Plut brace sinks Mosta as Spartans join Floriana in top spot

Marsaxlokk see off Sirens

MOSTA

SLIEMA WANDERERS 3

Plut 49, 55

Alcino 89

MOSTA

D.Akpan-, G. Valois-5, A. Isah-5 (78 S. Cachia), D. Evan-5.5, M. Camara-4 (62 C.Nanji), P. Tenebe-, C. Failla-5, G. Sciberras-5.5 (62 E. Mensah), W. Dagou-5, J. Vassallo-5 (78 N. Agius), Z. Brincat-6 (62 W. Legault).

SLIEMA WANDERERS

R. Al Tumi-6, J. Borg-6, J. Minala-5.5, J. Engerer-7.5 (84C. Kouao), V. Plut-7 (84 L. Micallef), M. Beerman-7, G. Alcino-7, N. Frendo-6.5, G. Acheampong-6 (89 I. Duarte), S. da Mata-6 (73 M. Awad), K. Abubakar-6 (73 E. Agius).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann

Yellow cards: Acheampong, Brincat, Alcino, Tenebe,

BOV player of the match: Jake Engerer (Sliema Wanderers)

A second half double from Vito Plut gave Sliema three valuable points and consigned Mosta to their first defeat of the season.

The Slovenian striker powered in a close-range shot which was soon followed up by a stunning header to silence the Mosta supporters.

Despite pressing David Akpan into action in the first minute with a stinging 20-metre drive from Neil Frendo which crashed against the crossbar, Sliema failed to capitalise on their dominance in the first half.

Mosta soon crafted a chance of their own after the lively Zachary Brincat escaped down the left but his low drive ended just wide.

As the half wore on, the match settled into a stalemate and when Karim Abubakar brought out a smart save from Akpan, it came out of the blue.

Mosta then hit the woodwork twice in quick succession before the break as Gianluca Sciberras’ shot came back off the bar and Aliyu Isah unleashed a rising shot dangerously against the post.

It took a moment of individual brilliance from Myles Beerman to break the deadlock on the hour mark. The winger created space with a wonderful one-two touch with Samuel da Mata, evaded the challenge of Willie Dagou, and squared the ball for Sam Engerer. The Sliema youngster hit a great ball at the far post, allowing Plut to prod the ball home.

The Blues went 2-0 up when another superb cross from Engerer fell between Gustavo Valois and Jake Vassallo, allowing the Slovenian striker to head home his third goal of the season.

Sliema took their foot off the pedal as the clock ran down, but one minute from time, Gustavo Alcino headed home Geoffrey Acheampong’s freekick.

HAMRUN SPARTANS 3
Paintsil 17
Montebello 37, 55

GUDJA UNITED 0
HAMRUN SPARTANS
H. Bonello, S. Borg, L. Montebello (64 Jonny), J. Mbong (64 Eder), R. Prsa (79 N. Krstic), E. Da Silva, U. Djuranovic, O. Bjelicic, S. Paintsil, E. Marcelina (79 J. nenov ), R. Camenzuli.
GUDJA UNITED
Y. Sozer, Brenner, G. Lorenzoni (70 G. Mensah), S. Attard (70 M. Conti), M. Muchardi (46 W. Serrano), J. Arthur (79 M. Cassini), R. Fernandes, K. Micallef, Z. Grech, A. Toure (85 G. Zammit), M. Esposito.

Referee: Phillip Farrugia.

Yellow cards: Toure, Arthur, Brenner.

Ħamrun Spartans joined Floriana at the top of the Premier League standings on top of the Premier League standings after brushing aside Gudja United 3-0 at the Centenary Stadium.

It was another dominant performance from the Malta champions who all but wrapped up the points midway through the first half when taking a two-goal lead before netting a third in the second half to add gloss to their win.

The Spartans took the ground running and after 12 minutes Seth Paintsil was unlucky to see his shot coming off the upright.

But the Ħamrun Spartans striker was not to be denied five minutes later when he was put clear by Roko Prsa and fired home from close in.

The Malta champions doubled their lead on 27 minutes when Uros Djuranovic teed up Luke Montebello who blasted the ball home.

 The Spartans wrapped up their win ten minutes into the second half when Montebello scored a fine goal when beating Yaren Sozer with a half-volley.

Early strike by Marsaxlokk

MARSAXLOKK 3

Messias 22, Akinbule 28, Gomes 33

SIRENS 1

Boateng 66

SIRENS

A.Cassar-5, T. Almeida-5, P. Boakye-5, N. Pulis-6 (81 D. Jackson), J. Perea Hinestroza-4, M. Akadom-6, A. Cini-5 (81E .Ceesay), B. Asare-5 (46 F. Boateng-), S. Borg-6, K. Donsu-5, J. Borg (56 D. Agius-4).

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnjak-6, Weder-6, G. Camilleri-5.5, N. Muscat-6.5, Y. Messias-6 (46 D. Mifsud-6), J. Walker-6, A. Valkainah-6, L. Aguirre-5.5, D. Pires-5, J. Gomes-6.5 (74 J. Ghio), S. Akinbule-6 (84 A.Obonogwu)

Referee: Darryl Agius

Yellow cards: Asare, Vakainah, Ghio,

BOV player of the match: Sunday Akinbule (Marsaxlokk)

Earlier on, three first-half goals helped Marsaxlokk to their second win of the season over a struggling SIrens.

Yuri Messias scored his fourth goal of the season and the other goals came from Sunday Akinbule and Junior Gomes.

By half-time, they had coasted to 3-0, Messias opening the scoring in the 22nd minute. Gomes broke through the centre and laid it off on the left flank to Messias to dab home.

Six minutes later, Leandro Aguirre’s cross from the left evaded the Sirens defence and Akinbule prodded the ball home at the far post.

On 33 minutes, Gomes managed a goal of his own, when he showed sublime control and skill in the box to round up onrushing Andrea Cassar.

Sadly for Winston Muscat’s troops, half-time seemingly took the spark out of the Marsaxlokk’s fireworks, with Sirens actually creating the better chances early in the second half.

And they were rewarded with a goal that gave Sirens a lifeline after 66 minutes. Substitute Frank Boateng raced on to Mohammed Hafiz’s pass before easily avoiding his marker to beat Marko Drobnjak.

But any hope Sirens had of mounting a revival appeared to be snuffed out by a solid Marsaxlokk rearguard. And substitute Anthony Obonogwu could have added a fourth for Marsaxlokk with a powerful drive that was blocked by Cassar.