Mosa-Rabat A. 4-0
Mosta: O. Borg, K. Farrugia (K. Zammit), T. Farrugia, M. Brincat, M. Micallef, R. Grech, R. Ekani, A. Dos Santos (I. Grech), C. Fernandes, Y. Messias (R. Faria), G. Piccioni
Rabat A: J. Azzopardi, S. Gauci, D. Azzopardi, I. Carapic, D. Falzon, C. Gauci, M. Licari (A. Azzopardi), (Z. Tanti), D. Pelaez (J. Caruana), D. Pendas, M. Avila Perez, J. Bajada
Referee: M. Apap
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, L. Portelli
4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers: G.M. Piccioni 29, 47 pen, C. Fernandes 56 pen, 68
Yellow cards: A. Dos Santos, M. Brincat, D. Pelaez, I. Carapic, T. Farrugia
Player of the match: G.M. Piccioni (Mosta)
TMI top 3: 1. G.M. Piccioni 2. C. Fernandes 3. D. Pendas
Attendance: 351
Mosta obtained a deserved victory against bottom team Rabat Ajax to consolidate fifth place in the standings and leaving Rabat pondering about the magnitude of their task to avoid relegation.
The Magpies were undone by three goals from set pieces and that says something about their defensive frailties. Their reliance on Diego Carilla Pendas for creativity, has again let them down and their early hopes of taking something from this match fell flat by the time Mosta took a three-goal lead before the match was an hour old.
Mosta yesterday looked refreshed as an attacking unit, with their main striker Gian Marco Piccioni the catalyst behind their success. He scored two goals and procured a penalty against a vulnerable Rabat backline.
Mosta made radical changes following the heavy defeat by Valletta. Ekani, back from suspension, was one of five new starters in the side yesterday. The others were Ryan Grech, Armando Dos Santos, Christian Fernandes and Yuri Messias.
Rabat were also bolstered by the return of Daniel Pelaez, Diego Pendas and Shawn Gauci from suspension. Jonathan Bajada was also given a start after a long lay off. Adam Smeir and keeper Velimirovic remain on Rabat’s casualty list though.
Rabat, who ironically had created enough chances to have gone in front themselves, conceded Mosta’s opener towards the half hour as their keeper Jonathan Azzopardi was rendered helpless by Gian Marco Piccioni’s direct free kick from the left at the top near post.
Rabat though had gone close on a couple of occasions but failed to convert them into goals. Avila Perez should have done better after ten minutes as he followed Pendas’ testing cross inside the Mosta area but allowed the ball to bounce and his effort was off target. Later, Licari arrived fractionally late on another Pendas cross.
Rabat were made to pay dearly for those misses and Mosta could have even doubled their lead on 35 minutes when Mano Micallef played a cut back pass inside the Rabat area that allowed the unhindered Messias to shoot low but narrowly wide.
Before the break, Avila Perez’s tame header on Pendas cross was easily saved by the inoperative Mosta keeper Borg.
Rabat collapsed to concede two more goals from penalties soon after the interval. On 47 minutes, Shawn Gauci’s alleged handling inside the area was harshly punished by the referee. Gian Marco Piccioni made no mistake from the spot.
On 56 minutes, Carapic felled Piccioni inside the area to concede a second penalty for Rabat. This time Christian Fernandes converted from the spot kick, again sending keeper Azzopardi the wrong way.
With their opponents crumbling in front of them, Mosta were in complete command. On 66 minutes Piccioni breezed through the Rabat defence with alarming ease but keeper Azzopardi footed out his effort.
Mosta were further bolstered by the inclusion of Ricardo Faria, who immediately left his impact in his side’s fourth goal on 68 minutes to compound the Magpies’ gloom. Some good work from the substitute ended with a cross from the left for Christian Fernandes to connect well and boot the ball in at the far end.
Rabat failed to score at least a consolation goal with Clifford Gauci’s effort going narrowly wide on 72 minutes. Five minutes from time, Faria skimmed the foot of the post with his rasping shot and Rabat were spared further derision.