema Wanderers with a spirited performance that halted their negative streak of three consecutive defeats.
Mosta yesterday changed four of their foreign players. They dropped Duriska, Consentini, Ricardinho and Kaljevic, to replace them with striker Gianmarco Piccione, midfielders Rodriguez Ekani and Armando Dos Santos as well as wide player Yuri Messias.
The latter was the catalyst of his side’s revival as he inflicted most of the damage with his forages down the left, where Mintoff, playing as wide back, struggled to subdue him.
Piccione scored a brace, showing opportunism when presented with good service inside the Sliema area, after Tyrone Farrugia had equalsied from a corner.
Mattias Muchardi’s goal, that reduced the arrears 20 minutes from time, was not enough for Sliema to salvage at least a point, although captain Alex Muscat went close, thumping his effort against the bar, with two minutes remaing. This defeat now leaves the Wanderers eight points adrift of leaders Hibernians.
A notable absentee for the Wanderers was the injured forward and best scorer Stanley Ohawuchi, replaced by Andrea Navarra in attack. Jacob Borg was dropped and went in as a second half substitute. John Mintoff played as wide back, with Trevor Cilia starting on the right flank. Mark Scerri was back after suspension with the unfit Ivan Woods out of the squad.
Sliema could not have dreamt of a better start, when awarded a penalty after seven minutes for Mano Micallef’s handling of the ball inside the Mosta area when pressed by Navarra. Abubaker Bello-Osagie stepped up to send keeper Borg the wrong way and give the Wanderers the lead.
Sliema were unable to capitalise on their lead and Mosta gradually turned the screw, looking menacing past the quarter hour. Micallef’s cross from the left cut the entire Sliema defence but Piccione’s shot was blcoked into a corner by keeper Bonello.
On 28 minutes Armando Dos Santos’ shot from outside the area was blcoked into a corner. From the resultant Messias flag kick, Tyrone Farrugia headed in to level matters. Hardly ten minutes later, a quickly taken free kick fell to the unmarked Gianmarco Piccione inside the area, to beat keeper Bonello with a rising shot.
Sliema’s reaction before halftime came through a Cilia meaty free kick. Keeper Borg was equal tyo task and tipped the ball over the bar into a corner.
Sliema went into the second half in lively fashion. Cilia shot narrowly wide and Barbetti was denied by the Mosta shot stopper.
Still Mosta managed to increase their lead on 56 minutes. Messias again delivered the cross which Bianciardi and keeper Bonello failed to cut and Piccione darted in to score from a few inches out.
Sliema’s task became increasingly laborious. They did pull one backon 70 minutes when the ball bounced on the sge of the Mosta area from a clearance, and Matias Muchardi volleyed past keeper Borg.
Mosta remained menacing on the break and should have wrapped up the points early. On 77 minutes Fernandes was clear on a Calcagna through pass, beat the onrushing keeper Bonello but Muscat could clear the ball before it crossed the goal line.
A minute later, Sliema could have fallen further behind. Piccione was unlucky when denied a hat-trick as his effort beat keeper Bonello but rebounded of the foot of the post.
On the other end, the woodwork also denied Muscat, holding out his curling shot from outside the area.