After suffering three consecutive defeats, Mosta bounced back in style as they defeated Sliema Wanderers 3-2 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. The Wanderers therefore failed to keep the pace with leaders Hibernians and second-placed Valletta.
Mosta, on the other hand, close in on the Wanderers moving to just three points behind them, two ahead of rivals Naxxar.
Ryan Grech and Diego Pereira were missing once again for Danilo Doncic’s side with the Serbian coach opting to hand Armando dos Santos his debut, including Gianmarco Piccioni in the starting line-up. Stanley Ohawuchi was missing for Sliema.
The Wanderers took the lead on the 9th minute when Abubakar Bello-Osagie converted a penalty after a defender handled the ball inside the area.
Tyrone Farrugia levelled matters on the 29th minute, heading the ball home off a Yuri Messias corner.
Seven minutes later, Mosta forged ahead when off a Cristian Martins Fernandes assist, Gianmarco Piccioni slammed the ball home.
Mosta increased the lead ten minutes in the second half thanks to another goal by Gianmarco Piccioni, when served by Messias.
The Wanderers reduced the gap with a rising shot by Mathias Muchardi on the 69th minute.
Late in the game, Sliema were unlucky to hit the crossbar through Alex Muscat.
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
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MOSTA Omar Borg, Gianmarco Piccioni, Yuri Messias, Jonathan Rodriguez Ekani, Armando dos Santos (59′ Francesco Calcagno), Cristian Martins Fernandes, Kane Farrugia (85′ Kurt Zammit), Manolito Micallef (69′ Ishmael Grech), Mark Brincat, Tyrone Farrugia, Alexander Cini.
Subs not used: Kurt Rizzo, James Brincat, Bryan Agius, Giancarlo Sammut.
Coach: Danilo DoncicSLIEMA Henry Bonello, Alex Muscat, John Mintoff, Mark Scerri (84′ Jacob Borg), Abubakar Bello-Osagie, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Trevor Cilia (70′ Axl Xuereb), Andrea Navarra (59′ Pape Gueye), Paltemio Barbetti, Matias Muchardi, Stefano Bianciardi.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Gabriel Aquilina, Dylan Borg, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Alfonso GrecoReferee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referee: William Debattista, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Chris Lautier
Yellow Cards: Micallef, Barbetti, Muchardi, Scerri, Cini, Cristian Fernandes
Scorers: 9′ Abubakar Bello-Osagie (S); 29′ Tyrone Farrugia (M); 36′ Gianmarco Piccioni (M); 55′ Gianmarco Piccioni (M); 69′ Mathias Muchardi (S)
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 515
Photos: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com
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At the Centenary Stadium, Denni Rocha dos Santos scored twice in a 3-0 win for Valletta over Tarxien Rainbows.
Valletta therefore keep the pace with the leaders, staying just two points behind.
For Valletta, Hamza Barry joined Ian Azzopardi and Dyson Falzon on the casualty list. Tarxien, on the other hand, welcomed back Fernando Lopes Alcantara but lacked Carlo Mamo and Steve Sadowski.
Ryan Fenech had the first attempt at goal on the 19th minute but the Tarxien goalkeeper neutralised his attempt. A few minutes later, Fenech went close with a powerful shot from the edge of the area ending high.
Nicky Vella then came to the rescue with two good saves on a Denni Rocha dos Santos header and an Aziz Corr Nyang effort on the 37th. Two minutes later, Denni hit the crossbar with a fine header.
The Citizens finally managed to break the deadlock one minute from the end of the first half thanks to Denni Rocha dos Santos whose low shot from the right beat the Tarxien custodian.
Six minutes in the second half, Valletta missed a good opportunity through Aziz Corr Nyang off an inviting cross by Abdelkarim Nafti.
The Citizens were awarded a penalty on 65 minutes after Nicky Vella floored substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, served in the area by Nyang. Vella was given marching orders by referee Kevin Azzopardi and Denni Rocha dos Santos converted from the penalty spot.
Three minutes from time, the Rainbows went close to reducing the gap with a powerful shot from inside the area by Jorge Santos Silva but goalkeeper Yenz Cini was superb in blocking his attempt.
Valletta sealed the issue with a third goal on the 90th when Aziz Corr Nyang concluded a fine solo effort on the right flank by rounding a defender and hitting hard past goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.
TARXIEN Nicky Vella, Fernando Lopes Alcantara, Andrew Agius (79′ Manuel Caruana), Luca Martinelli, Marko Potezica, Ronaille Calheira Seara, Miguel Ciantar (67′ Anthony Curmi gk), Everton Souza Santos (46′ Karl Pulo), Ryan Sammut, Josef Mifsud, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Silas Caruana, Luke Zahra, Nigel Vella, Steve Bonnici.
Coach: Clive Mizzi
VALLETTA Yenz Cini, Jonathan Caruana, Ryan Fenech (86′ Llywelyn Cremona), Edmond Agius, Roderick Briffa, Aziz Corr Nyang, Shaun Bajada, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Jason Lee Vandelannoite (74′ Steve Borg), Abdelkarim Nafti (61′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Luke Dimech.
Subs not used: Manuel Bartolo, Ian Zammit, Kurt Magro, Yessous Camilleri.
Coach: Mark Miller
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Jurgen Spiteri
Fourth Official: Paul Caruana
Yellow Cards: Potezica
Scorers: 44′ Denni Rocha dos Santos, 67′ Denni Rocha dos Santos pen
Attendance at the Centenary Stadium: 766