Superior Mosta cruise to semi-finals

Mosta 2
Mellieha 0

Mosta stayed on track to complete a league and cup double this season following a 2-0 victory over Mellieha in the KO competition for Division One teams at Corradino yesterday.

Mosta coach Michael Molzahn opted to rest some of his regular starters for this match, including Carlos Camenzuli and Ndayi Kalenga.

Both were introduced after the break though following a scoreless opening half to help the Division One leaders clinch victory and a berth in the semi-finals.

Mosta saw more of the ball but wasted some glaring opportunities to open the score early on.

Ryan Deguara did well to weave his way through the Mellieha rearguard but shot wide of goal. The Blues maintained their threat in attack and on 30 minutes Deguara's fine run ended with the Mosta winger again hitting off target from just outside the penalty area.

Seven minutes later it was Deguara, again, whose header from a Mark Brincat cross almost reached the desired target.

Three minutes before the break a Steve Borg effort, following a Deguara cross, was superbly saved by Mellieha keeper Simon Gauci.

On resumption, it was the northerners who were unlucky not to score when an Ibrahim Tarek free-kick on 53 minutes slammed against the crossbar. But Mosta regrouped to take the lead midway through the half.

From a long Borg throw-in, Massimo Grima deceived goalkeeper Gauci with a cute flick to give Molzahn's team the lead.

Then, on 75 minutes, Mosta made the game safe.

Substitute Kalenga turned well to serve Camenzuli whose right-foot drive from just inside the area left Gauci helpless.

Mellieha tried to fight back. On 79 minutes, Gianluca Calabretta hit a scorcher from just inside the box with Jonathan Debono making a fine save to keep his net intact. A minute later, following a melee inside the Mosta box, Mark Brincat was on the right spot to clear from over the line Tarek's shot.

At the other end, a Camenzuli overhead kick was saved by the Mellieha goalkeeper following a perfect Deguara pass.

With two minutes to go, Mosta almost made it 3-0 but an Elton Vella drive from the distance crashed against the woodwork.

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

Mellieha: S. Gauci (J. Abela), F. Vella, M. Abela (D. Vella), W. Borg, G. Calabretta (R. Muscat), P. Camilleri, K. Gauci, R. Vella, I. Tarek, H. Vella, S. Costa Brasilino.

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Man of the match: Ryan Deguara (Mosta).