Mosta move to a more comfortable mid-table position

Mosta moved to a more comfortable mid-table position after beating Senglea Athletic 2-1 at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday. A win which puts the Blues on the 14-point mark, five ahead of Senglea.

Senglea, for the first time under the guidance of Italian coach Paolo Favaretto, who took over from Steve D’Amato earlier this month, therefore failed to bring to an end their disappointing run which saw them lose four of the previous five matches.

Johann Scicluna’s side managed to take the lead on the 23rd minute when off a cross by Thomas Veronese, Zachary Brincat hit home from close range.

However just before half-time, Senglea equalised thanks to a powerful drive by Gonzalo Nicolas Virano, deflected by a defender, which ended in the bottom corner behind Andreas Vella.

Five minutes from the end time, Mosta notched the winner when off a Thomas Veronese freekick, Davide Mansi headed home.

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira, Zachary Brincat, Thomas Veronese, Kurt Magro, Davide Mansi, Tyrone Farrugia, Daniele Biondo (56′ Kyle Frendo), Edison Bilbao Zarate, Ivan Maric, Jonas Rodriguez Ekani.
Subs not used: Andy Attard, David Fenech, Neil Frendo, Jurgen Grech, Calvin Camilleri, Jeanpaul Formosa.
Coach: Johann Scicluna

SENGLEA Giulio Cetrangolo, Jonathan Bondin, Gonzalo Julian Leyton, Antonio Terranciano, Sergio Uyi, Matias Garcia, Hubert Vella (53′ Mattia Del Negro), Gonzalo Nicolas Virano, Ryan Dalli (69′ Peter Paul Sammut), Augusto Rene Caseres, Terence Vella.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Ian Azzopardi, Beppe Muscat, Randall Vella, Jurgen Farrugia.
Coach: Paolo Favaretto

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: H. Vella, Farrugia, Zarate, Biondo, Magro, Terraciano
BOV Player of the Match: Gonzalo Nicolas Virano

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Photo: Copyright © www.stephengatt.com

Meanwhile at the Centenary Stadium, St. Andrews and Lija Athletic shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. A draw which leaves the Saints two points ahead of Lija.

Although Lija enjoyed the lead for long stretches, St. Andrews created the better chances throughout the ninety minutes but it was only a late penalty which handed them a draw.

Lija managed to break the deadlock on the 14th minute when Abubakar Bello-Osagie served Raphael Kooh Sohna whose rising shot beat goalkeeper Calleja Cremona.

St. Andrews went close to equalising on various occasions and on the 76th minute, a Misael Miranda Gomez effort was blocked on the goal line and a header by Tano Azian off the rebound was cleared off the goal line by Patrick Borg.

Three minutes later, the Saints were awarded a penalty after Martin Davis was brought down inside the area and from the penalty spot, Joseph Farrugia converted.

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ST. ANDREWS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Adrian Borg, Aidan Friggieri, Kevaughn Atkinson (52′ Tano Azian), Kyle Butler (70′ Misael Miranda Gomez), Marcus Grima, Joseph Farrugia, Jacob Walker, Martin Davis, Travis Blagrove.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Miguel D’Alessandro, Liam Grech, Matthew Gauci, Alexander Satariano.
Physical Trainer: Alejandro Pantoja

LIJA Luke Bonnici, Predrag Babic, Patrick Borg (78′ Leon Muscat), Daniel Scerri, Aaron Sammut (67′ Nigel Spiteri), Leejoe Schembri (73′ Joaqin Lores Varela), Raphael Kooh Sohna, Abubakar Bello Osagie, Carl Cassar, Ousmane Sidibe, Djamel Leeflang.
Subs not used: Jonathan Martinelli, Adrian Caruana, McAllister Clinch, Aiden Galea.
Coach: Joseph Galea

Referee: Stefan Pace
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: P. Borg, Butler, Scerri, Cassar, Friggieri, Sidibe
BOV Player of the Match: Martin Davis