Brave Mqabba upstage dismal Blues

Mqabba 1
Nwoba 42;
Mosta 0

Appreciative of their club’s brave bid to cling on to their seat in the top division, the Mqabba fans have stayed behind their team even during the most testing period of the season.

Their loyalty was repaid yesterday as Mqabba brought an end to a depressing run of four straight defeats with a deserved 1-0 victory over a Mosta side who, before this lacklustre showing, had been regarded among the favourites to attain survival with something to spare.

Mqabba’s erstwhile slump had raised doubts about their mental strength and experience to survive a bruising relegation battle but the Reds showed that they are up for the fight.

Hard work, tactical organisation and fighting spirit were the hallmarks of a hard-earned success as Mqabba came through a slow start to overpower Mosta, John Nwoba scoring what proved to be the winning goal late in the first half.

Second best for much of the opening period, Mosta stirred in the second half but they never matched the determination and willpower of Mqabba who dug deep to eke out a vital win and reignite their survival bid as they pulled level with their vanquished opponents on 13 points.

If Mqabba delivered a declaration of their intent to fight all the way for survival, not so can be said of Mosta. Their dispirited showing suggested that they were still in a state of shock after surrendering a two-goal advantage in their previous clash with Ħamrun.

The availability of Florent Raimy, back after serving a two-match ban, compensated for the absence of Kurt Magro, suspended. Raimy assumed his familiar station in front of defence with Sheldon Grech and Dyson Falzon on the wings as Mosta coach Steve D’Amato opted for 3-5-2 with the returning Ian Zammit partnering Obinna Obiefule up front.

For Mqabba, Nwoba, yesterday preferred to Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli, played to the right of chief striker Bojan Mamic in a 4-4-1-1 approach.

In a low-key opening, Mosta were marginally the better side but their efforts failed to yield a tangible reward as the final pass was often wayward.

Early on, Obiefule jinked his way past a posse of defenders and let the ball roll to Zammit but the latter scuffed his shot wide.

On another occasion, Grech lifted the ball wide from a Firas Aboulezz corner.

Having repelled Mosta’s initial efforts, Mqabba relied on their famed work ethic to gain a foothold. Mamic guided the ball to Nwoba inside the six-yard but his header was too tame to trouble Jonathan Debono in the Mosta goal.

The Reds gained in confidence. They appealed for a penalty when Mamic went down under Federico Tisbi’s challenge but referee Fyodor Zammit saw nothing wrong.

Mamic’s overhead volley was cleared by Mosta who were on the backfoot again when David Fenech’s corner soared into the box but Mauro Bonnici’s header was blocked.

Mqabba’s unrelenting pressure reduced Mosta to chasing figures. Branislav Timotic hit the side-netting after getting on the end of Bonnici’s cross seven minutes from half-time.

Moments later, Claudio Calleja’s corner caused panic inside the Mosta box as Debono flapped at thin air but Nwoba’s header was blocked by Raimy.

Undeterred, Mqabba kept coming as Mosta continued to look confused.

And three minutes from half-time Mqabba’s pressure paid off as Fenech’s corner was met by Nwoba who beat Debono with a downward header.

Just before the break, the referee turned down Mosta’s penalty claims after Obiefule had slumped to the turf as he came in contact with Timotic.

Having seen his team play second fiddle to gritty opponents in the opening half, D’Amato clearly had to do something to address his team’s tactical deficiencies, especially in midfield, and pep up morale.

Mosta showed some renewed urgency at the start of the second half. Timotic and Julian Briffa did well to close down Obiefule inside the box. Minutes later, the Nigerian headed tamely into the hands of Kris Calleja from Falzon’s corner.

D’Amato effected his first substitution close to the hour mark, throwing on Jonathan Bajada for Aboulezz as Zammit dropped deep in a bid to improve the team’s build-up play.

Falzon was the most conspicuous performer for Mosta, frequently drifting infield from the right in pursuit of shooting positions.

Midway into the second half, the on-loan Valletta winger set off on a scorching run before producing a dipping shot that landed on the roof of the net.

At the other end, Calleja’s free-kick was fisted away for a corner by Debono.

For all their possession, Mosta remained disjointed. Raimy headed wide from Falzon’s corner.

Pierre Grima then broke down a potentially menacing Mosta attack when cutting out Obiefule’s centre after the Nigerian had accelerated into the box down the byline.

As the match reached stoppage time, Debono surged upfield for a corner but Zammit’s delivery inside the box was repelled.

Deep into stoppage time, Mqabba breathed a huge sigh of relief when they warded off Zammit’s free-kick. Relief gave way to joy when the referee sounded his final whistle.

Mqabba
K. Calleja-6.5, P. Grima-7, M. Potezica-7, B. Timotic-7.5, M.A. Psaila-6, C. Calleja-6 (80 D. Azzopardi), J. Briffa-6, M. Bonnici-6, D. Fenech-7, J. Nwoba-6.5 (90 R. Sammut), B. Mamic-6 (71 T. Mazzitelli-5.5).

Mosta
J. Debono-5, A. Borg-4, K. Farrugia-5.5 (71 G. Martin-4), F. Tisbi-5, Y. Ossok-5, S. Grech-4 (85 T. Vella), F. Raimy-6, D. Falzon-7, F. Aboulezz-4 (60 J. Bajada-4), I. Zammit-4, O. Obiefule-4.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Falzon; Nwoba; Briffa; Bajada; Raimy; Potezica; Martin.

BOV player of the match: John Nwoba (Mqabba).

Standings