Mosta make sure in second half

Mosta 3
Mqabba 1

An all-round second-half performance by Mosta gave the Blues a much-needed boost at the start of the league season following a series of poor performances in the knock-out competition last month.

Their win was surely merited but Mosta must also thank Gianluca Calabretta for the points. He played a blinder and scored a brace.

Mqabba look a promising side again this season with some interesting additions to the team, the likes of Sean Magro, from St Patrick, and Mead Mifsud, from Ħamrun Spartans, but they could do nothing against Mosta yesterday.

Mqabba started well and came close on 15 minutes when a good one-two between Mifsud and Magro finished with the latter flicking the ball from close range and beating the goalkeeper only for the ball to roll inches wide Mosta hit back when Anthony Ewurun's run, following a Bryan Agius pass, finished with the Nigerian striker shooting just wide from close range.

Mqabba had a good chance to put one away when Mifsud hit a grounder from the edge of the box following some good work by David Azzopardi which Jonathan Debono did well to save.

On 39 minutes, Mosta missed a sitter when Steve Borg headed over from two metres out following an inviting Agius delivery inside the Mqabba box. But, on 42 minutes the Blues were awarded a penalty when Claudio Calleja handled the ball inside his own box following an Agius free-kick.

From the spot, Steve Borg kept his cool to send Chris Calleja the wrong way and give Mosta the lead.

Mosta doubled their tally soon after the restart when Calabretta received a long ball, beat the offside trap and after seeing his first shot parried by Calleja, he slotted home from the rebound.

Hardly a minute later, Michael Molzahn's Mosta were again dangerous when a powerful Ryan Deguara drive just missed the Mqabba goal.

On 67 minutes, after a clearance from the Mosta rearguard, Calabretta took hold of the ball and with some neat footwork dashed through before placing the ball inside the net in style - 3-0.

From a Jean Paul Muscat cross, ten minutes from time, Mauro Bonnici reduced the arrears for Mqabba with a firm header. On 86 minutes, barely two minutes after coming on for Steve Borg, Mosta defender Pio Vassallo was sent off for dissent.

Mosta: J. Debono, B. Agius, A. Borg, S. Borg (P. Vassallo), M. Brincat, G. Calabretta, R. Deguara (C. Camenzuli), A. Ewurun, M. Farrugia, E. Vella (N.Gatt), A. Saliba.

Mqabba: C. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, M.A. Psaila, S. Magro, D. Azzopardi, P. Chimezie, J. Fenech (J.P. Muscat), E. Borg (M. Camilleri), M. Mifsud (L. Baldacchino), C. Calleja.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Man of the match: Gianluca Calabretta (Mosta).