Agyemang hands derby spoils to Mosta at the expense of Naxxar Lions

MOSTA            1         

Agyemang 40

NAXXAR LIONS         0

MOSTA

U. Akpan, M. Bolanos, P. Afriyie, S. Cachia, E. Chukwuemeka (46’ J. Arthur), G. Goncalves, C. Failla, S. Ojala (59 S. Chiemezie), N. Agius (77 G. Sciberras), S. Okereke (28 J. Agyemang) (77 J. Scerri), J. Teixeira.

NAXXAR LIONS

M. Debono, N. Micallef (75 R. Cassar), B. Sane, T. Yamaguchi (75 T. Ndao), N. Pace Cocks, E. Bolanos, E. Farias, Laton, Maicon, F. Barbosa (88J. Moura), Y. Ito (46 Hugo Santos).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Yellow cards: Arthur, Bolanos.

After suffering back-to-back defeats to Balzan and Sliema Wanderers, Mosta returned to winning ways, defeating neighbouring rivals Naxxar Lions in the derby.

The win lifts the Blues into fourth place on six points along with Birkirkara, Hibernians, Sliema Wanderers and Zabbar St. Patrick, while the Lions stay bottom with no points.

The Blues had one change from the team which lost to Sliema as Finnish striker Salomo Ojala was preferred to Joshua Agyemang. New signings James Arthur and Jamie Scerri were included during the second half.

On the other hand, Naxxar had new signing Edward Bolanos making his debut while Takuma Yamaguchi and Neil Pace Cocks were also named in the starting line-up as Joao Moura, Kayne Haber and Tara Ndao were among the substitutes. Another new recruit, Hugo Santos, was included as a substitute in the beginning of the second half.

Naxxar created the better chances in the opening minutes. Maicon tested David Akpan with an angled shot from the right on six minutes and a few seconds later, Edward Bolanos had a low shot from inside the area parried by the Mosta custodian.

Another Maicon effort from the edge of the area was saved by Akpan while a header by Laton was parried by the Mosta goalkeeper on 20 minutes.

However, five minutes from the end of the first half, Mosta took the lead.

Nathan Agius sent Salomo Ojala through on the left and off the latter’s cross, substitute Joshua Agyemang hit home from close range.

In added time, Naxxar went close with an Edson Farias header which was turned into a corner by Akpan.

The Lions held the initiative for most of the second half and a cross-shot by Maicon ended wide on 61 minutes.

Seven minutes later, Farias concluded a solo effort with a shot from outside the area which scraped past the post and hardly a minute later, the same player had a shot from inside the area deflected into a corner by Akpan.

The Mosta goalkeeper then performed a great save on a close-range header by Hugo Santos on 71 minutes.

Naxxar maintained the pressure and one minute from time, Ryan Gilmour Cassar missed a good opportunity hitting high from close range when served by Tara Ndao.

In added time, a Joao Moura header from the edge of the area was saved by Akpan in two attempts.