Bojan Kaljevic scored twice as Mosta defeated Zebbug Rangers 2-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium to extend their hundred percent record while maintaining a clean sheet.
Zebbug held an edge over their opponents during the first half but were under constant pressure by the Blues after the break. In fact after missing a good chance, Mosta took the lead and missed another penalty before adding another goal. This was the third defeat for Zebbug.
Mosta had one change from the team which defeated Pietà as James Brincat replaced Sasa Jovanovic. Zebbug, on the other hand, had Jeffrey Farrugia, Lee Galea and Ratko Mandic replacing Fabricio Rapchan, Jacob Borg and Matthew Gauci.
The Rangers had the first attempt at goal when a Matthew Bartolo effort was cleared off the goal line by Adrian Borg on 25 minutes. Four minutes from the end of the first half, Mauricio Rodrigues Britto tested Omar Borg with a fine shot from the right. Two minutes later, Zebbug went close once again with a Carlo Monti effort. On the other side of the pitch, a conclusion by Daniel Mariano Bueno was partially saved by Jeffrey Farrugia. Finally a solo effort by Matias Muchardi ended with a shot from the right which scraped past the post.
Ten minutes in the second half, Bojan Kaljevic just failed to connect off an inviting pass by Daniel Mariano Bueno from the right.
Mosta took the lead one minute later when Clifford Gauci brought Manolito Micallef down inside the area and from the penalty spot, Bojan Kaljevic converted.
On the 59th, referee Sandro Spiteri ordered another penalty after Micallef was floored once again inside the area. However this time Kaljevic’s effort hit the foot of the upright.
Carlo Monti released Ratko Mandic on the right on the 64th but the latter’s cross was blocked into safety by Tyrone Farrugia.
Mosta doubled the score on 73 minutes when off a Manolito Micallef corner from the right, Bojan Kaljevic headed home.
Four minutes later, Kaljevic went close once again with a shot from outside the area which was turned into a corner.
Five minutes from time, Zebbug had the opportunity to reduce the gap when they were awarded a penalty after Mauricio Britto was fouled inside the area. However the Brazilian striker’s effort was turned into a corner in style by Omar Borg.
MOSTA Omar Borg, Tyrone Farrugia, Manolito Micallef, Dyson Falzon, Kurt Magro, Daniel Mariano Bueno (90′ Sasa Jovanovic), Bojan Kaljevic (87′ Jonas Ekani Rodriguez), Nemanja Milovanovic, Adrian Borg, Ryan Grech, James Brincat (46′ Kurt Zammit).
Subs not used: Marcus Bernal, Kyle Frendo, Karl Pulo, Aaron Sammut.
Coach: Enrico PiccioniZEBBUG Jeffrey Farrugia, Lee Galea, Javier Diaz Serrano, Yessous Camilleri, Ratko Mandic, Clifford Gauci (81′ Miguel Ciantar), Matias Muchardi, Carlo Monti, Mauricio Osmar Rodrigues Britto, Thomas Paris, Matthew Bartolo.
Subs not used: Fabricio Rapchan dos Santos Morales, Melvin Farrugia, Lee James Agius, Matthew Gauci, Jacob Borg, John Ogechukwu Nwoba.
Coach: Jesmond ZammitReferee: Sandro Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: Paris, Kaljevic, Gauci, Grech, T. Farrugia, Britto
Scorers: 56′ Bojan Kaljevic pen, 73′ Bojan Kaljevic
BOV Player of the Match: Bojan Kaljevic
Meanwhile at the National Stadium, Balzan returned to winning ways as they defeated Qormi 2-1.
This was the second win in three matches for Oliver Spiteri’s side while for Qormi this was the second consecutive defeat.
Qormi had two changes from the team which lost to Hibernians as Anderson Santos and Steve Agius replaced Albert Bruce and Emerson Vella. Balzan, on the other hand, had goalkeeper Steve Sultana replacing the suspended Christian Cassar. Nigerian midfielder Fredrick Nonso Odebe made his debut as he was included as a substitute during the second half.
During the first half, Balzan went close to taking the lead on the 18th minute but Oscar Guerrero’s freekick hit the crossbar.
Balzan took the lead on 65 minutes when off an assist by Gianmarco Piccioni, Oscar Guerrero advanced into the area before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Jurgen Cilia.
Qormi equalised four minutes later when off a cross by Frank Temile, Balzan defender Elkin Serrano was unlucky to commit an own goal, hitting the goal past fellow goalkeeper Steve Sultana.
However one minute in added time, Balzan regained the lead when Ryan Darmanin dashed into the area, hitting the ball hard past the Qormi goalkeeper.
Deep into stoppage time, Mauricio Mazzetti was unlucky to hit the crossbar for Qormi.
QORMI Matthew Farrugia (19′ Jurgen Cilia), Jonathan Bondin, Mauricio Matías Mazzetti Latini, Michele Anderson Quatrochi Santos (67′ Albert Bruce), Duncan Pisani, Roderick Sammut, Joseph Chetcuti, Zoran Levnaic, Steve Agius (76′ Emerson Vella), Alfred Effiong, Frank Temile.
Subs not used: Alessio Cassar, Bjorn Bondin, Carmelo Farrugia, Gilmore Azzopardi.
Coach: Josef MansuetoBALZAN Steve Sultana, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Elkin Serrano, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Osa Ice-Cream Guobadia (46′ Fredrick Nonso Odebe), Luke Sciberras, Lydon Micallef, Oscar Dario Guerrero Alvarado (76′ Michael Borg), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (88′ Ryan Darmanin), Gianmarco Piccioni.
Subs not used: Mikhail Sciberras, Juan Corbolan, Mark Spiteri, Gianfranco Micallef.Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia
Yellow Cards: Sciberras, Temile, Grioli, Sammut, Mifsud Triganza
Scorers: 65′ Oscar Guerrero (B), 69′ own goal Elkin Serrano (Q), 90+1′ Ryan Darmanin (B)
BOV Player of the Match: Oscar Guerrero