Mazitelli goals leave Youths reeling

Balzan Youths 1
M. Ciantar 60;
Mqabba 2
Mazitelli 74, 90;

Thiago do Santos Mazitelli came off the bench to score two late goals that helped Mqabba to complete a thrilling comeback victory over fellow Premier League newcomers Balzan Youths yesterday.

Few can deny that Mqabba deserved this victory albeit it arrived late, and in an incident-packed game.

Mazitelli was Mqabba’s hero. First, he equalised with a close-range shot, then he got the winner three minutes into stoppage time to prolong the Reds’ fairytale start to the season.

For Balzan it was a shattering defeat. Things looked going well for them when Miguel Ciantar put them ahead on the hour.

However, Pedrinho’s dismissal ten minutes from time cost them dearly as they failed to keep at bay Mqabba’s late surge.

Clive Mizzi, the Mqabba coach, had the benefit of selecting his first XI from a full squad. But his choice underlined loyalty to the old adage ‘never change a winning side’.

Confirming the same line-up that secured a surprise 2-2 draw against Birkirkara the previous weekend, Mizzi left the returning Mazitelli on the bench.

Ivan Zammit’s line-up featured three changes from the last match against Hibernians.

Jonathan Francica was forced out by suspension, Bledjon Guga returned to the side after recovering from injury while newly-signed striker Kris Bright made his much-awaited debut. Goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri was given the nod ahead of Fredrick Tabone.

Bright struck an instant understanding with Pedrinho as Balzan made a brisk start. The New Zealander set off on a diagonal run on the right before hitting a pile-driver that sailed wide.

At the other end, John Paul Muscat rolled the ball wide after turning past Yessous Camilleri.

Balzan threatened again on 15 minutes. Dylan Grima slipped an excellent through-ball to Miguel Ciantar who darted inside the box but his grounder went off target.

Bojan Mamic seemed sure to put Mqabba in front after 24 minutes but after being played through by Muscat, he could only muster a weak shot that Matthew Camilleri saved comfortably.

Mqabba were forced into making two early changes due to injury with Andrew Scicluna coming off after 26 minutes and Mauro Bonnici leaving the pitch four minutes later.

Mizzi had to return to the drawing board to redesign the team’s tactics. Since he did not have any other defenders on the bench, he switched to an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation with Mazitelli instructed to take up a deep midfield role in front of the back three.

Mqabba had the better start after the break as Muscat fired into the side-netting on 48 minutes.

Despite their lack of goal threat, Mqabba were enjoying the lion’s share of possession but just as they were getting a firm grip on the game, Balzan took the lead with a superb goal.

On the hour mark, Pedrinho picked up the ball from Ciantar and fed Nikola Tasic who pulled it for Miguel Ciantar to shoot low into the corner.

But any hope of Zammit’s team using that goal as a platform was wiped out 14 minutes later when Mqabba equalised. Mazitelli got in front of Yessous Camilleri to steer the ball home from Muscat’s inviting ball from the right.

Clearly upset, Pedrinho was then sent off for a horrible two-footed lunge on Mark Anthony Psaila to leave his side one man down for the remaining 10 minutes.

That red card had an impact on the result. As in a grandstand finish, Mazitelli blasted a spectacular free-kick into the top left corner and beyond the fingertips of keeper Camilleri.

Balzan Youths
M. Camilleri-6, B. Guga-6, C. Ciantar-5.5, Y. Camilleri-5.5 D. Grima-6, N. Tasic-7, Pedrinho, M. Ciantar-6.5 (66 S. Ciscaldi-5), B. Bondin-5.5 (83 F. Bernardes), L. Micallef-5.5 (53 D. Fenech-4), K. Bright-5.

Mqabba
K. Calleja-5, P. Grima-6, M. Potezica-6.5, A. Scicluna (26 M. A. Psaila-6), B. Timotic-8, D. Azzopardi-6, C. Calleja-6 (69 M. Briffa-5), J.P. Muscat-7.5, M. Bonnici (30 Thiago Mazitelli-7), C. Micallef-6, B. Mamic-6.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Yellow cards: Scicluna; C. Ciantar; P. Grima; Psaila; Ciscaldi.

Red card: Pedrinho (B) 80.

BOV player of the match: John Paul Muscat (Mqabba).