Four-goal Mosta stun Hibernians

Mosta came back from one goal down to beat Hibernians 4-1 at the National Stadium. A win which puts Mosta once again in fifth place, together with Floriana, four points behind leaders Balzan.

For the Paolites, this was another disappointing result after dropping two points in a draw with Pembroke last week. Hibs are now joint-third with Birkirkara, three points behind the leaders and one behind Valletta.

From the last game, Marcelo Dias and Rui da Gracia Gomes replaced Joseph Mbong and the suspended Andrei Agius for Hibernians. Mosta, on the other hand, had three changes from the team which lost to Balzan and Samuel Chukwide, Yau Hassan and the suspended Dyson Falzon were replaced by Mark Brincat, Edile Micheletti and Fredrick Abel.

Hibs took the lead on the 28th as Jorge da Silva Pereira beat Tyrone Farrugia on the run and served the unmarked Jorge Santos Silva who slotted the ball home

Mosta restored equilibrium ten minutes later when an Edin Murga freekick hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten and off the rebound, Osa Guobadia placed the ball at the back of the net.

Two minutes in the second half, Mosta gained the lead when off a long through pass by Manolito Micallef, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani beat Rudy Briffa with a rising shot ending in the top right corner.

The Blues increased the lead on 73 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Edin Murga was brought down inside the area by Rodolfo Soares and from the penalty spot, Ian Zammit converted.

Nine minutes from time, Mosta scored the fourth goal thanks to Edin Murga who concluded a solo effort with a powerful shot which beat the Hibs goalkeeper. The Bosnian striker, who was cautioned earlier in the game, was then sent off by referee Mario Apap for lifting his shirt over his head.

HIBS Rudy Briffa, Rui da Gracia Gomes (66′ Denni Rocha dos Santos), Jonathan Pearson, Jackson di Lima Siqueira (74′ Jurgen Degabriele), Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias, Andrew Cohen, Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Jorge da Silva Pereira, Jorge Santos Silva.
Subs not used: Jurgen Borg, Zach Scerri, Dunstan Vella, David Xuereb, Joseph Essien Mbong.
Coach: Branko Nisevic

MOSTA Yenz Cini, Tyrone Farrugia, Manolito Micallef, Osa Guobadia, Ryan Grech (68′ Abdulmalik Mohammed), Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, Ian Zammit (83′ Gustavo de Paola), Edin Murga, Mark Brincat, Bobby Fredrick Abel (73′ James Brincat), Edile Micheletti Awoh.
Subs not used: Omar Borg, Adrian Borg, Zach Brincat, Kyle Frendo.
Coach: Anton Cremona

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Andre Arciola
Yellow Cards: Murga, Dias, Rui
Red Cards: 82′ Edin Murga
Scorers: 28′ Jorge Santos Silva, 38′ Osa Guobadia, 47′ Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, 72′ Ian Zammit, 81′ Edin Murga
BOV Player of the Match: Ian Zammit
Attendance: 1,010