Qormi-Mosta 2-3

Qormi: M. Farrugia, D. Pisani, R. Sammut, L. Gabrieli, E. Vella, R. Bajada, T. Caruana, L. Grech (D. Pirotta), A. Effiong, L. Cantoro, C. Terribile.

Mosta: O. Borg, T. Farrugia, M. Brincat, I. Grech, R. Grech, K. Zammit (L. Duriska), M. Micallef, Y. Messias, D. Pereira (H.Bara), B. Kaljevic (J. Brincat), Ekani.

Referee: C. Lautier

Asst refs: W. Debattista, T. Debono

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: A. Effiong 2, Kaljevic 2, one pen.,

Yellow cards: E. Vella, T. Caruana, L. Duriska, L. Gabrieli

Player of the match: M. Micallef

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Micallef; 2. A. Effiong; 3. R. Bajada

Mosta repeated the feat against Hibs a fortnight ago when yesterday they defeated Qormi 3-2 to assure themselves of a Top Six berth in the second phase.

Qormi were leading 2-0, midway through the first half and appeared heading for a bigger win but Mosta had other thoughts, reducing the arrears just before the interval and then scoring twice in the second half to overturn the deficit into a 3-2 win.

For Qormi, striker Lucas Cantoro was making his debut after signing for them the previous week.

The first half was entertaining with first Mosta, then Qormi and back again Mosta providing several thrills in front of goal.

Mosta, perhaps, saw a little more of the ball, but it was Qormi who created the better chances as they scored through twice through Effiong before Mosta hit back through a Kaljevic penalty in added first half time.

In the second half, it was a different story as Mosta redoubled their efforts to save the match.

In fact, they forced the pressure on the Qormi fort and deservedly not only equalised but also managed to take the lead which they kept till the very end.

The match remained interesting as Qormi also threw everything into attack in an effort to get back on level terms.

But their efforts failed to produce the equaliser, even if Effiong was unlucky with a header that hit the upright.

Mosta started like a house on fire and Diego Pereira had an effort going wide. At the other end, Effiong had a low shot saved in two attempts by goalie Borg.

Mosta were very unlucky not to open the scoring on the ninth minute. From a Kaljevic freekick, the ball was blocked and Manolito Micallef’s shot first hit the left upright and then the other one on the right, before the Qormi defence cleared the ball to safety.

It was Qormi who eventually broke the deadlock on 23 minutes. Leighton Grech set Alfred Effiong in the area: the latter controlled the ball well before hitting past Omar Borg.

Mosta’s reply arrived soon after – a Micallef shot from the edge of the area which, however, went over the post.

Qormi again threatened in the 28th minute. Newcomer Cantoro set Effiong beautifully in the Mosta area, but his effort passed across goal.

The Yellow Blacks scored a second goal on the 31st minute. And it was again Grech who set Effiong on the far side. The latter advanced unhindered to hit low into the net past the onrushing Borg.

On 36 minutes, Mosta were close to reducing the gap when from a Messias cornerkick, Micallef’s header went just wide. Soon after, it was Pereira who had a low shot going just wide.

Qormi should have added a third on the 42nd minute. This time it was Effiong who set Grech in the Mosta area. The latter dribbled round two players before setting Cantoro who first had a shot blocked and then blasted well over the bar from an ideal position.

In added time, Mosta reduced the arrears when they were awarded a penalty after Caruana was deemed to have floored Micallef. From the spotkick, Kaljevic sent Farrugia the wrong way.

 Early in the second half, Pereira had a grounder saved by Farrugia. Soon after, Mosta were again unlucky as a Micallef shot hit the upright with Farrugia beaten.

Mosta pressed forward for an equaliser and were rewarded for their efforts on the 64th minute when Messias set Kaljevic in the area and the latter made no mistake.

Now Mosta were playing better and on the 80th minute, they even took the lead. Substitute Harouna Bara’s cornerkick seemed to have been flicked into the net by Ismhael Grech.

In a desperate effort by Qormi near the end, they were unlucky not to have equalised when an Effiong header hit the upright.