ŻABBAR ST PATRICK 1
Gambarte 13 pen.
MELITA 3
Andre 39; Mohnani 63; Debattista 67 pen.
ŻABBAR SP
M. Grech, J. Micallef, F. Wallace, B. Gambarte (68 M.A.Ferreira), S. Ilic, D. Tavares (77 Z. Grech), S. Jovancic, L. Agius, V. De Paiva (77 M. Azzopardi), J. Mendonca, D. Jovicic.
MELITA
G. Mizzi, Aldair, JP. Attard, K. Mohnani (85 D. Xuereb), A. Penha, M. Debattista (74 N. Cutajar), A. Borg Olivier, M. Van de Font Bovenkamp, J. Yepez, K. Bondin, H. Motta
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Yellow cards: Van de Font Bovenkamp, Ilic, Mendonca, Agius.
Melita recovered from a slow start to power past Żabbar St Patrick and open a commanding advantage over the bottom sides in the division.
Melita and Żabbar, the two promoted sides in the Premier League clashed against each other for three important points ahead their participation in the Bottom Six.
It was a hugely disappointing day for Żabbar who started so brightly in the first half and but failed to take their opportunities and in the end suffered another defeat.
St Patrick were first to get on the scoresheet after just 13 minutes.
It was a dreadful start for Melita as Marc Van de Font Bovenkamp conceded a penalty for a foul on Stefan Ilic. Referee Fyodor Zammit pointed to the spot and Ariel Gambarte sent goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi the wrong way.
Boosted by the goal, Żabbar continued to dominate proceedings with Ilic’s pace and trickery constantly troubling the Melita defence.
Earlier on, Felix Wallace’s brilliant pass was weighted perfectly through the defence but Mizzi did well to deny the lively IIic when the nippy striker found himself face to face with the goalkeeper.
On 25 minutes, Strahinja Jovancic forced another smart save from Mizzi.
Melita’s first-half display did not merit a goal, but they found the net when Andrè Penha da Costa burst into the box in a rare attack from the Amateurs and outsprinted the onrushing Matthew Grech before depositing the ball into an empty net.
Patrick once again dominated possession at the beginning of the second period as Gambarte and Diogo Tavares went close for Żabbar.
On 55 minutes, Gambarte was hypnotised by the goalkeeper who leapt to collect the ball. Then Tavares hit a teasing diagonal shot which flashed across the face of goal.
But Melita responded in style and went in front when Karl Mohnani dragged a brilliant finish into Grech’s far corner.
And Clive Mizzi’s troops extended their lead with a devastating attack on 67 minutes. Andre burst again into the box and was floored by Grech. From the ensuing spot kick, Matthew Debattista buried the ball behind the goalkeeper.
Andre, who had been instrumental in the earlier goals, then graced his opponents’ goal when he hit a low drive straight at Grech.
MOSTA 2
Cachia 62, Agyemang 76
BALZAN 2
Stanic 60, Akpan 82 pen
MOSTA
D. Udoh Akpan, P. Afriyie, S. Cachia, L. Coulibaly, S. Kone (69 P. Odunayo), C. Failla, N. Agius (63 J. Vassallo), J. Agyemang (79 M. Pires), S. Okereke, J. Teixeira, L. Joaquim (63 G. Goncalves).
BALZAN
D. Golovic, S. Arab, T. Caruana, N. Pulis (94 J. Grech), J. Busuttil, D. Oluwatobiloba, H. Stanic, K. Williams, A. Udoyen, E. Kamsoba (80 J. Engerer), M. Novaes (80 Westendorf).
Referee: Emanuel Grech.
Yellow cards: Teixeira, Pulis.
Balzan halted their three-game losing streak after holding Mosta to an entertaining 2-2 draw.
But for all their long spells of pressure, Dave Rodgers’ side ultimately lacked the spark they needed to break Mosta down.
Balzan did have their moments, notably with a flurry of chances in the opening period.
Jan Busuttil had a rasping shot which crashed against the post after 33 minutes.
Mosta survived that early storm, but they rarely threatened the Balzan goal. Just before half-time, Sunday Okereke shot straight at Danilo Golovic.
Balzan continued to push forward after the break, but they were struggling to turn their possession into chances.
Yet, on 50 minutes, Alexander Ayo Akpan lined up a bicycle kick from Elvis Kamsoba’s cross but the English striker’s acrobatic effort flashed just wide.
On the hour mark, Balzan broke the impasse. Henri Stanic goalbound header was hooked away by Clayton Failla but the goal was convalidated by referee Emanuel Grech as the ball looked to have crossed the line before Failla intercepted the ball.
The score became 1-1 barely a minute later when Sasha Cachia tapped the ball home from close in.
On 76 minutes, Mosta made it 2-1 as Joshua Agyemang sidefooted in after Okekere first struck the post and then cross the ball into the Ghanaian’s path.
Yet eight minutes from time, Balzan were given a lifeline when substitute Mathues Pires hauled down Isaac Westendorf. Akpan cooly converted from the spot to level the score.
