Mosta strike late to stun Sliema Wanderers

SLIEMA WANDERERS     0

MOSTA              1          

Fernandes 79 pen.

SLIEMA WANDERERS

R. Al Tumi, J. Borg, N. Frendo, A. Magri Overend, V. Plut, R. Prsa, S. Bah (64 L. Montebello), M. Freire (80 K. Nwoko), S. Pisani, T. Espindola, M. Baggio (64 B. Diarra).

MOSTA

U. Akpan, E. Chukwuemeka, D. Machado (60 Q. Hurtado), J. Victor, G. Sciberras, P. Emmanuel, C. Okereke, J. Vassallo, Z. Brincat, L. Fernandes (85 M. Bolanos), C. Sena.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara.

Yellow cards:  Chukwuemeka, Okereke, Emmanuel, Freire.

Red card: Chukwuemeka (M) 83.

Mosta earned their first three points as a goal from a penalty late in the game enabled them to defeat Sliema Wanderers 1-0.

The Wanderers, who were chasing their second win, held the initiative for long stretches and were unlucky at times not to take the lead. But Mosta managed to keep their opponents under control with goalkeeper David Udoh Akpan in excellent form.

Sliema coach Paul Zammit named Sulahmana Mamadu Bah in the starting line-up with Luke Montebello being included as a substitute during the second half.

Mosta, on the other hand, had three changes from the team that lost to Marsaxlokk.

Leo Fernandes and Eke Chukwuemeka were preferred to Quelmer Hurtado and Nathan Agius while Daniel GTA deputised for the suspended Giancarlo Goncalves.

The Wanderers held the initiative throughout the first half but Mosta had the first attempts at goal.

On 18 minutes, a fine effort by Prince Chibuzor Emmanuel was partially saved by Rashed Al Tumi with a defender clearing the ball into safety. Four minutes later, a free-kick by Leo Fernandes was neutralised by the Sliema custodian.

Sliema had a first-time effort from inside the area by Thiaguinho, which ended high on 31 minutes and six minutes later, a powerful drive by Roko Prisa ended just over the bar.

A minute from the end of the first half, Vito Plut received a pass from Steve Pisani but hit just wide.

Four minutes in the second half, goalkeeper Udoh Akpan performed a good save on a Pisani effort, and a minute later, he saved an Adam Magri Overend effort, deflected by Bah.

The Wanderers were unlucky not to take the lead on 58 minutes.

Adam Magri Overend delivered a cross with Plut’s header, deflected by Akpan, hitting the crossbar and ending up in a corner.

Pisani hit high from a direct freekick on 67 minutes and Plut hit the foot of the upright six minutes later when he received a throughball and pulled to the edge of the area.

Against the run of play, Mosta took the lead on 79 minutes. Murilo Freire floored Prince Chibuzor Emmanuel inside the area, referee Ishmael Barbara ordered a penalty and Leo Fernandes made no mistake.

Mosta were reduced to ten men four minutes later as Eke Chukwuemeka received a second yellow card.

In the final stages, the Wanderers, now with the addition of Montebello and Kyrian Nwoko in attack, increased the pressure in search of the equaliser.

Substitute Myles Beerman had an angled shot parried by Akpan on 87 minutes and one minute later, Prsa hit high when served by Pisani.

In added time, Plut was unlucky to have a header blocked by Caio Sena and his first-time effort off the rebound was blocked by the Mosta custodian.