Sirens punish Mosta’s profligacy by scoring late equaliser

SIRENS 1

Perea Hinestroza 90

MOSTA 1

Failla 50 pen.

SIRENS

A. Cassar-7, T. Almeida-6, O. Boakye-5, N. Pulis-5, J. Perea-6.5, D. Opoku-4 (62 S. Borg), C. Agyemang-6 (79 J. Borg), M. Akadom-5, A. Cini-6, K. Donsu-,5 K. Jackson-4 (62 B. Asare).

MOSTA

A. Udoh-5, G. Chara-6, A. Isah-6 (74 K. Tulimieri), E. Aneni-5, M. Camara-6 (69 S. Chukwuemeka), P. Tenebe-5, C. Failla-6, G. Sciberras-6 (74 N. Agius), D. Britto-5, J. Vassallo-7, Z. Brincat-5 (88 E. Mensah).

Referee Ezekiel Barbara

Yellow cards Almeida, Opoku, Aneni, Isah,

BOV player of the match Jake Vassallo (Mosta)

Jonathan Perea Hinestroza grabbed a last-gasp equaliser to snatch a point for Sirens and deny Mosta the first win of the season on Friday at the Centenary Stadium.

It was the Colombian striker who earned a point for Sirens but Andrea Cassar’s heroics kept the Northenders’ head above the water as Mosta dominated their opponents at the Centenary Stadium.

In a game of dubious quality, Sirens goalkeeper Andrea Cassar stood between Mosta and the crucial breakthrough.

Sirens looked a poor side, despite the transfers made from Ghana champions Medeama FC, and needed Cassar to be at his best to keep Mosta at bay.

He did well to stop Willie Brutto and then produced a fine reaction save to stop a header from Gustavo Chara.

Mosta finally opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 50 minutes after Daniel Opoku bundled over Gianluca Sciberras. From the ensuing spot kick, Clayton Failla made no mistake.

A buoyant Mosta side were spurred on by the slick Moussa Camara-Aliyu Isah partnership up front. Shy the hour mark, they were involved in some excellent touch of the ball but Isah shot wide.

But Cassar was still the star of the show, saving substitute Nathan Agius’s header and then blocking with his feet a drive at the near post.

Despite spending most of their time on the backfoot, Sirens equalised at death. Perea Hinestroza, largely anonymous throughout the match, bundled in a shot from close range after substitute Jean Borg created confusion in the Mosta box.

How Mosta had failed to claim the three points was a mystery. Ultimately, it was Mario Muscat’s side who paid the penalty as Sirens punished their profligacy.