Gzira hit six past depleted Mosta side

Gzira United found no difficulty in beating a heavily depleted Mosta side 6-1 at the Centenary Stadium on Friday.

Lacking a host of regular first team players including goalkeeper Bitseki Moto, Tyrone Farrugia, Clayton Failla, Dejan Debono, Duane Bonnici, Gianluca Sciberras, Rafael Morisco and Bojan Kaljevic among others, the Blues could only try at making life difficult for their opponents. For the team led by Mario Muscat and Davor Filipovic, the was the first defeat after two draws and a win.

On the other hand, Gzira registered the second win on the trot after a fine win over Valletta in their last outing. 

The Maroons managed to take the lead on the 9th minute when off a cross from the left by Sacha Borg, Amadou Samb chested the ball down and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Andre Spiteri

However, a minute later, Mosta levelled matters when Andrei Spiteri concluded a fine move with an assist for Takanori Yokochi who hit home past goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.

Gzira regained the lead on the 17th minute thanks to Hamed Kone who received an assist from the left and controlled before unleashing a powerful shot which gave Spiteri no chance.

Four minutes later, Ricardo Correa made it 3-1 when he received the ball off a short clearance by the Mosta rear-guard and beat the Mosta goalkeeper with a fine shot from outside the area.

On the 36th minute, off a cross Jefferson from the right, an Amadou Samb header was turned into a corner by Spiteri

One minute from he end of the first half, Gzira scored a fourth goal thanks to an Amadou Samb header off a corner from the left by Jackson Mendoza.

Jefferson de Assis increased the lead on 66 minutes with a fine shot from the edge of the area which gave Spiteri no chance.   

Eight minutes later, the Mosta goalkeeper blocked Jefferson de Assis’ scissors kick at point blank.

On the 79th minute, Gzira were awarded a penalty after Jackson Mendoza was brought down on the edge of the area by Braunovic and from the penalty spot, substitute Andrew Cohen made it 6-1.

GZIRA Anthony Curmi, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Steve Borg, Nikolai Muscat (67’ Nevin Portelli), Martin Davis (51’ Clyde Borg), Hamed Kone (75’ Andrew Cohen), Jackson Usuga Mendoza, Ricardo Correa Duarte, Sacha Borg, Amadou Samb (66’ Dexter Xuereb), Jefferson de Assis (75’ Omar Elouni).
Subs not used; Justin Haber, Alexander Scicluna.
Coach: Darren Abdilla.
Asst. Coach: Andrew Cohen

MOSTA Andre Spiteri (87’ Luca Camilleri), Luke Formosa (46’ Watson Fabrice Hounkpe), Nikola Braunovic, Jeferson de Souza Ferreira, Johann Bezzina, Matthew Attard (67’ Owen Sammut), Takanori Yokochi, Matias Muchardi, Kevin Tulimieri (75’ Larens Vella), Jonas Rodrigues Ekani, Andrei Spiteri.
Subs not used: none.
Coach: Davor Filipovic
Goalkeepers Coach: Mario Muscat

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri Duncan Sultana
Fourth Official: Glen Tonna
Yellow Cards: Bohrer Mentz, Bezzina
BOV Player of the Match: Jefferson de Assis