Mosta pile more misery on Marsaxlokk

MARSAXLOKK 2

De Aguiar 22, Quitongo 44

MOSTA 4

Agyemang 8, Afriyie 53, Luca 82, Failla 90 pen.

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnjak, Jefferson, N. Muscat, D. Bonnici (85 R. Holzhauser), J. Arias (75 Y. Messias), J. Quitongo, A. De Aguiar, E. Pena Beltre (85 K Micallef), L. Aguirre, N. Raden, R. Scicluna

MOSTA

D. Akpan, P. Afriyie, L. Coulibaly (89 S. Cachia), S. Kone (70 Z. Brincat), C. Failla, N. Agius (77 G. Goncalves), J. Agyemang, S. Okereke (70 L. Rosa da Silva), J. Teixeira, J. Vassallo, L. Joaquim.

Referee: Slobodan Petrovic.

Yellow cards: Jefferson, D. Akpan, Aguiar, Agyemang, De Souza, Vassallo.

Mosta came out on top in a topsy-turvy encounter with Marsaxlokk to register their second consecutive win.

The southseasiders’ miserable start to the season continues as Winston Muscat’s side are still without a point after five matches.

The early exchanges were a low key affair but Joshua Agyemang sparked the game into life with the opening goal after just eight minutes.

Clayton Failla curled in a freekick from the right, the ball fell kindly into the path of the Ghanaian midfielder who bundled in at the near post.

Mosta forward Leonardo Fernandes began to impose himself on the game and this coincided with a spell of increased pressure from Mosta.

The Brazilian almost set up a second but his teasing cross found no takers.

On 20 minutes, Failla forced Marko Drobnjak into a smart save with another freekick.

But the game changed as Marsaxlokk struck from their first attack. Alex Aguiar raced down the right flank and outmuscled his marker before hitting a rising shot into the top corner.

Shy the half hour mark, Leonardo Aguirre came within an inch of a second for Marsaxlokk but his freekick finished just over the bar.

Then, Duane Bonnici hit a low drive which Akpan saved. Ryan Scicluna almost gave Marsaxlokk the lead when Aguirre delivered a cross for the Maltese midfielder who bent a shot against the crossbar with Akpan beaten.

And a minute from half-time Akpan’s goal was breached again when Bonnici set up Jai Quitongo to hand Marsaxlokk a 2-1 lead. The Scottish striker was on hand to finish off the midfielder’s good work with a diagonal shot.

Mosta drew level seven minutes into the second half when the ball fell into the path of Prince Afriyie whose shot hit the back of the net.

Marsaxlokk seemed somewhat shell-shocked at the goal with their fans growing restless at their side’s inability to turn possession into chances.

On 80 minutes, Scicluna found Aguirre down the left who crossed the ball for Quitongo whose effort hit the underside of the bar.

Three minutes later, Mosta turned the game on its head again.

Substitute Zachary Brincat went on a jinking run on the right and Richard Lucas was on hand to convert his pass past Drobnjak.

At death, Lucas was hauled down by Nikola Raden in the box. From the ensuing penalty kick, Failla buried the ball behind Drobnjak to wrap up the points.