Kaljevic tonic for Mosta

MOSTA            1         

Kaljevic 9

STA LUCIA       0

MOSTA: C. Mafoumbi-6, C. Ememe-7, J. Bezzina-6 (88 M. Attard), C. Failla-6.5, T. Farrugia-6, T. Yokochi-6 (67 D. Debono), M. Muchardi-6, L. Portelli-6 (68 D. Bonnici), R. Morisco-6, B. Kaljevic-6.5, K. Tulimieri-6.5 (79 G. Sciberras).

SANTA LUCIA: A. Vella-6.5, T. Tabone Desira-6 (85 J. Delmar), A. Prates-6, I. Duarte-6, K. Correia-6, A. Da Silva Souza-6, K. Ante Rosero-6.5, V. Prestes Filho-6, M. Camilleri-6 (70 A. Magri Overend), R. Tachikawa-6.5, K. Xuereb-6  (70 R. Camilleri).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow Cards: da Silva, Muchardi, Tachikawa, Debono, Prestes Filho

BOV Player of the Match: Bojan Kaljevic (Mosta).

After suffering back-to-back defeats to Gżira United and Hibernians, an early by Bojan Kaljevic was enough for Mosta to beat Santa Lucia 1-0.

Friday’s victory puts the Blues level on points with Sta Lucia despite having a game in hand.

Mosta created the better chances throughout the 90 minutes but found their former goalkeeper Andreas Vella in fine form for Santa Lucia.

Congolese international goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi was making his debut for Mosta. His inclusion was one of three changes from the team which lost to Hibernians as he replaced Yves Bitseki Moto with Duane Bonnici and Jonas Rodrigues Ekani making way for Takanori Yokochi and Liam Portelli.

On the other hand, for Santa Lucia, Izaias Junio Duarte stepped in for the suspended Jamie Zerafa.  

Santa Lucia had a fine start and missed a good opportunity after just five minutes when following a good run on the right flank, Alan da Silva Souza delivered a cross for the unmarked Rei Tachikawa but the Japanese midfielder hit high from the edge of the area.

On nine minutes, Mosta took the lead.

A Clayton Failla free-kick was deflected into a corner and from the resulting corner from the right by the former Hibernians defender, Kaljevic headed home past goalkeeper Vella.

Santa Lucia replied with a cross by Michael Camilleri from the right from which Tachikawa’s header was parried by Mafoumbi on 14 minutes.

On 29 minutes, Christ Evo Ememe concluded a good move on the left flank for Mosta with a shot ending just over the bar.

Three minutes later, Kevin Correia headed high off a Victor Luiz Prestes Filho free-kick for Santa Lucia.

Six minutes in the second half, Kevin Tulimieri, served by Yokochi from the right, concluded wide from inside the area and two minutes later, the Italian tried his luck with a long-distance effort which was neutralised by the Santa Lucia goalkeeper.

On 57 minutes, a free-kick by Failla from the right was blocked by Andreas Vella, Tulimieri took the rebound but his angled shot was parried by the Santa Lucia no. 1.

Goalkeeper Vella was prominent again as he turned into a corner a Tulimieri free-kick on 66 minutes.

On the other end of the pitch, off a free-kick by Da Silva Souza, Adam Magri Overend headed the ball down towards Andre Fausto Prates. The latter served Izaias Duarte whose conclusion from the edge of the area was turned into a corner by Mafoumbi on 74 minutes.

However, in the final stages, Mosta threatened once again.

Tulimieri went close with a diagonal shot from the left but the ball scraped past the post on 81 minutes. Two minutes later, Kaljevic received a through pass on the right but Kevin Correia blocked his conclusion into a corner.