Second successive win for Mosta put them seven points clear of Pembroke

Mosta came from behind to beat Hamrun Spartans 2-1 at the National Stadium to move seven points clear of bottom-placed Pembroke Athleta. This win also maintain slim hopes of avoiding the relegation play-off as they now lie seven points behind Hamrun.

The Spartans continued to disappoint as they have now gone almost three months without a win. In fact, they failed to win any out of the last eleven matches in which they collected just three points in three draws.

Mosta lacked goalkeeper Yenz Cini as he served a one-match ban who was replaced by Andreas Vella while Cedric Hengbart made his return after a long-term injury and was preferred to Adrian Caruana. The Spartans had three changes as Igor Misan, Saturday Nanapere and Massimiliano Giusti replaced Siraj Arab, Mathieu Manset and the suspended Luke Sciberras.

The Spartans managed to break the deadlock three minutes from the end of the first half when off a corner by Leandro Motta, Saturday Nanapere headed the ball in the direction of Massimiliano Giusti on the left and the Italian slotted past Vella from a close angle.

Nine minutes in the second half, Mosta equalised when Kyle Frendo’s angled shot from the left was blocked by David Cassar’s left foot but off the rebound, David Fenech’s effort from outside the area beat the Hamrun custodian.

Twelve minutes from time, Mosta notched the winner thanks to Njongo Priso who received a perfect through pass by Pedrinho before slotting the ball past Cassar.

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Mario Toth, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, Cedric Hengbart, Tyrone Farrugia, David Fenech, Kyle Frendo, Njongo Priso, Pedro dos Santos Calcado (87′ Neil Frendo), Kurt Magro, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (76′ Dexter Xuereb).
Subs not used: Warren Galea, Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo, Heron Miranda Guilhermino, Emerson Vella, Matthew Attard.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

HAMRUN David Cassar, Luis Miguel Vergara Rodrigues, Manolito Micallef (82′ Brandon Paiber), Karl Micallef, Igor Misan, Luke Grech, Saturday Nanapere, Leandro Wallace Motta dos Santos (68′ Siraj Arab Eddin), Jake Grech, Sergio Raphael dos Anjos, Massimiliano Giusti.
Subs not used: Batusila Kambala, Luca Gatt, Bradley Schembri, Glenn Azzopardi, Jeremy Busuttil.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

Referee: Eman Grech
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow Cards: Misan, Raphael, Pedrinho, Magro
BOV Player of the Match: Massimiliano Giusti