Obinna Obiefule was once again the hero for Mosta as they bounced back from the narrow defeat to Hibernians with a 3-0 win over Mqabba in a clash between two teams lying in eighth place.

Obiefule joins Edison Luis dos Santos of Hibernians on top the list of scorers in the BOV Premier League. He scored eight goals in five consecutive goals for Mosta after scoring ten goals while playing for Marsaxlokk.

For Mqabba, this was the second successive defeat.

Mosta welcomed back Adrian Borg, Kurt Magro, Florent Raimy and Ian Zammit but Dyson Falzon was ruled out injured. Mqabba, on the other hand, lacked Mark Anthony Psaila and Thiago Mazzitelli.

The Blues held the initiative in the early stages, going very close to taking the lead with a shot direct from a corner by Ian Zammit.

On the 16th minute, Mqabba went close with a David Fenech effort which was bloacked by Jonathan Debono.

However hardly a minute later, in a swift counter-attack for Mosta, David Fenech floored Obinna Obiefule as the latter entered the penalty area. Referee Trustin Farrugia Cann ordered a penalty and sent off the Mqabba midfielder. From the penalty spot, Obiefule converted to put Mosta ahead.

Mqabba replied with a Claudio Calleja effort, served by John Nwoba, which was parried by Debono on 25 minutes. A fine Nwoba effort on 39 minutes ended just wide.

Just before the end of the first half, Mosta were awarded another penalty following another foul on Obiefule inside the area. However Obiefule’s effort from the penalty spot hit the upright.

In added time, Mosta midfielder Florent Raimy was given marching orders by Farrugia Cann following an argument between a number of players.

Obinna Obiefule doubled the score for Mosta on 69 minutes as he took the ball off a clearance by the defence, anticipated goalkeeper Kris Calleja who rushed out of the area, placing the ball at the back of the net.

Mosta scored the third goal on 78 minutes when Ian Zammit concluded a solo effort with a shot from the edge of the area hitting the upright and off the rebound, he slammed the ball home past the Mqabba custodian.

Obinna Obiefule was voted BOV Player of the Match.

MOSTA Jonathan Debono, Adrian Borg, Kane Farrugia, Federico Tisbi, Yannick Ossok, Terence Vella (74’ Jonathan Bajada), Sheldon Grech (56’ Predrag Mirceta), Florent Raimy, Kurt Magro, Ian Zammit (85’ Gilbert Martin), Obinna Obiefule.
Subs not used: Glen Zammit, Luca Martinelli, Alex Cini, Zakaria Kibona.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

MQABBA Kris Calleja, Bojan Mamic, Clayton Micallef, Pierre Grima, Mauro Bonnici (75’ Marlon Briffa), Branislav Timotic, David Azzopardi, Claudio Calleja (86’ Omar Farrugia), Marko Potezica, John Nwoba.
Subs not used: Franklin Azzopardi, John Paul Muscat, Rene Duca, Mark Fenech, Ryan Schembri.
Coach: Clive Mizzi
Asst. Coach: Renzo Kerr Cumbo

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Joe Camilleri, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Paul Caruana
Yellow Cards: Magro, Bonnici, Tisbi, Zammit, Micallef, Calleja
Red Cards: 17’ David Fenech; 45+2’ Florent Raimy
Scorers: 18’ Obinna Obiefule pen; 69’ Obinna Obiefule; 78’ Ian Zammit

With a goal in each half, Valletta managed to beat ten-man Balzan Youths 2-0 to extend the lead on top the BOV Premier League table. Valletta, in fact, lead the way with 54 points, seven ahead of Hibernians and fourteen ahead of Floriana. The latter two face each other in a direct clash on Saturday.

The Youths, on the other hand, stay in sixth place one point behind Sliema and Birkirkara and two ahead of seventh-placed Qormi

Balzan welcomed back captain Jonathan Francica and Pedro dos Santos Calcado but Clifton Ciantar and Nikola Tasic were ruled out through suspension while Dylan Grima and Roderick Farrugia were ruled out injured. Valletta, on the other hand, were in full strength, having Latvian striker Aleksandars Cekulajevs making his debut.

Valletta took the lead on 14 minutes when Michael Mifsud entered the area from the right and chipped the ball over Matthew Camilleri with Aleksandars Cekulajevs tapping the ball home from close range.

Balzan replied with a Miguel Ciantar solo effort which ended with a diagonal shot from the right ending just wide on 38 minutes.

The Youths were reduced to ten men on 63 minutes after Albanian Bledjon Guga collected a second yellow card for a foul in midfield.

Ousseni Zongo missed a good opportunity hitting high when served by Panandetiguiri on 68 minutes. On the other side of the pitch, a Pedrinho effort ended just wide two minutes later.

The Citizens increased the lead on 77 minutes thanks to a powerful drive by Roderick Briffa from the right which gave goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri no chance.

Ousseni Zongo was voted BOV Player of the Match.

Photo: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com

VALLETTA Andrew Hogg, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Boorg, Saidou Mady Panandetiguiri, Aleksandars Cekulajevs (74’ William Barbosa), Ian Azzopardi, Roderick Briffa, Edmond Agius, Ousseni Zongo, Denni Rocha dos Santos (90’ Alfred Effiong), Michael Mifsud (85’ Gilbert Agius).
Subs not used: Matthew Towns, Roderick Bajada, Nahuel Pulitano Jimenez, Filippo Andrea Scozzese.
Coach: Leonard Farrugia
Asst. Coach: Jesmond Zerafa

BALZAN Matthew Camilleri, Rennie Forace, Jonathan Francica, Yessous Camilleri, Bledjon Guga, Glenn Bonello, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Miguel Ciantar (61’ Lydon Micallef), Jamie Pace, Bjorn Bondin (27’ Anthony Eviparker), Martin Deyanov (80’ Michael Borg).
Subs not used: Fredrick Tabone, Donovan Micallef, David Muscat Fenech Adami, Nicholas Zammit.
Coach: Joe Borg
Team Manager: Ivan Zammit

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Roberto Vella
Fourth Official: Chris Lautier
Yellow Cards: Guga, Francica, Micallef, Azzopardi
Red Cards: 63’ Bledjon Guga
Scorers: 14’ Aleksandars Cekulajevs, 77’ Roderick Briffa
Attendance: 865