Late penalty goal lifts Vittoriosa

Mosta 1
Vittoriosa Stars 2

Vittoriosa Stars converted two late penalties to complete a dramatic comeback win over Mosta in a hard-fought encounter.

Both teams had their moments during the match, but maybe Vittoriosa managed to take the win thanks to the sheer determination of their players who never stopped pressing forward in search of a winner.

The early stages of the match offered little entertaining fare to the small crowd present at the Hamrun Ground.

Play was concentrated mostly in midfield with both sets of defences cancelling the threat of the opposing forwards. It looked as if both teams were happy to settle for a point.

The first chance of the match arrived on 28 minutes when Mosta's Ryan Deguara's deflected free-kick wrongfooted the goalkeeper but the ball finished wide for a corner.

Mosta looked to have the edge and on 36 minutes Brian Abela swinged the ball in and Anthony Ewurum's header just missed the target.

Vittoriosa responded on 39 minutes when an Uchanna Anywanna drive finished wide.

Ewurum came close again for Mosta four minutes before the break when Deguara served the former Marsa forward whose close range shot was well saved by Ivan Cassar.

Vittoriosa had a good chance to forge ahead on 64 minutes when substitute Trevor Thomas burst through the area, but after doing everything right, shot wide from close-range.

It was Mosta, though, who broke the stalemate on 74 minutes. Ives Bilocca sent in a cross in the area and the ball was inadvertently deviated into the net by Vittoriosa defender Howard Hughes.

Hughes soon redeemed himself, though, as on 81 minutes he was floored in the area by Galea and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Anywanna stepped up for the kick and fired the ball home.

Buoyed by this goal, Vittoriosa kept pushing more and were denied by the woodwork minutes later when Anywanna's volley hit the crossbar.

More drama was to unfold in stoppage time when Mosta player Mario Abela handled the ball in his own area and another penalty was awarded. This time it was Trevor Thomas who placed the ball into the net.

Mosta: C. Carbonaro, M. Abela, M. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli, R. Deguara (L. Cilia), A. Ewurum, M. Farrugia, B. Galea, C. Sciberras (I. Bilocca), P. Vassallo (Ph. Camilleri).

Vittoriosa: I. Cassar, S. Calleja, R. Adami (I. Zammit), J. Camilleri, L. Scerri, E. Amaira, U. Anywanna, D. Gatt, C. Cachia (T. Thomas), H. Hughes, C. Sciberras.

Referee: Joe Attard.

Man of the match: Carlos Camenzuli (Mosta).

Costly defeat for Mqabba

Mqabba 1
Senglea Athletic 3

Mqabba could end up missing the boat again this season after yesterday's defeat to Senglea reopened the race for the second promotion berth to the Premier League.

Prior to yesterday's match, Mqabba looked well on course to join Hamrun Spartans in the to flight but after the setback to Senglea, Tarxien are now back in the reckoning.

The Rainbows trail Mqabba by three points and must beat them next weekend to force a decider. On the other hand, a point will be enough for Joe Falzon's team to win promotion.

Mqabba started the game well and after only two minutes a Clyde Camoin cross found John Paul Muscat whose header was well saved by George Attard.

But it was Senglea who took the lead on their first attempt at goal when Chima Dozie fired an unstoppable drive from a close angle that sailed past the helpless Kris Calleja in the Mqabba goal.

Mqabba's response only arrived five minutes before the break when Alex Ribic passed the ball to Marlon Briffa who sprinted into the Senglea area where he was upended by Erin Azzopardi. A penalty was awarded but Albert Busuttil hit the post from the 11 metres.

Just before the break, Mqabba came close again when Muscat fired wide from a few metres out.

The second half continued on the same pattern with Mqabba finding it tough to penetrate the Senglea defence.

On 53 minutes Thomas failed to capitalise on some poor defending from Mqabba when he shot wide. Senglea paid dearly for this miss as two minutes later Muscat volleyed home the equaliser.

However, Senglea soon regained the lead on the hour when Silvio Sciberras found Timmy Thomas with a good pass, and the Senglea striker beat Calleja.

Mqabba were unlucky not to draw level nine minutes from time when Gilbert Scerri's shot hit the upright.

More misery was in store for Mqabba as late on Senglea sealed their win when Dozie found Thomas who fired home from close range.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, A. Busuttil, J. Delia (N. Baldacchino), M. Briffa, L. Galea, A. Ribic (G. Scerri), J.P. Muscat, M. Cocks, C. Calleja, C. Camoin (E. Borg).

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Gauci, L. Attard (F. Dingli), D. Cosaitis, F. Ellul, Tim. Thomas (J. Fsadni), S. Sciberras (B. Zerafa), T. Ghirxi, E. Azzopardi, C. Dozie, M. Borg.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Man of the match: Timmy Thomas (Senglea).