Obiefule show in comfortable win for Mosta — Qormi beat Mqabba

Nigerian striker Obinna Obiefule was the hero for Mosta as he scored four goals in a most comfortable 5-0 win over Marsaxlokk. A win which puts Steve D’Amato’s side three points ahead of Mqabba and on level points with Tarxien Rainbows.

Obiefule is now only one goal away from matching the record of 32 goals established by Danilo Doncic.

Mosta lacked Dyson Falzon, Gilbert Martin and Kurt Magro while Gary Caruana was missing for Marsaxlokk.

Mosta held the initiative early in the game and had a golden opporunity to take the lead on the 16th minute through Ian Zammit who received an assist by Alex Cini from the left but his powerful drive hit the crossbar. Two minutes later, it was the turn of Obinna Obiefule to hit the upright with a close range header off a cross by Jonathan Bajada.

However the Blues were not to be denied on the 20th minute when Obinna Obiefule concluded a solo effort with a diagonal shot from the left which beat goalkeeper Christian Cassar.

Jonathan Bajada then concluded a good move with a shot from outside the area which was turned into a corner by the Marsaxlokk custodian on the 36th minute.

Two minutes in the second half, Mosta doubled the score once again thanks to a goal by Obinna Obiefule who received a through pass and hit past goalkeeper Cassar with a shot from inside the area.

Obinna Obiefule scored a third goal two minutes later when he rounded the Marsaxlokk goalkeeper and pulled to the right before placing the ball at the back of the net.

Obiefule added another on the 53rd minute thanks to another solo effort which he concluded with a shot from the left which beat Christian Cassar.

Jonathan Bajada was unlucky to hit the upright with a powerful shot from outside the area on 62 minutes.

Ian Zammit scored Mosta’s fifth goal on the 75th minute with a scissors-kick off a cross from the right by Bryan Agius.

Obinna Obiefule was voted BOV Player of the Match.

MOSTA Jonathan Debono, Bryan Agius, Kane Farrugia (69’ Luca Martinelli), Federico Tisbi, Yannick Ossok, Florent Raimy, Alex Cini, Jonathan Bajada, Obinna Obiefule (80′ Pio Vassallo), Firas Aboulezz (73’ Sheldon Grech), Ian Zammit.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Adrian Borg, Terence Vella, , Predrag Mirceta.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

M’XLOKK Christian Cassar, Clive Brincat, Patrick Borg (82′ Craig Debattista), Jermain Brincat (68’ Jonathan Xerri), Darrell Grech, Trevor Templeman, Darren Attard, Sunday Eboh, Jean Paul Farrugia, Modesto Valeriani, Alex Cesar Pedrozo (53’ Sacha Borg).
Subs not used: Christian Gafa, Peter Taiye Oladotun, Luke Agius, Paul Paris.
Coach: Anton Cremona
Assistant Coach: Louis Cutajar

Referee: Paul Caruana
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Mariano Debono
Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna
Yellow Cards: none
Scorers: 20’ Obinna Obiefule, 47’ Obinna Obiefule, 49’ Obinna Obiefule, 53’ Obinna Obiefule, 75′ Ian Zammit

Mqabba failed to keep the pace with Mosta in the battle against relegation after suffering a 0-1 defeat to Qormi.

This means that Mosta and Tarxien need just one point to secure their Premier League status. Hamrun Spartans, on the other hand, are sure of playing in the top division next season.

Mqabba goalkeeper Kris Calleja came to the rescue on the 4th minute, anticipating Jorge da Silva before he could conclude off an inviting pass by Joseph Farrugia.

Mqabba replied with a Claudio Calleja effort from close range which was deflected into a corner by goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia on the 16th minute. In a swift counter-attack for Qormi, a minute later, Jorge Pereira had a shot hitting the far post and then saved by Calleja. The Mqabba goalkeeper then blocked a diagonal shot by the Brazilian striker on 31 minutes..

A Jorge da Silva Pereira effort was deflected into a corner nine minutes in the second half.

Qormi could have gone ahead on 64 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after goalkeeper Kris Calleja brought down Abubakar Bello-Osagie inside the area. The goalkeeper was sent off and substitute goalkeeper Franklin Azzopardi replaced Claudio Calleja. However, Abubakar Bello Osagie hit high from the penalty spot.

Mqabba tried to forge ahead with a through pass by David Fenech for Bojan Mamic but Roderick Sammut cleared the ball into safety on 67 minutes.

Qormi finally managed to break the deadlock on 74 minutes thanks to a direct freekick by Jorge da Silva Pereira which beat goalkeeper Franklin Azzopardi.

Jorge da Silva Pereira was voted BOV Player of the Match.

MQABBA Kris Calleja, Pierre Grima, Marko Potezica, Julian Briffa (76’ Rene Duca), Branislav Timotic, Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli, Claudio Calleja (64’ Franklin Azzopardi gk), Mauro Bonnici, David Fenech, Ryan Sammut, Bojan Mamic.
Subs not used: Mark Anthony Psaila, David Azzopardi, John Paul Muscat, John Nwoba, Clayton Micallef.
Coach: Clive Mizzi
Asst. Coach: Renzo Kerr Cumbo

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Roderick Sammut, Matthew Bartolo, Joseph Chetcuti, Joseph Farrugia, Jonathan Bondin, Jorge da Silva Pereira, Kris Thackray, Triston Caruana, Abubakar Bello-Osagie (90’ Luke Sciberras), Vincent Kouadio Adioumani.
Subs not used: Steve Sultana, George Chircop, Ranier Buhagiar, Kenneth Scicluna, Stephen Wellman, Christian Briffa.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Fyodor Zammit
Yellow Cards: J. Briffa, P. Grima, F. Azzopardi, R. Sammut
Red Cards: 63’ Kris Calleja
Scorers: 74’ Jorge da Silva Pereira