Ememe’s late strike breaks Balzan’s hearts

BALZAN 1

De Sousa 46

MOSTA 2

Failla 10pen; Ememe 79

BALZAN

J. Debono-6, I. Bozovic-6, D. Torres-6, M. Grima-6 (84 A. Bradshaw), P. Fenech-6, A. Torres-7, M. Zlatkovic-5 (63 B. Kaljevic-5), S. Jalo-5 (63 S. Arab), A. Satariano-5 (84 L. Mallia), M. Raso-6, M. de Sousa-6 (72 N. Braunovic).

MOSTA

I. Akpan-5, R. Briffa-5, C. Ememe-6 (82 T. Farrugia), L. Tenebe-4 (65 N. Agius), C. Failla-6.5, B. Diarra-5, M. Akrong-4 (67 R. Ekani), G. Acheampong-5 (65 J. Nsumoh), S. Kingue-5, J. Vassallo-6, Z. Brincat-5.5 (75 I. Mbata).

Referee: Philip Vassallo.

Yellow cards: Raso, Akrong, Kingue, Akpan, Arab, D. Torres,

Missed penalty: Satariano (B) 21

BOV player of the match: Angel Torres (Balzan).

Mosta climbed to sixth in the Premier League standings as they secured a fortunate win over Balzan thanks to Christ Ememe’s late strike.

Luckless Balzan hit the woodwork twice and missed a penalty to succumb to defeat which left them ninth in the standings.

Before the match, Zachary Brincat received a memento from the Mosta team manager Jason Vella after making his 150th appearance for the club in the Premier League.

Once the game got underway, Mosta started brightly and took the lead after nine minutes.

Ememe broke free on the left before he was brought down by Matheus da Sousa inside the area. From the ensuing penalty, Clayton Failla waited for Jonathan Debono to move before rolling the ball to the goalkeeper’s right.

Ten minutes later, Angel Torres, an increasingly prominent presence in the game, ran with menace at the Mosta defence and won a penalty from a befuddled Jake Vassallo. But Alex Satariano leaned back as he planted his standing foot and the result was a miss of sky-high proportions.

Still, Balzan would have drawn level on 25 minutes had Marcus Grima accepted an invitation to end their shortage of goals – just one in the last four matches.  Matheus de Sousa whipped in a teasing right-foot cross, but Grima shot just wide having lost his marker.

Balzan left the changing room early at half-time and whatever Oliver Spiteri told his players during the talk, it worked wonders as they equalised immediately.

Torres could not be contained and his brilliant through ball released de Sousa who caught the Mosta defence completely unaware before the Brazilian defender produced an audacious lob to lift the ball over the onrushing Ini Akpan.

Galvanised by that equaliser, Balzan continued to surge forward with intent. A sweeping breakaway saw Satariano run clear through the middle, before shooting straight at the onrushing goalkeeper.

Balzan remained the better side and deserved more in the second half.

In another moment of magic that characterised his display, Torres ran through the opponents’ defence with a blistering burst, rounded emphatically Martey Akrong before unleashing a shot that crashed against the bar.

Then, Samir Arab crossed to the far post where substitute Bojan Kaljevic rose to power a header against the bar.

Balzan coach Spiteri was already showing his exasperation on the touchline when Mosta won a free-kick and Failla crossed for Ememe who escaped his marker at the far post to score with a header.