Ten-man Mosta surprise champions Floriana

FLORIANA         0

MOSTA              2           

Kaljevic 45

Sciberras 90

FLORIANA

I. Akpan-6, E. Ruiz-6, K. Keqi-5.5, U. Arias-6, B. Paiber-5.5 (71 N. Leone), J. Pisani-6, M. Garcia-6 (90 D. Agius), M. Dias-5.5 (71 S. Arab), J. Busuttil-6.5 (87 A. Azzopardi), R. Camenzuli-6, T. Fonseca-5.5.

MOSTA

C. Mafoumbi-7, J. Ferreira-6, C. Ememe-6.5, D. Bonnici-6, C. Failla, G. Sciberras-6.5, T. Farrugia-6.5, M. Muchardi-6, R. Morisco-6, B. Kaljevic-6.5, K. Tulimieri-6.5 (77 Z. Brincat).

Referee: Ishmael Barbara.

Yellow cards: Failla, Dias, Ememe, Akpan.

Red cards: Failla (M) 43.

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

Despite playing for the whole of the second half in ten men, Mosta registered a fine 2-0 win over Floriana to move fifth, level points with Gudja, and one ahead of the Greens and Valletta.

For the Blues, this was the third consecutive win which confirms their recent progress.

The Malta champions, on the other hand, disappointed once again after dropping two points in a draw with Balzan last week.

More was expected from Enzo Potenza’s side, especially in the second half after Mosta had a player sent off.

Mosta started brightly and Christ Ememe had an angled shot from the right turned into a corner by Floriana goalkeeper Ini Etim Akpan after just three minutes.

On 12 minutes, Floriana went close when Kristina Keqi had a shot deflected by Tyrone Farrugia and Jan Busuttil’s conclusion was blocked by goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi.

Clayton Failla tested Akpan with a long-distance free-kick from the left on 31 minutes and a minute later, Keqi missed a good opportunity for Floriana as he just failed to connect off an inviting cross by from the right, probably due to Tiago Adan Fonseca’s deflection.

Mafoumbi performed a good save on a Keqi free-kick and a few seconds later, the Mosta goalkeeper blocked into a corner a close-range header by Jurgen Pisani off a cross by Keqi from the left.

Two minutes from the end of the first half, Mosta were reduced to ten men after Failla received a second yellow card following a reckless tackle.

However, in added time, Mosta opened the score when Kaljevic received an assist by Tulimieri and advanced into the area before hitting low past Akpan.

In the second half, Floriana went all out in search of an equaliser and on 58 minutes, Busuttil concluded a good run with a shot from outside the area which was turned into a corner by Mafoumbi.

On 63 minutes,the Mosta goalkeeper performed a good save at point blank on an Ulises Arias header off a cross by Busuttil.

Following a cross from the left, Keqi tried to control the ball despite the close marking, hitting just wide on 73 minutes.

The Greens maintained the pressure and Keqi, served by Pisani, had another attempt turned into a corner by Mafoumbi three minutes from time,

With Floriana all out in a desperate attempt to notch the equaliser, Mosta doubled the score seven minutes in added time when off a cross by Kaljevic from the left, Zachary Brincat served Gianluca Sciberras who slotted the ball past Akpan to wrap up an impressive win.