Mosta stay on promotion track after 1-0 win

St Patrick 0
Mosta 1

Mosta maintained their promotion charge thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over relegation-haunted St Patrick yesterday at the Tedesco Stadium.

It had to be a solitary Daniel Theuma goal, early in the second half, that gave Michael Molzahn's side three precious points in a match where the Saints surely merited at least a point.

Despite playing the last minutes with 10 men, Winston Muscat's side threw all men forward in a desperate search for an equaliser, which did not pay dividends due mainly to some good defending by the Mosta rearguard in which Massimo Grima was superb.

There was little of note in the first 45 minutes with both teams finding it hard to create openings.

The first real threat came on 20 minutes when Ndayi Kalenga was foiled by Saints keeper David Cassar who produced a superb save, this following an inviting cross by Grima.

Mosta continued to threaten and Carlos Camenzuli drove high over the bar from the edge of the area following some good work by Mario Abela on the right flank.

The game livened up in the second half. Despite the difference in the standings, on the field of play there was nothing to separate the two teams on the day.

Then, it was Mosta who scored what proved to be the winner on 59 minutes.

Kalenga chipped the ball into the opponents' box and former Malta defender Theuma rose higher that goalkeeper Cassar to head home. St Patrick protested heavily claiming Theuma had pushed his way through in the action but the goal was given.

On 66 minutes St Patrick were unlucky not to equalise when Matthew Xerri's effort from close range, following a Thomas Caruana cross, sailed over.

The Saints continued to attack and on 69 minutes a Caruana drive from just inside the area was stopped by Jonathan Debono.

St Patrick suffered a setback on 79 minutes when they had Xerri sent off after receiving a second yellow card for simulation.

The last minutes saw the Saints venture forward in attack but their efforts were not enough to deny Mosta from winning all points.

St Patrick: D. Cassar, R. Cassar, M. Fleri Soler, S. Zerafa (G. Failla), V. Camilleri, S. Magro, M. Xerri, T. Caruana, C. Micallef, H. Doda, E. Borg.

Mosta: J. Debono, M. Abela, S. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli, M. Farrugia, N. Kalenga, A. Saliba, D. Theuma (N. Gatt), E. Vella (C. Sant), M. Grima.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Man of the match: Massimo Grima (Mosta).