Mosta assert dominance over Marsaxlokk

MARSAXLOKK 1

Fonesca 43

MOSTA 4

Ememe 14, 35, 87pen; Failla 40pen

MARSAXLOKK F. Tabone-4, T. Tabone Desira-5 (72 A. Effiong), Jeferson-4 ( 46 F. Moracci), C. Borg-5 (46 A. Attard-), W. Serrano-4, E. Vella-4, A. Ferraris Santiago-, O. Carniello-5, Wellignton-4, D. Agius-4 (83 D. Mifsud), T. Fonesca-5.

MOSTA I. Apkan-6, T. Akiti-5.5 (46 Z.Brincat-6), P. Mensah-6, C. Ememe-8, C. Failla-6.5 (82 D. Bonnici), G. Sciberras-6 (59 N. Agius), M. Okoh-5 (68 L. Tenebe), C. Akrong- 6, G. Acheampong-6.5( 82 T. Farrugia), J. Vassallo-7, R. Ekani-6.5

Referee Andrea Sciriha

Yellow cards Ekani, Acheampong, Jeferson, Ferraris, Brincat, Tabone

Red card Adrian Ferraris (Marsaxlokk) 80

BOV Player of the Match Christ Ememe (Mosta).

Christ Ememe scored a hat-trick to give Mosta their first win of the season and hand Marsaxlokk a reality check on their return to the Premier league.

Marsaxlokk had been away from the Premier League for 13 years and it showed as they made a laboured start.

Christ Ememe immediately scored his first goal for Mosta since returning from his long lay-off, after latching on to a throughball. Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Fredrick Tabone tried to push the striker wide, but Ememe eventually shot into the bottom corner.

Perhaps unsurprising, given the number of new personnel on their side – seven making their debut – Marsaxlokk looked disjointed.

And Mosta poured forward. On 35 minutes, Clayton Failla swung in a cross from the left and Ememe found the corner of the net with a cleanly-struck shot.

Nothing was going Marsaxlokk’s way. Five minutes later, Jeferson brought down Gianluca Sciberras on the edge of the box, prompting referee Andrea Sciriha to whistle a penalty. From the ensuing spot kick, Failla drove his shot past Tabone.

Marsaxlokk’s first-half display did not merit a goal, but they found the net when Adan Tiago Fonesca hit a low shot past Ini Akpan two minutes before the break.

Heads had to go down in the interval in the Marsaxlokk camp and eventually, coach Pablo Doffo made a double substitution, bringing on Fabian Moracci and Ayrton Attard for Jeferson and Conor Borg respectively.

Still, Mosta came forward with substitute Linus Tenebe squaring the ball for Ememe who hit the foot of the post.

Ten minutes from time, Adrian Ferraris was sent off for a second bookable offence and as Marsaxlokk tried to re-organise to combat the loss of their midfielder, Zachary Brincat left the crossbar shaking with an effort which bounced off the bar.

And three minutes from the end, with Marsaxlokk completely in disarray, goalkeeper Tabone was penalised for hauling Brincat down in the box.  From the resulting penalty, Ememe completed his hat-trick by firing home an angled drive to underline Mosta’s superiority.