Mosta prevail over Balzan in five-goal thriller

BALZAN             2           

Kaljevic 8, Jalu 42

MOSTA              3           

Failla 18 pen., Riascos 34

Donkin 84

BALZAN

J. Galea-5.5, A. Loof-5.5, M. Grima-6 (88 M. Trustfull), A. Daniels-5.5 (64 P. Fenech), U. Ljubomirac-6, M. Zlatkovic-6, S. Jalu-6 (64 A. Andrejic), N. Frendo-5.5 (75 G. Camilleri), M. Mijic-6, B. Kaljevic-6, S. Cipriott-6.

MOSTA

I. Akpan-6, R. Fernandes-5 (46 T. Farrugia), R. Briffa-5.5 (61 Y. Loen), G. Acheampong-6 (86 Z. Brincat), C. Failla-6.5, J. Bezzina-6.5 (86 G. Sciberras), L. Riascos-6.5, D. Antwi-7, R. Morisco-5.5, S. Akinbule-6 (80 W. Donkin), J. Ekani-6.

Referee: Andrea Sciriha.

Yellow cards: J. Galea, L. Riascos, U. Ljubomirac, S. Cipriott, G. Sciberras.

BOV Player of the Match: Dennis Agyare Antwi (Mosta).

Mosta returned to winning ways as they defeated Balzan by the odd goal in five in an entertaining match between two teams who are desperate for points.

Balzan were coming from three disappointing games which saw them lose precious points in the final stages against Birkirkara and Ħamrun Spartans and suffer a narrow defeat to bottom-placed Sliema Wanderers.

They may have thought the game would turn out to be an easy match after they managed to take an early lead but Mosta had other thoughts and played a very good game – definitely the best game in recent weeks – to end up collecting the three points.

Mosta, in fact, were coming from a winless streak of seven matches but this win puts them three points ahead of second-from-bottom Santa Lucia and five ahead of Sliema, just two behind Gudja United. Balzan, on the other hand, remain eighth.

Following the defeat to Sliema, coach Paul Zammit made four changes handing Neil Frendo and Suleiman Jalu a rare start with Milos Zlatkovic and Bojan Kaljevic both returning in the starting line-up.

Mosta, on the other hand, had just one change following the draw with Hibernians as new recruit Geoffrey Edwin Acheampong was preferred to Zachary Brincat.

Balzan had a perfect start, taking the lead on eight minutes. Bojan Kaljevic intercepted a back pass by Rodriguez Ekani and advanced upfield before rounding the goalkeeper and placing the ball into the back of the net.

However, ten minutes later, Mosta levelled matters. Dennis Antwi was brought down inside the area by goalkeeper Jake Galea. Referee Andrea Sciriha ordered a penalty and Clayton Failla duly converted.

Mosta forged ahead on 34 minutes. Failla delivered a freekick from the left and Luis Riascos slotted the ball past the Balzan goalkeeper to make it 2-1.

Three minutes from the end of the first half, Balzan restored equilibrium.

The Mosta defence lost possession on the left flank and the ball reached Suleiman Jalu who concluded a fine run with a rising shot that hit the crossbar before ending into the back of the net.

Balzan held the initiative in the early stages on the second half, also wet close with a Kaljevic effort that ended just wide on 61 minutes.

But Mosta soon threatened with a shot by Antwi which ended just over the bar on 76 minutes.

Three minutes later, Johann Bezzina was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a powerful drive from outside the area.

However, six minutes from time, the Blues were not to be denied.

Substitute William Donkin received the ball in midfield and advanced upfield, dribbling a number of players before beating Jake Galea with a fine shot from the edge of the area to hand Mosta the three points.