Mosta scored twice deep in stoppage time as they came from behind to beat Zabbar St. Patrick 2-1 in a match from match-day 27 of the 360Sports Malta Premier Closing Round at the Gozo Stadium on Saturday.
A win which enabled them to secure a Top 6 finish and hence, Premier League status for another season. The Blues, in fact, move joint-first with Birkirkara and Floriana but the Stripes have a game in hand. Zabbar, on the other hand, will have to play in the Bottom 6 where they will start their commitments on 14 points, four ahead than the three teams currently sharing the bottom spot.
Tension was obvious as stakes were high.
Following a goalless first half, Zabbar managed to break the deadlock on 63 minutes when off a cross from the right by Kristian Keqi, there was a short clearance by a defender and Diogo Tavares beat Akpan with a diagonal shot from the left.
However three minutes in added time, off a Clayton Failla corner from the right, Chiemezie Stephen Gabriel’s header ended at the back of the net, aided by the upright.
But it was not over yet as two minutes later, Emmanuel Prince Chibuzor slotted the ball past goalkeeper Luca Camilleri to make it 2-1 for Mosta.
Chibuzor was then sent off for Mosta. After the final whistle by referee Slobodan Petrovic, a free-for-all fight ensued between players and officials from the two teams and it took some time until calm was restored.
>> Zabbar St. Patrick FC vs Mosta FC match card