Gudja United beat Mosta to join them in fifth

GUDJA UNITED    2

Azzopardi 31

Navarrete 48

MOSTA                    1

Failla 45

GUDJA UNITED G. Zammit-7; J. Bolanos-6.5, A. Prates-6.5, V. Plut-6, A. Azzopardi-6.5 (64 T. Nagamatsu), J. Arthur-6, N. Micallef-6, K. Micallef-6, H. Vella-6, M. Muchardi-6.5, N. Navarrete-7 (90 F. Zuniga).

MOSTA I. Akpan-6.5, R. Briffa-6 (58 J. Ibe-6), C. Ememe-6, D. Bonnici-6 (71 K. Nsumoh), C. Failla-6.5, B. Diarra-6, T. Farrugia, J. Akrong-6, G. Acheampong-6 (90 T. Precious), Z. Brincat-6 (71 M. Okoh), R. Ekani-6 (58 J. Vassallo-6).

Referee Matthew De Gabriele

Yellow cards Bolanos, Brincat, Neil Micallef, Vella, Navarrete, Ememe, Plut.

Red card Tyrone Farrugia (Mosta) 45.

BOV Player of the Match Clayton Failla (Mosta).

Gudja United claimed three important points after beating Mosta 2-1 with a goal in each half. Andrea Agostinelli’s side have now reached Mosta in fifth place with 23 points in the standings to wrap up their 2022 commitments on a high.

Ayrton Azzopardi put Gudja ahead as they were the better team throughout the first 45 minutes.

Nonetheless, Mosta still managed to level terms albeit with a player down after skipper Tyrone Farrugia was sent off.

Gudja sealed the win through Nicolas Navarrete who was their most dangerous player throughout.

Agostinelli’s side made their intentions clear from the start when Azzopardi had a close-range effort that went wide from Mosta’s goal inside the first two minutes.

Navarrete tried his luck when the Gudja winger fired a shot from the edge of the area but could not hit the target.

Gudja continued to dictate proceedings with Navarrete forcing Ini Akpan into a brilliant save.

The Italian player remained Gudja’s main threat and on 25 minutes, he had another go to try and break the deadlock for his side but could not beat Akpan.

Nonetheless, Gudja made their pressure count past the half-hour mark when Azzopardi received from Navarrete, beat his marker, and slotted into the far post.

Their joy was almost cut short when Christ Ememe struck the woodwork from the penalty area.

Jacob Akrong and Ememe were unfortunate not to find a leveller for Mosta when Gudja’s goalkeeper Glenn Zammit denied the Blues on a couple of chances with some brilliant saves.

Adding insult to injury was Farrugia’s sending off for an off-the-ball retaliation, leaving the Blues with a man down for the next 45 minutes.

However, Mosta did manage to equalise when veteran player Clayton Failla fired a trademark hit from outside the area just before half-time.

After the break, Gudja took the lead for the second time when Navarrete beat Akpan with a low drive.

Mosta almost levelled terms for the second time when Duane Bonnici fired wide from inside the area.

Akpan came to Mosta’s rescue when he denied Muchardi’s close-range effort as Gudja were pushing for a third.

The Mosta goalkeeper was once again his team’s saviour when blocking a Navarrete’s chance from close in. Substitute Tatsuro Nagamatsu could have wrapped up the win for Gudja but Akpan was once again alert to avert the danger.