Żabbar St Patrick and Mosta take valuable point in balanced encounter

ŻABBAR ST PATRICK 1

MOSTA 1

Żabbar St Patrick and Mosta took a point each after a balanced encounter at the Victor Tedesco Stadium that kept them clear of the relegation places.

It was a game of two halves, with Żabbar holding the upperhand in the first 45 minutes but Mosta improved significantly after the break to secure a precious point that keeps them level with their opponents and six points clear of the relegation zone.

Żabbar looked the better side throughout the first half as they dominated possession against a Mosta side who looked short of attacking punch.

The Saints created the first chance after 15 minutes when Vinicius de Pavia raced inside the area from the left flank and his thumping drive forced a fine reflex save from Mosta goalkeeper David Akpan.

Mosta failed to heed this early warning and in their next opportunity, Żabbar struck.

From a corner action, the Mosta defence failed to clear the danger with the ball falling into the path of Jurgen Pisani, who hit a firm volley that flew into the top corner via the underside of the bar.

Mosta looked rattled, and Żabbar almost doubled their advantage, and minutes later Nicholas Agius sent a fine cross into the path of Santiago Cejas, whose diving header drifted just wide of the upright.

Mostac continued to struggle to create any scoring opportunities, and it was the woodwork that denied Żabbar a second goal.

Isaac Etim Akpan sprinted into the penalty area but his angled drive smacked against the upright with Akpan beaten.

 The match maintained the same stance in the second half and inside the first minute Cejas moved past his marker and his rising shot was tipped over by Akpan.

Mosta were shouting for a moment of brilliance that would put them back into the match, and that arrived from Simon Zibo on 52 minutes as the Ghana midfielder hit a thumping low drive that had the better of Jonathan Grech.

Mosta looked a revitalised side, and on 75 minutes, Giancarlo Goncalves sped past his marker but his low drive that whizzed past the upright.

Mosta almost won it in stoppage time when substitute Sekhou Almamy’s header was cleared off the line by Strahinja Jovancic.