Mosta register first win as they turn defeat into victory

Mosta came back from a goal down to register their first win, beating Balzan 2-1 at the National Stadium on Sunday.

A win which enables the Blues to leapfrog Sliema Wanderers, who now lie at the bottom of the table, and join Santa Lucia on four points.

Balzan, on the other hand, continue sharing fifth place with Floriana, Gzira, Hamrun and Valletta on six points

For Balzan, Mark Miller named an unchanged side following the win over Hamrun while Mosta had two changes from the team which lost 2-3 to Hibernians as William Donkin and Rafael Morisco replaced Christ Ememe and Johnson Nsumoh.

Balzan had a perfect start, taking the lead on the 2nd minute thanks to Milos Mijic who received an assist from the left by Alex da Paixao Alves and tapped the ball home.

However, on the 16th minute, Mosta equalised courtesy of Sunday Akinbule who received a cross by Jonas Rodriguez Ekani, rounded two defenders and hit low past goalkeeper Vukasin Vranes.

Roderick Briffa almost made it 2-1 six minutes later with a powerful drive which hit the crossbar.

However, thirteen minutes from time, Sunday Akinbule received a long through pass by Clayton Failla and after anticipating the goalkeeper placed the ball at the back of the net.

MOSTA Marko Jovicic, Roderick Briffa, William Donkin (Johnson Nsumoh 67’), Clayton Failla, Tyrone Farrugia, Ivan Doric, Mehdi Hetemaj, Rafael Morisco, Zachary Brincat (Gianluca Sciberras 67’), Sunday Akinbule (Luis Riascos 86’), Jonas Rodriguez Ekani. 
Coach: Joseph Grech

BALZAN Vukasin Vranes, Augustine Loof, Samir Arab, Marcus Grima (88-Sean Cipriott 80’), Milan Djuric (77-Aleksa Andrejic 80’), Paul Fenech (Pedro Mota 89’), Alex da Paixao Alves, Michael Johnson, Milos Zlatkovic (Gary Camilleri 80’), Milos Mijic, Bojan Kaljevic (Neil Frendo 89’).
Coach: Mark Miller

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Slawomir Olucha
Yellow Cards: I. Doric, T. Farrugia, P. Fenech, S. Akinbule
BOV Player of the Match: Sunday Akinbule