Mosta beat Spartak Trnava in dream debut in European football

Mosta defeated Spartak Trnava of Slovakia 3-2 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League first qualifying round at the Centenary Stadium on Tuesday.

The Blues stunned their more experienced opponents with three goals within the first thirty five minutes and although they ended up conceding two goals, going into the second leg with a one-goal advantage is definitely something positive.

This game also marked the return of fans to the stadium after an absence of sixteen months with two hundred spectators allowed to enter the Centenary Stadium.

Making their debut for Mosta were new signings Ivan Doric, Luis Riascos, Johnson Kalu Nsumoh – a former player of Spartak Trnava who also managed to score one of the goals – and substitute Romeu Romau.

Mosta took the lead on the 23rd minute when off a cross from the left, Christ Evo Ememe pulled to the right before beating the Spartak Trnava goalkeeper with a diagonal shot which hit the foot of the upright before ending at the back of the net. This was the first goal ever in the UEFA Europa Conference League as this game was also the first one of this new UEFA competition.

Four minutes later, Johnson Nsumoh was brought down inside the area by Filip Twardzik. Referee Kristoffer Hagenes ordered a penalty and from the penalty spot, Clayton Failla converted.

On the 35th minute, Mosta increased the lead once again when off a cross by Ivan Doric from the left, Christ Evo Ememe failed to connect from close range but the ball reached Johnson Kalu Nsumoh who slammed the ball home. 

Just before half-time, Spartak Trnava reduced the gap thanks to a Filip Twardzik penalty after Tyrone Farrugia floored Jan Vlasko inside the area. 

Eleven minutes from time, captain Martin Mikovic scored a second goal for Spartak Trnava with an angled shot from the left which beat the Mosta custodian.

The second leg will be played on Thursday 15 at the Štadión Antona Malatinského in Trnava.

The winner of this two-legged tie will face Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe of Romania in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

MOSTA Christoffer Mafoumbi, Christ Evo Ememe (84’ William Donkin), Clayton Failla, Johnson Kalu Nsumoh (84’ Duane Bonnici), Gianluca Sciberras (59’ Michael Mifsud), Tyrone Farrugia, Ivan Doric (56’ Romeu Romao), Luis Carlos Riascos Torres, Rafael Morisco da Silva, Zachary Brincat (57’ Dejan Debono), Jonas Rodriguez Ekani.

SPARTAK TRNAVA Dominik Takac, Izuchukwu Anthony, Jakub Gric (46’ Alex Ivan), Filip Twardzik, Kristian Kostrna (82’ Matej Curma), Bamidele Isa Yusuf, Martin Bukata (46’ Roman Prochazka), Martin Mikovic, Jan Vlasko, Saymon De Barros Cabral (89’ Peter Kolesar), Kyriakos Savvidis.

Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes (NOR)
Assistant Referees: Anders Olav Dale, Christer Jorgensen (NOR)
Fourth Official: Sivert Oksnes Jorgensen (NOR)