Mosta continue to enjoy a one-point lead over Sliema Wanderers in the battle for fourth place with one game to go as the two teams shared the spoils in a goalless draw.

Although the two teams shared the exchanges, Mosta created the better chances thanks to which they could have secured the fourth place which could mean a place in the UEFA Europa League.

The game had a most dramatic finale as on the 90th, Mosta had a goal disallowed by the referee and with Mosta players still celebrating, unaware that the goal was disallowed, Sliema went on the attack and were awarded a penalty. However the penalty was neutralised by the Mosta goalkeeper.

Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar

Sliema welcomed back Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Paltemio Barbetti and Admir Vladavic. Bojan Kaljevic was missing for Mosta as he served a one-match ban.

Mosta went close to taking the lead on the 20th but Manolito Micallef handled the ball past goalkeeper Glenn Zammit off an inviting cross from the right. Four minutes later, a rising shot by Gianmarco Piccioni was turned into a corner by Zammit.

In a swift counter-attack for Sliema, Ohawuchi served the unmarked Ivan Woods whose attempt was neutralised by Omar Borg. Five minutes from the end of the first half, Diego Pereira’s effort was turned into another corner by Glenn Zammit.

Seven minutes in the second half, Tyrone Farrugia came to the rescue clearing the ball off the goal line an Ohawuchi effort. On the other side of the pitch, Gianmarco Piccioni missed an excellent opportunity with a diagonal shot from the left ending just wide on 59 minutes. The Italian striker missed another excellent chance on the 67th when he received an inviting pass by Manolito Micallef but concluded wide from the edge of the area.

Piccioni once again missed a good scoring opportunity on the 80th when he received a cross from the right by Micallef, concluding high. A fierce shot by Matias Muchardi was parried by Omar Borg a few seconds later.

On the 90th, Diego Pereira managed to beat Glenn Zammit to the joy of the Mosta fans but little did he notice that the referee had disallowed the goal for a handsball. With four Mosta players out of the field of play, still celebrating with their supporters, Stanley Ohawuchi received the ball in the area only to be floored by Jonas Rodriguez Ekani. Referee Malcolm Spiteri ordered a penalty and sent off the Mosta defender for pushing him. However Admir Vladavic’s effort was neutralised by Mosta goalkeeper Omar Borg.

SLIEMA Glenn Zammit, Alex Muscat, Jacob Borg (46′ John Mintoff), Mark Scerri (59′ Trevor Cilia), Stanley Ohawuchi, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Ivan Woods (77′ Axl Xuereb), Paltemio Barbetti, Matias Muchardi, Stefano Bianciardi, Admir Vladavic.
Subs not used: Henry Bonello, Kane Farrugia, Alex Podda, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Alfonso Greco

MOSTA Omar Borg, Jonas Ekani Rodriguez, Tyrone Farrugia, Mark Brincat, Ishmael Grech, Antonio Carrozza, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Ian Zammit, Cristian Martins Fernandes (4′ Diego Pereira), Gianmarco Piccioni.
Subs not used: Kurt Rizzo, Alex Cini, Kurt Zammit, Kyle Frendo, Armando dos Santos, James Brincat.
Coach: Enrico Piccioni

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Roberto Vella
Additional Assistant Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Trustin Farrugia Cann
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: M. Micallef, I. Grech, S. Ohawuchi, S. Bianciardi, M. Muchardi, R. Grech, C. Gatt Baldacchino, O. Borg
Red Cards: 90′ Jonas Rodriguez Ekani
BOV Player of the Match: Manolito Micallef