Sliema Wanderers 0
Mosta 2
Obiefule 12, 89

The pressure was on big spenders Mosta to deliver after they were still chasing an elusive first win of the campaign. And the Blues’ new prosperity was in abundant evidence yesterday as they punctured Sliema’s invincible aura to bag the first three points of the campaign.

Steve D’Amato’s men were reduced to ten men midway through the second-half but instead of sitting back and soaking up the pressure, they kept their shape and took the game to their opponents without letting them back into the contest.

Italian coach Alfonso Grech must have been pleased by his side’s comeback against Tarxien as he promoted those substitutes who led that second-half charge against the Rainbows to the starting formation.

Andrew Decesare and Mark Scerri were drafted into the formation as John Mintoff, and Pablo Gonzalez paid the price for their poor showing last week. In addition, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino was preferred to Luca Martinelli as new Italian signing Alain Faccini took the place of Beppe Muscat.

Mosta’s initial formation showed three changes, Ryan Grech being preferred to Jonathan Bajada, Ousseni Zongo taking the place of Emanuel Okafor and Bryan Agius stepping into the boots of Steve Bezzina.

D’Amato’s side illuminated the opening exchanges with a virtuoso display of pace and movement that left Sliema devoid of any meaningful possession.

Mosta’s propensity to push down the flanks was exposing the Wanderers’ vulnerability on the left channel.

Sliema defender Andrew Decesare was continuously being caught up outnumbered on that flank and it seemed only a matter of time before he could buckle.

On 12 minutes, Daniel Bogdanovic drove infield from the right channel before sending in a cross which invited Obinna Obiefule to dive in and poke the ball home.

The Wanderers finally posed a threat when Mosta goalkeeper Justin Haber was forced to plunge bravely at the feet of Faccini in Sliema’s first serious threat at Mosta’s goal on 18 minutes.

Scoring chances were rare in the opening period and Mosta threatened to increase their lead when Bogdanovic’s chip was saved by the back-tracking Sliema goalkeeper Henry Bonello on the half-hour mark.

Mosta’s formation included five former Wanderers players in their starting XI and three of those Sliema old boys were involved in the first noteworthy episode after the break.

The clock marked 53 minutes when Ryan Grech exchanged the ball with Bogdanovic as the former Blackpool striker advanced on the right before passing to Mitev who evaded the Sliema rearguard but the Bulgarian’s chip was just off target.

On 65 minutes, Sliema’s hopes of another comeback received a boost when Grech was expelled for a second booking.

Despite being one-man down, D’Amato did not change shape to his 4-4-2 side and continued to attack with two strikers rather than retreat back and contain his opponents’ attacking forays.

On 81minutes, Sliema thought they had levelled when Faccini picked Mark Scerri in the area but Luke Dimech’s tackle blocked the Sliema midfielder just in time.

Mosta wrapped up their win a minute from time. Obiefule advanced unchallenged before hammering a shot past Bonello.

Sliema Wanderers: H. Bonello-5, C. Gatt Baldacchino-5, J. Mifsud-5.5, A. Decesare-4 (46 J. Mintoff-5), A.Faccini-6, P. Barbetti-5, M. Scerri-6, M. Muchardi-5 (58 I. Woods-4), A. Muscat-6, O. El Ghaouti-5, M. Ciantar-5.5

Mosta: J. Haber-5.5, F. Apap-5, M. Micallef-6.5, L. Dimech-6, B. Agius-6, O. Zongo-5.5 (75 J. Bajada), D. Mitev-5.5 (69 S. Chiemeka), R. Grech, C. Campagnoli-5.5, D. Bogdanovic-7.5, O. Obiefule-6.5 (90 F. Aboulezz).

Referee Marco Borg.

Yellow Cards Muchardi, Grech, Agius, Apap.

Red Card Grech (M) 65.

Bov Player Of The Match Daniel Bogdanovic (Mosta).

Attendance: 915.

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