Champions Valletta scored three goals in the first half as they beat Mosta 3-1 to register their second win. The Citizens are therefore one of three teams with maximum points from two matches.
For the Blues, this was the second defeat after losing to Hibernians last week.
Mosta had Manolito Micallef, Emmanuel Okafor and former Valletta striker Ousseni Zongo, who started the game as a substitute, all making their debut. Valletta, on the other hand, were in full strength with no players injured or suspended.
The Citizens took the lead on 14 minutes when Shaun Bajada served Michael Mifsud with an intelligent pass and the latter rounded two defenders before hitting low past goalkeeper Justin Haber.
Three minutes later, a great freekick by William Barbosa scraped past the post.
Valletta doubled the score on 25 minutes when off a corner by Denni from the left, there were headers by Steve Borg and Jonathan Caruana and finally Ricardo Barreto da Rocha Filho headed the ball home from close range.
Mosta replied with a Danail Mitev freekick ending just wide on 31 minutes.
Steve Borg made it 3-0 five minutes from the end of the first half when he received a pass by Mifsud, avoided the challenge by Jonathan Bajada and beat Justin Haber with a low shot from the right.
Obinna Obiefule pulled one back for Mosta on the 44th minute as he headed the ball home past goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo following a cross from the right by Manolito Micallef.
Danial Mitev concluded a good move with a fine rising shot from the right which was turned into a corner by Manuel Bartolo on 68 minutes.
In added time, a close-range effort by susbtitute Leandro Almeida was blocked by Justin Haber into a corner and from the resulting corner, William Barbosa had a shot from outside the area turned into another corner.
Steve Borg was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
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MOSTA Justin Haber, Ferdinando Apap, Manolito Micallef, Luke Dimech, Steve Bezzina, Jonathan Bajada (46’ Ryan Grech), Danail Mitev, Emmanuel Okafor (46’ Ousseni Zongo), Carlos Campagnoli (73’ Firas Aboulezz), Daniel Bogdanovic, Obinna Obiefule.
Subs not used: Noel Attard, Mark Brincat, Alex Cini, Bryan Agius.
Coach: Steve D’Amato
VALLETTA Manuel Bartolo, Steve Borg, Dyson Falzon, Jonathan Caruana, Roderick Briffa, William Barbosa, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Michael Mifsud (68’ Ian Azzopardi), Joao Gabriel da Silva (87’ Leandro da Silva Almeida), Shaun Bajada (57’ Ryan Fenech), Ricardo Barreto da Rocha Filho.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Ian Zammit, Kurt Magro, Edmond Agius.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Gilbert Agius
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Luke Portelli
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Barbosa
Scorers: 14’ Michael Mifsud (V); 25’ Ricardo Filho (V); 40’ Steve Borg (V); 44’ Obinna Obiefule (M)
Meanwhile in the second match, Birkirkara registered their second win as they beat Balzan 2-1.
Both sides were unable to field their best formation as Brazilian defender Renato Garcia Conceicao was missing for Balzan after being sent off in the game against Hamrun last week and Birkirkara defender Nikola Vukanac served the second of his two-match ban.
The Stripes had the first attempt at goal on the 3rd minute with a Shola Shodiya first-time effort after a cross from the left by Jhonnattann. Joselito dos Reis then concluded a good move with a rising shot which hit the crossbar on the 8th minute.
One minute later, Birkirkara took the lead when off a cross by Ryan Camenzuli from the left, Jhonnattann deflected the ball for Harun Shola Shodiya who beat Matthew Camilleri with a shot from inside the area.
The Stripes were then unlucky to lose Shola Shodiya and Joselito dos Reis injured but six mintues from the end of the first half, they doubled the score when off a cross by Camenzuli, Jhonnattann tried his luck with a powerful shot from the right and Rowen Muscat flicked the ball past goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri.
A freekick by Pedro Calcado for Balzan was deflected into a corner by a defender on 43 minutes. Two minutes later, off a pass by Calcado from the right, Matthew Mendy’s shot was blocked by a defender and Martin Deyanov took the rebound, hitting wide from close range.
Three minutes in the second half, Matthew Camilleri managed to turn into a corner a fine cross shot by Ryan Camenzuli. On the other side of the pitch, Balzan went close with a header by Yessous Camilleri off a Pedro Calcado freekick from the left on 70 minutes.
On the 79th, Matthew Mendy was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a shot from inside the area following a cross from the left by Elton da Silva. A few seconds later, Ryan Scicluna was sent off for Birkirkara following a foul on Elton da Silva.
One minute from time, Balzan reduced the gap when off a cross by Pedro Calcado from the left, substitute Malcolm Licari headed the ball home past goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.
Ryan Camenzuli was voted BOV Player of the Match.
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
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BALZAN Matthew Camilleri, Matthew Mendy, Rennie Forace (67′ Malcolm Licari), Stefan Giglio, Jonathan Francica (46’ Aaron Agius), Yessous Camilleri, Jamie Pace, Dylan Grima, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Martin Deyanov (61′ Bjorn Bondin), Elton da Silva.
Subs not used: Jacob Cipriott, Kevin Camilleri, Donovan Micallef, Jurgen Muscat.
Coach: Joe Borg
B’KARA Reuben Gauci, Zach Muscat, Alejando Mendoza Corujo, Ryan Camenzuli, Rowen Muscat, Ryan Scicluna, Gareth Sciberras, Paul Fenech, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao (87′ Fabian Zammit), Joselito dos Reis Santos (36’ Joseph Zerafa), Harun Shola Shodiya (18’ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza).
Subs not used: Karl Magri, Ian Schembri, Patrick Borg, David Spiteri.
Coach: Paul Zammit
Asst. Coach: Peter Pullicino
Referee: Andre Arciola
Assistant Referees: Sammy Attard, Alex Grech
Fourth Official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Scicluna, Pace, Z. Muscat, Forace, Elton, R. Muscat, Calcado, B. Bondin
Red Cards: 79′ Ryan Scicluna
Scorers: 9’ Harun Shola Shodiya, 39’ Rowen Muscat (Bkr); 89′ Malcolm Licari (Bal)
Attendance: 1,293