Yuri de Jesus Messias scored two penalties as Gudja United held Mosta in a 2-2 draw at the Centenary Stadium on Saturday.
Twice Mosta had managed to take the lead but each time, Gudja manage to restore equilibrium courtesy of Yuri.
Mosta, led for the first time by coach Davor Filipovic and technical director Mario Muscat, had new recruits Dejan Debono, Clayton Failla, Watson Hounkpe, Nixon, Bojan Kaljevic, Kevin Tulimieri and substitute Larens Vella making their debut.
Gudja, on the other hand, had coach Jesmond Zammit and his assistant Vince Carbonaro also making their debut. They named new signings Yuri de Jesus Messias, Goran Adamovic and Patrick Silva Mota in the starting line-up while Tensior Gusman was included as a substitute.
Mosta went close after just two minutes with a Bojan Kaljevic low effort which was parried by Glenn Zammit.
However they managed to take the lead on the 20th thanks to Kevin Tulimieri whose fine shot from outside the area beat the Gudja goalkeeper.
On 33 minutes, Mosta went close once again with a cross Hounkpe, Nixon first time effort parried by Zammit.
Two minutes in the second half, Gudja were awarded a penalty after Yuri de Jesus Messias was brought down inside the area by Rafael Morisco. From the penalty spot, Yuri Messias made no mistake to equalise.
A long distance freekick by Morisco ended just wide on the 50th and a few seconds later, on the other side of the pitch, Patrick Mota concluded a good move with a shot which missed the target by little. A Duane Bonnici effort was parried in two attempts by Glenn Zammit.
Mosta regained the lead on the 64th minute when off a Clayton Failla corner, Rafael Morisco headed the ball home.
Four minutes later, Gudja were awarded another penalty after Gabriel Mensah was adjudged to being fouled by Clayton Failla inside the area. Yuri Messias once again placed the ball at the back of the net.
Clayton Failla, served by Tulimieri, hit high with a fierce long-distance shot on the 70th and eight minutes later, Yuri Messias hit high from a direct freekick. Gabriel Mensah then missed an excellent opportunity when served from the right by James Brincat but hit incredibly wide from an ideal position inside the area. Christ Evo meme also missed a good chance for Mosta when served by Duane Bonnici from the left two minutes from time.
On the 90th, Glenn Zammit performed a good save on a Clayton Failla freekick from the right.
MOSTA Yves Stephane Bitseki Moto, Dejan Debono, Christ Evo Ememe, Nixon Darlanio Reis Cardoso (54’ Zachary Brincat)(59’ Larens Vella), Clayton Failla, Gianluca Sciberras, Watson Fabrice Hounkpe (54’ Duane Bonnici), Tyrone Farrugia, Rafael Morisco, Bojan Kaljevic, Kevin Tulimieri (85’ Matthew Attard).
Subs not used: Aiden Farrugia, Luke Formosa, Owen Sammut.
Coach: Davor FilipovicGUDJA Glenn Zammit, Yuri de Jesus Messias, Aidan Friggieri, Llywelyn Cremona, Gabriel Mensah (86’ Tensior Gusman), Imanol Gonzalez, Hubert Vella, Goran Adamovic, Juan Andres Bolanos, Justin Grioli (82’ James Brincat), Patrick Silva Mota.
Subs not used: Jamie Azzopardi, Jurgen Farrugia, Terence Vella, Neil Micallef, Augusto Rene Caseres.
Coach: Vince CarbonaroReferee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Darko Stankovic
Fourth Official: Andrea Sciriha
Yellow Cards: Grioli, Tulimieri, Mensah, Gonzalez, Failla, Adamovic, L. Vella, Kaljevic
BOV Player of the Match: Yuri de Jesus Messias