ĦAMRUN SPARTANS 1
Talison 13
MOSTA 2
Okereke 17, Goncalves 90
ĦAMRUN
Celio, M. Ellul, D. Letherby, L. Montebello, Talison, Elionay, S. Agius (72 S. Borg), J. Corbalan, K. Scicluna, R. Camenzuli, R. Lopes.
MOSTA
U. Akpan, P. Afriyie, S. Cachia, L. Coulibaly, G. Goncalves, G. Sciberras (22 S. Chiemezie), N. Agius (47 S. Cipriott) (64 Z.Brincat), J. Agyemang, S. Okereke, J. Teixeira, J. Vassallo.
Referee: Alex Johnson.
Yellow cards: Montebello, Elionay, R. Lopes, Vassallo.
Mosta registered their first win in the Top 6 of the 360Sports Malta Premier Opening Round as thanks to a goal in stoppage time, they turned defeat into victory and beat Ħamrun Spartans 2-1.
This win enables Mosta to close in on Ħamrun as they move to just two points behind them although the Spartans remain fifth.
The Spartans had the first real attempt on 12 minutes, Elionay concluded a good move for Ħamrun with a low shot from the edge of the area which was parried by the Mosta goalkeeper.
Ħamrun forged ahead one minute later. Elionay served Talison with an intelligent through ball and the latter rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Mosta replied with a Nathan Agius effort ending wide on 14 minutes.
However, three minutes later, Mosta equalised.
Giancarlo Goncalves intercepted an erratic back pass by a defender on the left and delivered a cross with Sunday Okereke deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Celio.
The Blues threatened once again with an Okereke effort from inside the area which was turned into a corner by Celio on 31 minutes.
The second half started with Mosta in ten men as the substitution of Nathan Agius with Sean Cipriott did not take place before the restart.
Cipriott eventually entered the field of play but was unlucky to abandon the pitch injured a few minutes later.
Meanwhile Sasha Cachia missed a good opportunity, failing to connect from close range off a freekick by Goncalves on 52 minutes.
Six minutes later, Prince Afriyie tried his luck with a freekick from the right ending wide.
On 77 minutes, Talison had a powerful shot from outside the area which scraped past the post. Seven minutes later, Montebello released Ryan Camenzuli on the left but the latter’s conclusion was parried by Akpan.
But at the other end, Okereke concluded a good move with a powerful shot which was blocked by substitute Steve Borg on 86 minutes.
A minute from time, Luke Montebello had a powerful shot from inside the area, when served by Lopes from the left, neutralised by Akpan.
However. two minutes in added time, Mosta notched the winner.
Goncalves managed to beat Celio with a fine curling shot from the right which ended in the top left corner.
The Spartans went all out in search of the equaliser, and two minutes later, Daniel Letherby was unlucky to hit the crossbar.
